11-30-2023 Ride

Went for a walk in the morning, a little easier pace than normal, heading down to the lake and back, about 3.5 miles in more than an hour.  Then I got to the WWC when it opened, it was still a little gray but not cold, and I swam 2000 yds (normal protocol) in 43 minutes.  There were some times when it didn't seem as much of a struggle as usual while swimming without the snorkel.  Feeling stronger with it, though.  The weather turned later in the morning, and it rained off and on until about 1:30.  I let it dry some, then went out for an easy, last day of the month ride, in order to get over 700 miles riding in November.  Down by the park and then up Pomerado Rd to Ted Williams Pkwy, using it to get over to Rancho Carmel Dr.  Then I followed the time trial route for the rest of the way home.  Again, at an easy pace, I'm feeling a little more of a solid baseline in my cycling, probably aided by the miles put in recently.

Avg speed = 15.0 mph. Total mileage = 16.2 mi

Avg power = 136 W. Weighted avg power = 163 W

Total elevation gain = 1060'

Avg heartrate = 133 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/10308786943

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/60153607954

In the early evening, I went over to Karl Strauss and met Blair for beer and conversation.  He's worried about the status of the HP San Diego site as well as the lack of commitment from his or Indigo's management to take on longer-term projects like Beskar.  I didn't disagree with him and encouraged him to keep his options open and stay tuned into what he can imply about future site status in particular.

11-29-2023 Ride

Went for a walk in the morning, a little over an hour, then I got ready for a bike ride with John, leaving from our house.  We headed through the neighborhood, then the extended route through the 4S Ranch neighborhood and Paseo del Sur back to Camino del Sur.  Then it was over to the 56 bike path, having to deal with a lot of traffic around the high school.  Down to Carmel Valley Rd, where we turned in order to get back home around the projected time.  Lots more traffic, again associated with another high school nearby.  After we got through that, we stayed on Carmel Valley Rd all the way over to Dove Canyon Rd, taking the little climb by Black Mountain at a fairly easy pace before enjoying the descent.  Slow up Dove Canyon Rd, then right onto RB Rd, taking it down to W Bernardo Dr and home the normal way from there.  It was a nice pace for a ride, not super fast.

Avg speed = 15.5 mph. Total mileage = 27.0 mi

Avg power = 138 W. Weighted avg power = 164 W

Total elevation gain = 1690'

Avg heartrate = 118 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/10302368431

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/60152157499

After we got back, we showered up and drove to Temecula to have lunch with Dennis (Ross was down with a head cold so he didn't show up).  Good conversation and good times, as usual.  Then it was back home for a quiet rest of the afternoon and evening.

11-28-2023 Entry

Went for a longer walk in the morning, heading over to Carranza Way and walking to the entrance to the power line access road.  I took the western path and walked all the way to its end before turning around.  Walked a total of 4 miles.  Then I went to the WWC intending to swim but found, when I got there, that my goggles had broken.  So I rode home, intending to call it a day for swimming, but Ann had two pairs of goggles, so I borrowed her better pair and went back.  Glad I did.  Even though it was cold on this day, it just made the water feel warmer.  I started getting ready for my 3000 yd swim by swimming 2500 yds, 30 lengths each with and without swim pads but no snorkel, then 20 lengths each with snorkel.  Felt the effects of 50 total lengths with swim pads, so it will be a challenge to add 10 more.  Finished in 56 minutes.  Later in the morning, I rode over to Mark Vierra's office and had a curettage and desiccation done on the little keratoacanthoma on my right arm up near my elbow.  It was a relatively painless procedure and I didn't have any pain at the site throughout the day.  In the afternoon, I put the new Gatorskin 700x25 tires on my Canyon bike, it went smoothly.  I also finished reading Susan Casey's The Underworld about deep ocean exploration.  It was a good read, she is really passionate about the ocean, and there were some intriguing characters that she met and described in the book.

11-27-2023 Ride

Went for a swim in the morning, felt good especially in the latter half, when I was wearing the swim snorkel.  Finished 2000 yds in 42 minutes, my fastest time yet for this distance.  Hung around the house afterwards, then went on a bike ride around 10:30.  I intended to do some climbing, and climbing I did.  Down by the park, then over to Highland Valley Rd and up to the 67.  It was challenging as usual, particularly the last climb.  For the others, having a lower gear helped me a lot.  Got to the top and then enjoyed the gradual downhill sections, but suffered on the false flats just before the intersection.  The wind wasn't helping, and I was feeling the effects of not having climbed a lot recently.  I turned south on the 67 and rode the stretch that was fairly flat pretty well, not as fast as I've ridden it in the past.  Was slow on the way up to the summit just beyond Mt Woodson, and I could feel it in my lower back.  I was really cautious on the downhill stretches over to Scripps-Poway Pkwy, as I was dealing with a crosswind and narrow bike lanes at times.  There were several times when my front end started wobbling, I think because of the wind and me holding onto the handlebars too tightly, passing my arm wobbling to the bike.  Held my speed more moderately on the downhill on Scripps-Poway Pkwy, where I was generally riding into a headwind.  Back to Pomerado Rd, where I turned right and had the benefit, for a time, of a tailwind.  Home the normal way from there, kinda running out of gas near the end.

