KENTUCKY - 5 million people, 15 last names.

My former student and friend Sue has a blog, too. She often posts pictures taken on her bike rides around Seattle where she lives with her husband and three kids. They're beautiful pictures of the Sound, the Olympic Mts., the architecture at the U of W, the trees and flowers of the area....

I decided I should so the same - post pics showing the scenery I have on my rides. Because Saturday rides are about distance, not speed, today was the perfect opportunity to take along my camera. I've just downloaded the snapshots and realized my 10-year old camera just doesn't capture the beauty and grandeur of cycling in the desert of AZ. But even these should give you an idea of why I'm breathless every time I go out.

I start by heading north up Lake Pleasant Pkwy. I pretty much have to start going north because any other direction takes me onto very busy surface streets that would be suicidal.
You can see already the majestic beauty all around.
At least I have a bike lane.
You may want to click to enlarge so you don't miss any of the amazing detail.



This is the intersection where I turn left and head west. This is Happy Valley Pkwy. On that northwest corner is an example of the ubiquitous shopping center with the requisite Home Depot, Kohls, Best Buy.... To the left, just out of site, is another center with a Target and other retailers essential to life in the burbs.
Notice the dark skies off to the west. I'm heading that direction. Happy Valley curves northwest and turns into Vistancia Blvd.
The wind is blowing from that direction at about 10 mph.

Don't you love the road names here? Lake Pleasant Pkwy, Happy Valley Pkwy, Deer Valley Rd., Whispering Ridge Rd....
Most places have streets named after important people - Presidents, early landowners and farmers, etc. We have street names chosen by marketing experts. Don't you want to live on Happy Valley Pkwy? Or Vista Grande? Or Eagle Trail? Never mind that those names have no basis in reality. No one has ever seen a deer anywhere near Deer Valley (which isn't a valley), there are no eagles here and "happy" doesn't fit when you've lost your big new home to foreclosure. Subliminal deceit.


Now I'm headed west. The skies are getting darker and the wind has picked up to something between 15 and 20 mph.
Off in the distance, just right of center, you can see a small "mountain" - at least what passes for one here. That's my turn-around point.
Though you can't tell from this pic it's a steady climb that gets fairly steep at points and which, combined with the headwind, is already wearing me down.




Off to the right (north) the skies are clear. And this picture gives you an idea of the sweeping vistas, the heart-stopping flora and the...
Well, why go on when you can see it for yourself?





Here's one you simply must enlarge so you can see the amazing waterfall to the left. This is the subdivision called Vistancia. I have no idea what that word means; it was probably invented in the marketing department. Those are the same people that decided a waterfall and a pond would convince us we're not living in the desert where neither of those things fit. There is one (1) natural lake in the entire state.
The sky off to the left is getting darker and the wind is blowing harder!



Here I am at the top, the turn-around point. The road just ends. Somebody at some point broke down part of the permanent barricade, probably so they could go 4-wheeling in the desert.

The temp has dropped significantly since I left home down below, the wind has doubled and that storm is headed right at me.


On longer rides I take along a PB&J to eat at the half-way point but I only take time here to wolf half of it before getting back on the bike and heading down the hill.

As I leave I check my bike's computer. I've gone a little over 12 miles and my average speed for that distance was 14.4 mph. I've never gone that slow over that distance. But if this was a moving picture you'd see the wind, which is now close to howling.

I don't have any pics of the ride home. I wasn't going to stop long enough to do that and I figured you could imagine the scenery on the way down. Although I do feel bad that you don't get to see the massive towers holding up the high voltage lines off to my right. They inspire awe as they rise above the desert.

When I got back I'd done 25 miles and my average speed over the entire distance was 17.6 mph. Coming down the hill I hit a top speed of 34.4 mph. It's amazing the motivation produced by a thunderstorm bearing down on you.

Well, there you have it. The amazing scenery awaiting anyone who rides in the Phoenix area.
Sue, aren't you just SO jealous.

In other news,

• I'm reading a very good book (more on that when I've finished it).
• I got all the old tranny oil drained out of Gerta. I don't think a 2 lb. sledge is part of the VW-approved way of getting the fill plug out but a guy has to do what a guy has to do.
• I've already had four meals and we haven't hit supper yet.
• I went to the driving range and things are coming together.
• Three loads of laundry done, folded and put away.
• Bulletins and other materials are printed, folded and ready for tomorrow.

There's more, but that's enough for one post. As hard as it is, try to wait until tomorrow night for the rest.