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Bill Bikes My bicycling expeditions and jaunts |
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Warm Springs Dam, April 2018
Grapes and Fish: A Photographic Log
14 April 2018, 27 miles
A few days ago I pedaled from my front door up to Healdsburg and back. Today I tossed the Ogre in the back of the Forester (actually, the big Ogre barely fits) and drove to Healdsburg where I began my ride. I rode up Dry Creek Road to Warm Springs dam, consumed my lunch, then pedaled down West Dry Creek Road back to the waiting Forester.It was a lovely day in a photogenic locale with vineyard after vineyard and winery after winery. It's also a popular bicycling route. I saw a racing team on a training ride, a couple of casual riding groups, many couples on rentals or bike share cycles, and the usual assortment of colorful local roadies, both male and female.
I finished the ride in time to catch the second half of the Warriors game, and they won, so the day counts as a big success.
PS: I completed my Cycle Life Challenge rides last week, but this could count as a bonus. Maybe that will earn me extra brownie points from the Goddess of the Challenge....
Bike share in Healdsburg? New to me.
Note metal horse grazing in my trunk bag.
Zagster. I guess I can sell all my bikes now and just ride bike shares.
I don't know about bike shares, but my bikes are always attracted to corrugations and other textures.
Here we go into the Dry Creek wine growing region of Sonoma County.
Also primo bicycling territory. I must have seen at least 50 cyclists today.
Howling at the sky. Wilson Winery.
Typical Dry Creek vineyard.
I never pass Dry Creek General Store without stopping to take a photo.
I'm definitely no expert, but I think this is old growth zinfandel.
The grassy "ridge" in the background is Warm Springs dam.
At the base of Warm Springs dam.
Here's where Dry Creek emerges from under the dam.
While I was nosing around, a local racing team cruised past and started goofing for the camera.
The dam was designed to accommodate the migration of native Steelhead Trout. They swim down to the ocean, then return to spawn.
There is also a fish hatchery below the dam.
Part of the fish ladder which enables the Steelhead to climb up the dam and return to Lake Sonoma.
And here are some of the big boys now. Those are definitely not minnows.
This guy hanging out just above the water might be a juicy mouthful for one of the Steelhead.
Speaking of juicy mouthfuls, it's time for lunch.
My luncheon, artfully plated, for presentation is a key element of gustatory delight.
For Keith.
I maxxed out with meticulous preparation of fresh local ingredients this morning. They don't serve haute cuisine like this in Paris!
After my delightful luncheon, I headed back in the hope I could catch at least the end of the Warriors game. It's the National Basketball Association playoffs.
Stopped to wonder why such valuable acreage is devoted to peaches instead of grapes.
Liked the weathervane on this old barn in the vineyards.
Vineyard along West Dry Creek Road.
That's Mount St Helena in the distance.
Your nattily attired Old Grumble-Face on West Dry Creek Road.
To bring a smile to the face of my ace support crew—and just in case I need another "ride with a purchase" in order to complete the Cycle Life Challenge—I picked up this trinket at the Warm Springs dam visitor center.
Summary
Date: 14 April 2018
Time: 10:00 - 1:00
Weather: 60-75° F, sunny
Route: Healdsburg - Dry Creek Rd - Warm Springs Dam - West Dry Creek Rd - Healdsburg
Distance: 27 miles
Bike: Surly Ogre
Riders: Solo
Comments? Questions? Suggestions? I'd like to hear from you.
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