Avg speed = 15.5 mph. Total mileage = 37.3 mi

Avg power = 149 W. Weighted avg power = 183 W

Total elevation gain = 2730'

Avg heartrate = 131 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/10291865780

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/60071647937

In the evening, we went to the central library downtown to hear Temple Grandin speak.  Ann and I had seen the movie over the weekend, and that turned out to be a good move.  We were near the front of the line for people who hadn't bought the book and therefore hadn't reserved a spot in the auditorium.  Got there a little after 6:00, and it wasn't until after 7:00 that they allowed us in to find seats.  It was a little tense, since we could see the auditorium filling up.  But when they let us in, we were able to get really good seats together, not too far from the stage where she spoke.  Her main topic was about handling kids who are on the spectrum, but she was entertaining in her presentation, a little weird but insightful about innovative ideas to try and get through to autistic children (and adults).  Overall, very entertaining, including the bit about people watching before the presentation even began.  We had a celebratory drink afterward before heading home.

11-26-2023 Ride

Solo ride in the morning, others were out of town or unavailable.  I decided to do at least a little bit of climbing, so I started with the time trial route over to Pomerado Rd, staying on it up to Scripps-Poway Pkwy, then turning left there to take that little steady climb, which goes until just beyond Stowe Dr, although the latter half is quite gradual.  Then I rode down to the point where you can get over to Sycamore Canyon Rd, taking that path and deciding on a whim to ride up to the end of the road.  This is another steady climb, maxing out at times at 4-5%.  Took a couple of pictures at the top, then enjoyed the winding descent, staying on Sycamore Canyon Rd all the way until it dead-ended into Garden Rd.  Used this route to get over to Poway Rd, and on another whim turned right there and got some more climbing in, up to Espola Rd.  This had some steeper sections in it, but it's not too long if you turn there.  Fast descent with a very wide bike lane back to Twin Peaks Rd, continuing on Espola Rd for another gradual climb up to the high school.  Then it was gradual descent time, and I tried to keep pedaling during much of this descent.  Took RB Rd back to W Bernardo Dr, then home the normal way, except for taking Azucar Way.  Felt good at times on the climbs, legs were holding up after the previous day's ride, which was generally a different type of exertion.

Avg speed = 16.1 mph. Total mileage = 26.3 mi

Avg power =164 W. Weighted avg power= 190 W

Total elevation gain = 1800'

Avg heartrate = 122 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/10286039574

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/60066507041

We went over to Emily's apartment for lunch (pizza) and book club discussion on Demon Copperhead.  I had finished it on Friday.  It was a good read, first paper book I've read in a long time.  The general plot followed that of David Copperfield, but Barbara Kingsolver set the action in modern Appalachia and emphasized the problems caused by the opioid epidemic.  The story was narrated by the title character.

11-25-2023 Ride

Solo ride over to Gideon's house, and then we rode together through the 4S Ranch neighborhood, up to Ralphs Ranch Rd and then the "standard" way from there, over to the 4S Target.  On this Bisikleta ride, there were, at the start:  Gideon, Jed, Nel, Jamil, Kamal, Kamal's friend Maher, and Perse.  We rode a standard route, out to San Dieguito Rd, over to El Camino Real, then Via de la Valle to PCH.  From there, we rode down to the 7-Eleven.  It was a fairly fast pace throughout but not overly fast.  Gideon rode fast in the first 2/3 of the ride, and Jed was his usual strong self.  I stayed near the front for most of the ride.  On the way back, we retraced our route back to the starting point, deciding to cut it short from the originally planned route up through Del Mar.  I had a steady pace up Three Witches on the return but not anywhere near my pace from earlier in the week.  Rode home through the neighborhood, staying on Matinal Rd until W Bernardo Dr and then taking it down to the park to ensure being over 50 miles for the ride.  Home the normal way from there.  Felt fine on this ride, I'm starting to feel a sense of reserve power that I can draw on when I need it, even later in rides.

Avg speed = 17.8 mph. Total mileage = 50.4 mi

Bisikleta route avg speed = 18.8 mph

Avg power = 156 W. Weighted avg power = 183 W

Total elevation gain = 2020'

Avg heartrate = 119 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/10280648649

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/60025889425

11-24-2023 Entry

No ride on this day, my legs needed a break.  Instead, I took a longer walk, then went to the WWC for a swim, 2250 yds in about 48 minutes.  After I got home, I got cleaned up, then Laura and I drove downtown to go to the Midway museum.  I don't think either one of us anticipated how crowded it would be, either for the traffic (gridlock by the Midway parking) or the number of people at the museum.  In any case, we parked close to Seaport Village and walked about 8 minutes to the Midway, then after something of a delay (not too bad) we got into the museum.  It was all decked out in Christmas theme, which was pretty corny (Laura found it really annoying).  The main hangar deck contained many early planes (including some from WWII, even though the Midway didn't see action there) and included a display about its role in evacuating people from Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War.  Later on, when we were on the flight deck, we watched a presentation from a former pilot of AWACs planes on the difficulties of landing a plane on a carrier.  Really excellent, he was a very good speaker.  Then he introduced Vern Jumper, who was the Air Boss on the Midway during Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of civilians from Saigon.  Vern talked about those days and shared some cool pictures from that time, again really interesting.  We walked around the flight deck and listened to the audio self-tour, which was pretty decent.  By that time, we were getting closer to the limit for parking, so we headed back downstairs and started on the belowdecks tour before realizing we didn't have enough time to complete it.  So we turned around and headed back out.  A good museum, still a fair amount to see that we didn't get to.  Maybe one day I'll go down there and take my time going through the rest of it on a less busy day.  Good lunch of leftovers at home after we got back, then it was a quiet afternoon and evening.

