Road to Rose

I kept meaning to bring the camera with me over the last couple of weeks so I could capture some of the amazing desert colors, but I forgot until this morning and the reds are all blown off and only the yellows show up. It is time for me to upgrade this camera. It's big (by today's standards); we bought it before we went to Belgium the second time---like 4 years ago, and these new cameras require no "photo-skills" which is key for a gal who has "no photo skills!"

Today was the first time I saw the baby donkeys that were born early this summer. They are soooo cute. In fact I saw lots of farm babies---ponies, calves and even a baby osterich! Wild Nevada. There is even a series called Wild Nevada that explores the diverse and unknown places around the state. One time, I was watching and they were featuring the town (town is generous---with a population of 25) of Baker, Nevada. Low and behold, my former neighbor from San Francisco was featured on the series, as he has a small hotel there. Baker looks neat. It's the last stop on Highway 50 before you hit Utah.

Speaking of that neighbor, this world is so darn small. One of the guys Mike rides with is an attorney and they were chatting about Baker and Mike said he lived across the street from a guy that moved to Baker. His friend said, "Is his name Terry?" Mike said "Indeed". It turns out this lawyer did some work for him.

On my ride home, my handsome husband pedaled up to me on the grinder climb home. We're all grins with major miles in our legs over the weekend!

And, we are leaving for Minnesota on Tuesday. Looking forward to some R&R with Minnesota Mom and Dad! Have a great week!

Sierra High...in Nevada!

John Denver found himself in the "Colorado Rocky Mountain High". Joni Taylor found herself (riding) in the Nevada High Sierra...and understood what he meant. (Ha!) Fall in Northern Nevada is simply fabulous. It's not just "good for around here" riding. It's just plain good, one would travel to go on vacation here, good riding. You don't just see for miles and miles---it looks like you can see for days and days---and all you see are mountains and more mountains and blue sky and even fall colors in the trees.

Perfect weather and all the tourist's and folks who must just live here for the summer are gone and so it is peaceful and uncrowded. Friday night, Dave Metzinger drove up for a visit. He and Mike were going to Gardnerville on Saturday to stay at another friend's and I stayed behind with the Scrapper for a "girl's night". Aside from my morning job's and hiking with Sydney---I had the weekend to myself for a couple of long, slow rides.

It was chilly in the morning on Saturday and so I got a late start and just rode out to the Mt. Rose Highway and back. But today it was a little warmer...near 70 degrees, and so I didn't need to wait for it to warm up before rolling out. There was no wind and so even though I didn't plan on going for a long ride---Geiger beckoned me. I haven't ridden up Geiger Pass since the beginning of summer because it is hot and usually windy coming home. But today was fabulous and so up I went. When I got to the top (6700' more or less), I could see the snow on Rose to the West, and snow on the peaks to the East, beyond Virginia City. It seemed like I could see all the way to Utah! Wow!

When I got home, Mike was home and we sat on the front porch after a shower and some food, just staring at the mountains and talking about our weekend bicycle-adventures. Felt like one of those "Life is good" commercials.

October rules! Happy Sunday!

Cool Morning Ride!

So on Monday's Mike takes a day off the bike which means I get to ride to work (as opposed to ride and then come home to pick up the Scrapper before heading for work). I don't always take advantage of being able to ride in, but when I do, it is a real treat. It was cold by Joni standards---you know the drill---Mike says "it's not cold", I say "it's not cold for Polar Bears".

But after two years of living in places which actually have winter, I have accumulated some gear which makes the cold tolerable. 30's/40's are cold---especially with a mountain air breeze. But boy is it clear and spectacular to see the Sierra's in high definition in the morning air. Plus I have some new Campy Sportswear tights that are just fabulous---I may feel cold...but I look "too cool for school!" Ha!

I headed towards Mogul/Verdi and looped around the neighborhoods nestled into the hills and then headed towards the Stateline and Henness Pass Road. I saw three coyote's heading in after a night of trouble making. And lots of geese and birds feeding in the mountain pastures. It was so quiet as I climbed Dog Valley road that the only sound I could hear was the whirr of my wheels as they rolled along the road. A "zen" moment. The sound of silence.

I don't care what anyone says...I still get cold no matter what I am wearing. But it was far from unpleasant. It was awesome. I headed to Boomtown and they've just finished the road leading to the big brand new Cabella's which is opening in November. Minnesota Dad will love it!

Speaking of Minnesota, I just bought our tickets and we are heading to Marshall the second week of November. I can't wait! And now life is becoming a bit more manageable after the chaos of the "pre-season" bike season madness. It will be fun to be back to my second home. I haven't been there since we left for Boston--seems like a lifetime ago.

Happy Tuesday!