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| A photograph by Socalpedalpusher on Flickr |
Yesterday a cold front moved through Southern California at least what goes for a cold front in these parts, with a high of 70F and 21C for you Euro types. When the temperature drops below 70F IMO it's perfect riding weather. I decided to get up a bit earlier (I have a really difficult time getting up early with my current schedule) then usual and make a run up the canyon.
With the Hilsen stripped down and running the Soma Xpress tires* a departure from Homer's camping persona I dropped down Wentworth Street a spirited descent and made a right onto Oro Vista which opens up into the mouth of Big Tujunga Canyon Rd. At this point on Big "T" it's rollers with a steady gentle ascent passing the Little league field, defunct archery course and on my left I could hear the water running in the wash. Another mile or so I passed the familiar sign telling me I've entered the National Forest...more climbing and then I noticed something out of the ordinary on the edges of the roadway?? I peered closer from atop my Hilsen, is that a centipede crawling on the edge of the road? I looked to the left and back to the right and dispersed at intervals there were others travelling in both directions crossing the road! I decided to pull over and have a closer inspection. They were in fact caterpillars not centipedes and upon further inspection they'd had mixed results.Strewn across the asphalt roadway lay a great many squished abruptly in their attempt to make it to the other side, or in another way of thinking they did make it to the other side. But on this physical journey they were stopped short by tons of rolling steel and rubber, no pictures taken in respect of the recently departed or the faint of heart.
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| A photograph by Socalpedalpusher on Flickr |
I continued up to my turn around point found a suitable camp spot for a future close to home bike over night and rode home buffeted by the before tail wind now substantial head wind. All in all a good way to start a work day.
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| A photograph by Socalpedalpusher on Flickr |
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As always thanks for reading and keep the rubber side down.
Why oh why do they do it? I don't really know but it is a phenomena. I think the wooly guys produce moths. They are all over Gonzales Canyon and it is one of those things that I use to mark the passage through the year. It is amazing that there are any moths based on their attrition rate.
ReplyDeleteSomas are looking sharp on your Hilsen.
Best regards,
Tom
Tom I Google searched why Capterpillars cross the road and I just got a bunch of Wooly Caterpillar hits and some stuff from the other coast about the weather predictions based on the color of their fur.
DeleteThanks for the compliment on the SOMA's they're growing on me.
Just took another look at the Hilsen and noted it is sporting what appears to be an Acorn Boxy. I have a black one for the All Road and just love it. Last weekend I had the opportunity to ride out on Rancho Toyon Place above Carmel Valley San Diego. I took a book (I Ching), sandwich, fruit and nuts with me and decided to just dwell a while at my furthest reach to the east. It was a quality experience. I hope you get to take your Big "T" ride sometime and do the same at some point of interest up there.
Delete"future close to home bike over night" I really like that idea. Even more doable than S24O. I won't give up on S24O; this sounds like another, more granular notion. Gonzales Canyon is right below me and there is plenty of space down there. These things are an opportunity for cleansing of mind and restoration of the soul.
Best Regards,
Tom
Thanks for the inspiration.
~Tom
Tom the bike overnight is still within the umbrella of an S24o. The fact is my past S24o's have been big ta do's requiring driving to bike and hitting so called legal camp sites. The close to home is a bike to camp affair. The camp sites I've reconnoitered are hobo camps. Classy Hobo though with no trace left behind :-)
DeleteSquirrels do the same thing, with the added feature of playing chicken with bicycles. They see how close they can get without getting hit, so I surmise it's an adolescent thing to prove how brave they are & impress females. On a long downhill I've had dozens of them leave the safety of the side of the road to challenge my wheels, some even stopping, starting, etc, as I approached. When they exhibit this behavior, I keep the speed way down & ride the brakes. Even an Atlantis is not suitable for hunting squirrels.
ReplyDeletedougP
Doug, thanks for the laugh...I imagine the Atlantis hitting a squirrel at speed might have dire consequences for both you and said adolescent squirrel. So perhaps an old and wise caterpillar told the younger don't cross the road even if it has better greens and the younger caterpillar said watch me pops!
DeleteFunny you should mention squirrels, last summer I times over one on my trek when two jumped out of a tree right in front... I avoided one and caught the other pretty much in the middle. Hetres just shrugged and I rolled right on and though I didn't stop to make sure the offending (ed) beast made it it did seem like he was still moving quickly after the encounter!
Deletehttp://dr2dc.blogspot.com/2013/08/bad-morning-to-be-squirrel.html
Great post and your Hilsen looks awesome!!
Tony your a bigger rider than Doug or I so that momentum helps...thanks for the compliment on the Hilsen. I saw you in a picture titled #30daysofbiking I did a double take and sure enough there you were atop that awesome Saluki.
DeleteGreat!!
ReplyDelete