11-23-2023 Ride

Ride over to the parking lot by Marco's Pizza to see if anybody else from Bisikleta was interested in riding on Thanksgiving Day morning.  Nope.  It was cool but not chilly, although the initial downhills were bracing.  Down by the park and over onto Pomerado Rd, taking it up to RB Rd, where I turned left.  Then it was up by the high school and down to Twin Peaks Rd.  Over to Community Rd, turning left there and riding up to Metate Ln.  So, same route as the other day, until I got the flat.  I had set my Wahoo to follow this route, and it was all messed up, not sure what was going on.  Kinda annoying.  Over to Pomerado Rd, turning left and then right onto Old Pomerado Rd, taking this up to the little spur that got me onto Scripps-Poway Pkwy.  I stopped there for a banana break and then took this little climb slowly.  Never really pushed the pace on this ride, no real need to do so.  Up to Springbrook Dr, turning right and taking this nice sweeping downhill to Sabre Springs Pkwy, where I turned left and followed it, and Rancho Carmel Dr, to Carmel Mountain Rd.  Turned right there and then rode up to Camino del Norte, and from here I followed the time trial route back home.  It was a nice little ride.

Avg speed = 16.4 mph. Total mileage = 26.2 mi

Avg power = 156 W. Weighted avg power = 175 W

Total elevation gain = 1700'

Avg heartrate = 102 bpm (!!!, not sure if this is real)

https://www.strava.com/activities/10269375209

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/60035430255

Got home, and Laura and I drove to the store for some last-minute dinner items, then I came home and baked the pumpkin pie.  For next year, I'm making the pie dough the night before and letting it cool in the fridge overnight.  I also ended up feeding the Garrett family dog, Haley, twice, since they were up spending Thanksgiving with Elizabeth in Newport Beach.  Lots of doing dishes while food was being prepared, so it wasn't overwhelming after dinner.  Laura made potatoes au gratin, Caleb made spicy green beans, and Emily made potato rolls.  Duck, two different kinds, and stuffing/dressing.  Ann made a lemon meringue pie, and Emily brought a Kirkland pecan pie (not so good).  Dinner was delicious, then afterwards we watched a series of Praise Singer group song videos recorded by Joey or the church.  Was kinda sad to watch them, but on the other hand it felt like they were from an earlier chapter in my life.

11-22-2023 Ride

Went for a walk in the early morning, had originally intended to do an early morning ride but got delayed.  So, walk instead.  Then I went to the WWC and swam the normal 2000 yard routine in about 45 minutes.  At the start of the swim, I was about 5 lengths in and wondering if I was going to be able to finish.  Just felt really tired for a bit there, but I got over it and powered through.  As soon as I got home, I changed into cycling gear and headed out, riding through the neighborhood and then the 4S Ranch neighborhood to Albert Ave.  In the early stages of the ride, I couldn't tell where the wind was coming from.  Temperature was just about perfect at the start.  Over to Camino del Sur, which I took down to the 56 bike path, keeping my pace steady but not scorching on the gradual climb to Carmel Valley Rd.  I also took it fairly easy on the bike path section down to El Camino Real, steady but not overdoing it.  Similarly for the ride up into Del Mar Heights.  Then it was down into the flats and the turn onto San Dieguito Rd.  Steady pace on this flat section, keeping it above 20 mph for nearly all of this stretch.  The wind, by this time, was coming from the west, and I saw an opportunity to use it to my advantage on the Three Witches climb.  Legs were a little sore from all the recent exercise, and I didn't know how that was going to work out.  But I started strong and tried to keep a high pace, standing up on the latter portions of the first two hills and pushing hard on the third hill.  Set a PR of 8:12 on the climb, and I was gassed at the top, it took me a little bit to recover and continue riding.  To Camino del Sur, taking it to Paseo Del Sur and riding through that neighborhood until getting back onto Camino del Sur by the Target.  Then it was home the new normal way, down RB Rd to W Bernardo Dr and the usual way back from there.  Legs were feeling the effects of the ride near the end, but they didn't hurt during the day, were just tired-feeling.  My Fitbit ran out of power about 30 miles into the ride, so I didn't get the full route captured.

Avg speed = 17.1 mph. Total mileage = 34.2 mi

Avg power = 149 W. Weighted avg power = 179 W

Total elevation gain = 1830'

Avg heartrate = 128 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/10264444087

