Ibis Nights: The Cross Town Loop

Dodging around them was a challenge. Sometimes they were so close together that bearing left had to be followed by an immediate swerve to the right. It does not take much effort to pick up speed here; the slight downhill tendency to the land means that I will move no matter how much pedaling I might do. That is not the point of the mission though, speed is the essence. The beaten path makes that speed possible, stay true to the path and you can avoid most of the rocks; those that remain, the tips of large stones with their masses buried below ground, like icebergs in the sea, or loose ones kicked over from the verge by other passers-by are are easy enough to avoid with a quick shift of weight from one side to the other. The rocks were not the problem. The problem was the dog crap with, maybe, a little coyote scat mixed in. It was everywhere, easily doubling the number of obstacles. Apparently a greater number of Thompson Creek Trail dog walkers have discovered Powerline; since P-line is unpaved does that provide some carte blanche, to leave the piles were they drop, absolving them of responsibility to pick it up? Swerving around one pile sent me bouncing into the verge, into the loose granite, slowing, cursing. Sometimes the rocks become unavoidable and you ride over them, slightly lifting weight off saddle and pedals at the moment of impact. That is not the case with the crap, though, you don't want to run over that stuff no matter what. Great.

sun sitting atop those hills at this early point of the Loop

hawk in a tree

Sontag Greek Theatre

Sagehens evening practice