Saturday ride...

Today's bike ride called for an EASY 75 minute session. Easy. Easy - as in heart rate/watt output zone 1. Easy as in DO NOT under any circumstances exceed higher than zone 1 for a few seconds, like after accelerating from a stop sign. Easy as in, no hills. No problem! Easy, as in - I get to take my camera and take pictures while I ride, because clearly I don't have to focus on xxx watts or yyy heart rate or zz effort - so picture taking should be easy.

Um, did you know that taking pictures while riding is a diminishable skill? Huh? Neither did I, until thirty second into my ride - when I whipped out the camera for something silly/unique/fill-in-the-blank - and nearly crashed my bike. Luckily, disaster was averted - or this would be a MUCH different blog post.

Anyway, here's a bit of what I got to experience...

Even my bike was excited!Raring to go!

Hello I live in California.......and wear flip-flops just about everywhere. I have no idea what I'll do when we leave. On second thought - I do know. I'll continue to wear flip-flops because I love them so.

The road was beckoning...
...And I couldn't help but smile!
Yes, yes, yes - I'm sticking to my heart rate!Sheesh - sometimes I feel like my coach has eyes everywhere.

You know what?In the time I've lived here, I never realized there was a windmill. Sometimes taking the time to really absorb our surroundings is worth the effort. Who knew?

The fields are already turning dusty and golden in color.
I think I recognize that shadow...
Palm trees and (slightly) greener fields on a different part of base.
I thought this sign was interesting. What the heck is an LCAC?When I got home, Nathaniel proceeded to explain...although he used lots of military jargon. I will translate: It's a really cool Landing Craft Air Cushion vehicle that can navigate about 70% of the world's coastlines, carries a crew of 5, and is really loud. Oh - and he would like to try piloting one someday. I told him to stick with helicopters and the Carolla.

Hello, I live in California...And there is seismic activity.

Hillside wildflowers.Pretty soon the brown grass will take over everything. But for now, the fields of flowers are breathtaking.

Mike TERF area.I think I know where Nathaniel and I are hiking tomorrow...

Sometimes I just get so happy and excited, that I can't help it.I love to ride my bike...


My view --And near wipe-out! The things we do to get the 'perfect' angle...

I like signs like these - it makes me happy.You know...it doesn't matter one's political affiliation or foreign policy ideals. We can (and should) all thank those who serve or have served in the military. And their families - who also deal with a lot more than what most realize. There is no gray-in-between for me.

Me and the bike.Done for the day - surviving the ride upright, intact, without flats, on the same page, happy....

Jen Harrison bottle, brought to you by Jen Harrison!The best coach. Ever.

The Motherload.I would look like a loaded mother, if I ate it all though.

Post ride fuel!Now if only Powerbar had their own sushi line....now we're talking...logistically that would be kind of hard, though. And potentially really gross. Not going there - ho hum.

Happy Saturday to all!!!