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/59979399655

11-21-2023 Ride

Started off the morning with a combined walk and jog, jogging for more than half of the time.  Down by the park and across the pedestrian bridge, out to the 2 mile mark before turning around.  Felt good while jogging, but I didn't push it too hard, not wanting to overtax my leg muscles.  Later on, I went for a swim at the WWC, 2500 yards following the standard protocol for the first 2000 yards and then finishing with 500 yards (20 lengths) of freestyle without snorkel or swim pads.  At one point, I wasn't sure whether I had done 10 or 20 lengths of swim snorkel and pads, but I guessed correctly.  Had some water getting into my goggles at the start, I think I need new ones.  As soon as I got home, I got ready for a bike ride, intending to do about 25 miles and map out the proposed Thanksgiving day route.  Down by the park and then up Pomerado Rd to RB Rd, keeping a slow pace.  The wind was really gusty, and it was hard to tell which direction it was coming from, mostly from the east.  Up Espola Rd past the high school, then down to Twin Peaks Rd, where I turned and rode over to Community Rd.  Turned left there and headed over to Metate Ln.  Right before this turn, I noticed my rear tire was going flat.  Not again!  So I turned and then changed the tire while sitting on the sidewalk and having to dodge a guy who was cutting the grass on a riding lawn mower.  I had a devil of a time getting the tire bead off the rim, but it was easier to put the tire back on, having done this numerous times in the past few days.  The rear tire was shot, and that is a likely reason why I have had so many flats the last few days.  So I decided to cut the ride short and ride home carefully, not wanting to have to call Ann to pick me up again.  Over to Pomerado Rd, turning right and taking it back to RB Rd, then home the normal way via W Bernardo Dr.  Legs felt okay after the three different forms of exercise.  Later, I took the tire off and replaced it with a 23 mm Gatorskin tire that had some miles on it but was in much better shape.

Avg speed = 15.1 mph. Total mileage = 21.1 mi

Avg power = 121 W. Weighted avg power = 148 W

Total elevation gain = 1000'

Avg heartrate = 123 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/10258552629

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/59983462124

11-20-2023 Entry

No bike ride on this day, my legs needed a rest.  So I went for a swim, 2250 yards in 50 minutes, with the normal routine for the first 2000 yards and the last 10 lengths freestyle without snorkel or swim pads.  Ann and I went to DQ for BOGO Blizzards in the afternoon, and before then I fooled with bike tires and tubes.  Also ordered a new set of Gatorskin tires, as my current tires are looking pretty thin in the tread and not appearing to offer much puncture protection.  Then I went for a walk in the late afternoon, temperature was nice, but it was kinda windy.  Glad I didn't go for a ride instead.  Quiet evening at home, some clean-up to get ready for Laura's stay.

11-19-2023 Ride

This was kind of an odd ride.  I headed out by the park and over the pedestrian bridge to get to Via Rancho Pkwy, then rode toward Del Dios Hwy.  As I was crossing the freeway, I noticed that my Wahoo was in a non-standard state.  Tried to get it back to normal, ended up having to power it off and then back on, which restored the ride and seemed to work.  Up the climb on Via Rancho Pkwy, which was a workout as usual.  Turned right on Del Dios Hwy/Valley Pkwy and rode up to Citracado Pkwy, turning right there and going through the neighborhood to Dave's new place.  I met him there, and we rode back to Valley Pkwy and then back to Via Rancho Pkwy.  Back the way I came, and on the last downhill before the freeway I felt my rear tire going flat.  Rats!  Not another one.  I nursed it across the freeway and changed the tire in front of the gas station, with Dave helping me.  Then we continued on, heading up BVP all the way to Valley Pkwy, turning right there and riding up to El Norte Pkwy, where we turned left.  The roads were damp, but throughout the ride we were able to avoid getting rained on.  We took El Norte Pkwy to Centre City Pkwy, turning left there and riding back into town until we turned right on Valley Pkwy and headed back to his house.  This is a new time trial route from his new place, a fairly decent route with no really steep sections and lots of gradual climbing.  The weather was still looking sketchy when we got back to his place, so I didn't stay long.  For the return, I headed up Citracado Pkwy to Scenic Trail Way, turning right there to get over to Gamble Ln.  This road has a chain barrier across it, to prevent people from cutting through the neighborhood.  I got through the barrier and, on the steep downhill of what was a poorly maintained road, I hit a dip that probably caused the second puncture of the day, a slow one.  I rode on it carefully to Citracado Pkwy and past the freeway, then used the last of the air in my CO2 cartridge to pump it up enough to ride a little longer, over to Alexander Dr and then down Brotherton Rd to Centre City Pkwy, where I waited for Ann to come pick me up.  Pretty frustrating.  Curiously, both punctures were near the stems of the tubes, but I couldn't see anything in the tires that caused them.

Avg speed = 15.3 mph. Total mileage = 28.7 mi

Avg power = 136 W. Weighted avg power = 165 W

Total elevation gain = 1470'

Avg heartrate = 124 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/10247301039

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/59917753587

Finished The Fall, by Michael Wolff.  Was a good insight into Rupert Murdoch's family and legacy and its relationship to News Corp and Fox, particularly focusing on Fox News.  I recently heard that Lachlan has become the CEO of Fox after Rupert stepped down.  Will be interesting to see how it translates into Fox News' coverage of the 2024 elections.  I also started The Underworld, by Susan Casey, who wrote The Wave, which I enjoyed reading.  It's about exploration of the deep ocean.

11-18-2023 Ride

Birthday ride with Bisikleta riders.  There was rain in the forecast, but the chance was low and it looked just cloudy when I left home.  Through the neighborhood and the extended way through the 4S Ranch neighborhood to the 4S Target.  On this ride, at the start, were: Nel, Eric, Jed, Jamil, Charlie, and Sassan (he just got a new bike, a Canyon Endurace, really pretty).  We headed down Camino del Sur to San Dieguito Rd, then to El Apajo.  Sassan had the route mapped into his Garmin, so we followed his lead.  Over to Via de la Valle, and I led the way up the little climb to Paseo Delicias.  Then we rode to El Camino del Norte, and at the turn I waited for everybody to catch up before heading out.  I tried to catch back up to Jed and Sassan in the lead, but they were too far ahead.  On this stretch, Aaron caught up with us (he must have been riding fast) and rode with us for much of the rest of the ride.  We headed over to Rancho Santa Fe Rd and took it to Olivenhain Rd, then down to El Camino Real.  Over to La Costa Ave, where we turned left and had a decent pace line, along with a couple of other riders that we picked up for this stretch.  Took it all the way to PCH, where we turned right to put some more distance in.  I had been sensing some softness in my rear tire, and along this stretch it got too much to ignore, so I pulled over and fixed the flat while the others continued on.  As I was finishing up, Aaron rode back and helped me put my stuff back in the saddle bag, then we rode to meet up with them at the 7-Eleven.  At this point is when it started to sprinkle pretty heavily.  By the time we got to the rest stop, the rain had let up.  Rob had also gotten up late for the ride, so he met the others at this spot.  After a relatively short break (for me and Aaron, at least), we continued on, along PCH back to Via de la Valle.  The original route had us continuing on into Del Mar, but by this time it was really raining, and I proposed cutting the route short.  All concurred, so we turned there and took the normal way back.  By the time we got to San Dieguito Rd, the rain had let up, so we had another decent pace line on this stretch, with a short break at the gas station before Three Witches.  Charlie was feeling it in his legs and was slow as a result, so I rode with him at the back of the group the rest of the way returning to the Target.  I was also feeling kinda run down, maybe from all the recent miles, so I didn't mind riding at a slower pace.  Back to the meet-up point, where I didn't stay long before heading home, taking RB Rd to W Bernardo Dr and home from there.  Was slow on this last stretch, and thankfully no more rain fell before I got home.  Legs were fine, no cramping, but they were definitely tired.

Avg speed = 17.2 mph. Total mileage = 53.9 mi

Avg power = 152 W. Weighted avg power = 177 W

Total elevation gain = 2460'

Avg heartrate = 124 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/10241470668

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/59943437705

11-17-2023 Ride

No walk in the early morning, I did go for a swim at the WWC, getting there when it opened.  As the weather cools and rain comes through the area, I don't think I'll have to worry as much about arriving early to get a swimming lane.  Just a couple of us in the pool on this day.  I did the standard 2000 yards with and without swim pads and swim snorkel.  Without the snorkel, my swimming was ragged and I struggled at times to find a rhythm in my stroke and breathing.  Finished in about 45 minutes.  I got home and hung around the house until a little before 10:00, when I went for a ride.  Down by the park and then up Pomerado Rd, going steadily but not pushing the pace.  Felt a little tiredness in my legs from the previous day's ride, so that also slowed me down.  When I got up to Twin Peaks Rd, I saw Romeo from Adobo Velo and Bisikleta, and we chatted for a short while, also taking a picture to post on WhatsApp.  Then I continued on Pomerado Rd while he turned to head over to the 56 bike path.  I rode up to Old Pomerado Rd and, on a whim, turned there, taking it to its dead end and then riding up the little access path to get to Scripps-Poway Pkwy.  From there, I climbed, slowly, up to Springhurst Dr, then took it down to Sabre Springs Pkwy.  The wind was generally coming from the south, so I benefited from this tailwind for much of the ride back.  Rode over to Poway Rd and from there I stayed on the time trial route back home.

Avg speed = 16.3 mph. Total mileage = 21.4 mi

Avg power = 143 W. Weighted avg power = 167 W

Total elevation gain = 1360'

Avg heartrate = 130 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/10235636577

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/59871620886

Later in the afternoon, we dropped pension checks off at the credit union and then drove over to east Escondido to donate my old Univega bike to the Valley Thrift Store.  It was a slightly sad moment to say goodbye to that bike, which probably has more miles on it than any other I have owned.  Got some bedside lamps while we were there, then we headed to Michael's where I bought some rubber cement to use patching inner tubes.  I went for a walk in the evening before dinner and just before sunset, a little less than 2 miles.

11-16-2023 Ride

Went for a shorter walk in the morning, about 2.7 miles, with the intention of riding later and adding more steps that way.  Before going for a swim, I rode over to Krispy Kreme to pick up donuts for coffee with John Helfrick and Brooke Engle.  It was not a good experience.  The ride over there on my scooter took a lot longer than I thought it would, and six donuts were $15.00!  I'm done with that place.  Got over to the WWC and into the pool around 9:15, not so many swimmers so that wasn't a problem.  Water was comparatively warm.  I swam for 1250 yards and changed to head over to the HP Cafe to meet John and Brooke.  We talked about changes - Scott Norum leaving and Janique Reeves being put on WFR - and the situation at work doesn't look so promising for the future.  I am so glad I was able to get out when I did.

In the afternoon, I was planning to ride to a Whole Foods Market and drop off a return for Amazon, so Ann and I decided to meet down at Del Mar beach.  I rode through the neighborhood and then through the 4S Ranch neighborhood up to Ralphs Ranch Rd, where I turned.  Then I continued through the neighborhood the usual way to Camino del Sur, turning right there and taking it, at a more measured pace, to Carmel Valley Rd, where I turned right.  Rode down to Del Mar Heights Rd and turned right there, taking it to Carmel Canyon Rd, turning left there.  Down to Carmel Country Rd, which is farther than I had remembered, and I turned there to get over to the 56 bike path, which I took down to El Camino Real.  From there, it was the normal way to PCH, riding up into Del Mar and putting a little more effort into the little climb there.  Then I took Jimmy Durante Blvd over to Via de la Valle to get to Whole Foods, where the return item dropoff went smoothly (would be a hassle if you have to do the self-serve thing, but somebody took care of it for me).  Then I took Via de la Valle back to PCH and then back to Del Mar, where Ann had parked the car not too far from the main corner.

Avg speed = 15.8 mph. Total mileage = 26.5 mi

Avg power = 136 W. Weighted avg power = 168 W

Total elevation gain = 1240'

Avg heartrate = 124 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/10231927779

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/59917028188

I walked down to Seagrove Park and sat on a bench overlooking the ocean until Ann showed up.  We walked along the sidewalk, I wasn't interested in walking on the sand, and we had a good view of the sunset, where both of us clearly saw a green flash.  Amazing!  Then we walked back to the car and had dinner at a little Thai food restaurant, Bangkok Bay, in Solana Beach.  Food there was good, mine was fairly spicy, and I paid for the spice later by a restless sleep.  Then we drove home.

11-15-2023 Ride

Well, this was an interesting ride.  I intended to ride a little longer, given the forecast of rain in the latter part of this week.  So I headed out by the park and over the pedestrian bridge to BVP, taking it up to Sunset Dr and turning there to get to Juniper St.  Lots of commuter traffic on BVP, and there was road construction by San Pasqual HS.  I took Juniper St to Valley Pkwy and then over to Broadway.  All the way out to Jesmond Dene Rd, turning there and taking it to Centre City Pkwy.  That little climb to the top of Jesmond Dene Rd was a challenge, as always.  Rode downhill and past the Lawrence Welk Resort, staying on Old 395 past Gopher Canyon Rd and Camino del Rey.  The climb from there is about 1.5 miles, averaging 6% grade.  It was particularly steep on the stretch crossing over I-15, then it got more gradual.  When I got to W Lilac Rd, I turned right initially, rode across the bridge over the freeway, then turned around and took it down toward Bonsall.  This is a steady descent with just a single little uphill stretch.  The wind was swirling, so I watched my speed and didn't try to push it too hard.  When I got down to Camino del Rey, I turned left and rode back to Old 395.  I had forgotten that this stretch has a slight uphill gradient, and my back was feeling it on that stretch.  More climbing when I got back to Old 395, first to get to Gopher Canyon Rd and then to climb back toward Deer Springs Rd.  There was a flat section before Lawrence Welk Resort, and then it started up, first slightly and then more.  It was a fairly long climb, >2 miles, but not so steep for very long. I rode back to Jesmond Dene Rd and then took Broadway back to Country Club Ln, turning left there.  Rode up to Ash St, turning right and heading up this little climb before dropping down to El Norte Pkwy, where I turned left to get some more miles in.  Up to this point, the ride temperature and conditions had been close to ideal, overcast and cool.  As I started heading up El Norte Pkwy, some intermittent raindrops started falling.  By the time I got to Valley Pkwy, they were more regular, and when I turned onto BVP, it was raining.  I stopped and put my lightweight jacket back on, this time to protect me from rain rather than cold.  All the way on BVP, I got rained on, and it was steady for much of this section.  Not great.  On the descent toward Sunset Dr, the road condition was terrible, and I slowed way down, front wheel was wobbling from me shivering, most likely.  I took it really easy from then on, poor riding conditions and I was chilled and really wet.  Back over the pedestrian bridge, by this time the rain had let up and I was just dealing with slick roads.  Home the normal way, and I was really glad to be done here.  Shoes and socks were completely soaked, as were my legs.  My jacket helped keep me relatively dry up top, but even still I was quite wet.  Legs held up, and other than the section on Camino del Rey my back was generally fine.  But my legs were tired after the ride.

Avg speed = 16.4 mph. Total mileage = 53.4 mi

Avg power = 146 W. Weighted avg power = 176 W

Total elevation gain = 3020'

Avg heartrate = 131 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/10224818514

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/59852678725

I finished the latest book I've been reading in The Expanse series, Cibola Burn.  This one was about colonization of the first world accessible through the Ring artifact that was generated by the protomolecule.  Two competing factions, some Belter settlers and a UN-approved corporation ship, are in conflict with each other, and the crew of the Rocinante get in the middle of it to try and help resolve things.  Books are pretty well written, although the characters are fairly one-dimensional.  Stories flow pretty well.  I checked out Michael Wolff's The Fall, about the intrigue at Fox and the bickering among members of the Murdoch family - Rupert, Lachlan, James, and Elisabeth - along with some of the notables at Fox News, including Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson.  None of them is portrayed in a flattering light, and the book is scathing in its portrayal of the television industry in general, and news channels in particular.

I'll also capture here some details of the previous book I was reading, Abaddon's Gate, another one in The Expanse series.  In this one, a number of ships pass through the Ring formed by the protomolecule, including the Rocinante.  Holden and crew are involved in making peace among these ships, including a major conflict that breaks out on the Behemoth, which was what the Nauvoo was renamed.  Another decent read, with more than its share of fight scenes.

11-14-2023 Entry

Got up a little early and went for a walk through the Lake Shadows local neighborhood and the next one up Foley Rd, for about an hour. Back at the lake house, I talked to Mom for a while, had a shower, and got packed up to head to the airport for our flight back home, which connected through Dallas. Had to pay a $75 fee to check my bike, which was an unwelcome surprise. Next time, when they ask me what's in the bag, I'll tell them it's equipment for a training presentation. 

11-13-2023 Entry

Quiet morning, went for a long walk in late morning out through the nearby neighborhoods. Then in the early afternoon we went out to lunch with Mom for her 90th birthday. New York style pizza, it was pretty good. We stopped at the store on the way home and got some stuff for dinner. After we got back in the car, I had to pee, so I stopped at a Walgreens and ran in there. Back to the lake house for a quiet afternoon with some conversation and reading. Dinner was stuffed mushrooms, using a recipe based on a suggestion that Ross made. The three of us ate, then later had some of the lemon meringue pie that Ben had brought to the party. More conversation and reminiscences, most of them about her early marriage years and the time leading up to the wedding. 

11-12-2023 Entry

We got up and chatted in the morning before heading over to pick up some salads and the subs in Atascocita. By the time we got back, many of the others had shown up. Eventually, all of Mark's family and most of Ben's showed up, Amber had to work, and Carrie didn't make it. Pat Raines also came over. The food layout was nicely done, and the event was upbeat, low-key, and without drama. No alcohol, which was a plus IMHO. Everybody behaved, and Mom was in good spirits and didn't overdo it. Ross took a fair number of pictures, and both Ross and Ben captured a family photo with most of us in it. It was quiet after the party, we had stir-fry for dinner before Laura had to go to the airport. Mom went to the airport with us, and the weather on the drive there and back was crappy. I just took it easy, no problems. After we got back, I still had a lot of steps to collect, so I ended up walking on all the streets in our Lake Shadows neighborhood. Weather was fine, just a little dripping. Watched a little football after I got back and had some more to eat, don't know why I was so hungry on this day, since there was so much food. 

11-11-2023 Ride

A good day riding. When I woke up, Mark texted me and gave the green light for us to meet at George Bush Park, and I suggested a 7:00 meeting time. I drove over there and met up with him in a parking lot. We got our stuff ready and headed out generally east. The trail was nice, but there were a lot of runners to watch out for. We rode out until the trail turned into a road and then petered out by Addicks Dam. We found a trail along the dam and took it generally south until another trail off to the left showed up. This one eventually took us to Terry Hershey Park, and we rode around there for a while until we ran out of trail, at which point I took the lead and retraced our route. We rode, twice, through a gathering of people waiting for runners at a finish line, and it was funny. After we got back to the starting point, we kept going and rode that trail until it also petered out. Then we reversed our route and rode back the same way. Many laughs and an easy pace throughout. The weather held out, no rain and it stayed cool.

Avg speed = 13.5 mph. Total mileage = 28.5 mi

Avg power = 87 W. Weighted avg power = 94 W

Total elevation gain = 230'

Avg heartrate = 110 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/10202428481

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/59741496928

In the early afternoon, Ann, Laura, and I drove over to Mom's house and  saw her and Ross. We visited with them in the afternoon, taking a run up to the grocery store to get some things for dinner for the next two nights. Dinner and the evening were nice and quiet. I also placed the order for the sub sandwiches in the afternoon. I went out for a short walk after dinner. 

11-10-2023 Ride

 Had a fairly quiet morning at Kathy's house, then they decided to go see a movie, Priscilla. No interest from me, so I decided to go for a bike ride. The weather was overcast but not raining. I put my rain jacket on and headed out to Mason Rd, turning left and riding up to Schiel Rd. Turned left there after having noticed I was riding into a noticeable headwind. Rode over to Mueschke Rd and turned left there with the intent to work hard on the way out. Stayed on this road, which was four-lane and fine past Grand Pkwy. Then it got down to two-lane with a turn lane in the middle and not much shoulder, this was Grand Pines Dr. I got through that section and made it to a stretch with more of a shoulder, this was Nicholls Sawmill Rd. When I got past 12 miles out, I looked for a place to turn around, as I was ready to be done and it was sprinkling just a little bit. On the way back, for much of it I had the wind at my back and made good time, still having enough legs to push the pace. Rode the return a lot faster than the way out, felt good to be tooling along at 23-25 mph.

Avg speed = 18.3 mph. Total mileage = 25.7 mi

Avg power = 179 W. Weighted avg power = 184 W

Total elevation gain = 370'

Avg heartrate = 136 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/10195702179

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/59742016975

In the evening, we went out for TexMex food at Lupe Tortilla Restaurant, starting with drinks while we waited for a table and for Ben, Melody, and the twins to show up. The dinner was pretty good, and I talked with Ben for most of the time,about their rental properties, sports, and his growing interest in pickleball. Apparently, he's pretty good at it. We continued the conversation back at Kathy's house after dinner and got to hear a lot more about the girls and their activities. Nice evening. 

11/09/2023 Ride

Solo ride in the morning while staying at Kathy's house. I had only a vague idea of driving out to Waller and following a route from mapmyride. But Kathy suggested starting from Zube park, which turned out to be in Hockley, so I made my way to there, backtracking on the 290 after passing the exit for it. When I got there, I looked at the map and saw that Roberts Rd led to Waller-Tomball Rd, which seemed promising. So that's the way I went. Seemed like a bigger effort  than expected on Roberts Rd, which was dead flat. Headed toward Waller once I got onto the next road, also very flat. That one had a very thin side lane, about the width of my handlebars. Some, not a lot, traffic to deal with, but it was fine. At this point, the wind was more helping me, and I made better time. Out to the old 290,where I turned and headed toward Hempstead. Again good time on this section, I was feeling strong and riding with the wind. A little waviness on this road but not much. This stretch of the ride went reasonably quickly, as I rode through Waller, past Prairie View, and into old Hempstead. That's where I turned around and rode back the same way, now into the wind, which wasn't really stiff but was noticeable. I stopped and had a couple of donuts, not so great but welcome energy. For a while, I kept up a pace around 19 mph, but eventually my back started to stiffen up from the constant pedaling, and I slowed down some. The stretch back on Waller-Tomball Rd was tough, and I was glad to make the turn onto Roberts Rd, where the wind helped a little bit. By that time my back was acting up, so I couldn't sustain a high pace. I got back to the car and found I had left the driver-side door open. Oops! Luckily nobody had bothered the car.

Avg sdpeed = 18.5 mph. Total mileage = 30.6 mi

Avg power = 152 W. Weighted avg power = 158 W.

Total elevation gain = 410'

Avg heartrate = 139 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/10190961122

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/59739562172

Was glad to be done, but I was really thirsty and needed some food, so I stopped at the H.E.B. on the way back and got some food and a bottle of soda. In the early afternoon, I drove to the airport and picked up Laura, got there just as she was getting to the arrivals spot. We drove back through steady rain, moderate traffic so Google Maps routed us through surface streets to 1960. We stopped at a Pho place and Laura had lunch while we chatted and she updated me on the job and her search for a new position. Then we headed to Kathy's house and met up with the others who had gone to the Nutcracker Christmas Market down by the old Astrodome. For dinner we had BBQ, and after dinner I went for a walk in the rain, pretty miserable. I got soaked walking for a little over 2 miles. 

11/08/2023 Entry

Up at 3:45 to get to the airport for a 6:30 flight. I had packed my bike, and the baggage check went smoothly. Flight to Las Vegas and a quick change to the flight into IAH. All went fine, although it seemed like we were delayed landing in Houston. I picked up my bike and we got the rental car from Alamo, no waiting and very good service. It was a Chevy Blazer, pretty nice although the cargo area was smaller than expected. We didn't have too much traffic on the way over to Kathy's house, just by the I-45 interchange. Got there okay and had a quiet afternoon. I put my bike together in the twilight, and it went without any difficulties. After dinner, I went for a walk in the neighborhood, about 2 miles.

11-07-2023 Ride

Solo ride in the morning, this time a little more successful in keeping my pace modest.  Headed down by the park and over to Highland Valley Rd, taking it up to a turning point on the way up the first climb, where I turned around and rode back to Pomerado Rd.  Up to Ted Williams Pkwy, turning right there and then right onto Rancho Carmel Dr, riding past the post office.  Up to Carmel Mountain Rd, turning left and riding past the high school and staying on Paseo Lucido through the light at Bernardo Heights Pkwy, riding down to the second intersection and turning right there.  To Bernardo Center Dr, then a left on RB Rd and a ride up to Olmeda Way to get to Capilla Rd.  Up to Matinal Rd, turning right and taking it down to W Bernardo Dr.  Then it was down to Aguamiel Rd and home from there.  Felt good on the ride, day was overcast and stayed cool.

Avg speed = 16.3 mph. Total mileage = 23.1 mi

Avg power = 141 W. Weighted avg power = 167 W

Total elevation gain = 1480'

Avg heartrate = 125 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/10177271179

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/59670802969

11-06-2023 Ride

Solo ride where I took advantage of the time change and got going early.  I originally intended to make this a relatively low-impact ride, but it didn't work out that way as much as I wished.  Was cool but not cold at the start.  Through the neighborhood and over to Dove Canyon Rd, taking it to Carmel Valley Rd and riding up the two little climbing stretches, the first one pretty aggressively.  Then it was down to Camino del Sur, taking a left there.  As I approached Westview HS, I rode into fog, which generally stayed with me for a significant portion of the rest of the ride.  Fog was pretty dense on sections of the 56 bike path, and I was cautious about visibility and slickness of the roads/trails.  Got to El Camino Real, and I paused there to eat a banana before heading up to Del Mar Heights.  In this section of the ride, I probably dialed it back more than most of the other sections.  Carefully down the descent into the flats due to road conditions, then a right turn onto San Dieguito Rd.  I made decent time riding solo across the flats to the base of Three Witches, and I approached it pretty quickly.  Not all out in the middle section of this climb, but I did really well on the third climb.  At the top of the climb, I rode above the fog bank and was done with it for the duration of the ride.  Back to Camino del Sur, taking it to Paseo del Sur and staying on this road until Four Gee Rd and the ride through the 4S Ranch neighborhood, the long one in reverse up by the water tower.  Then it was home through the neighborhood.  Felt pretty good on this ride at times, I can tell that my endurance baseline is improving.

Avg speed = 16.6 mph. Total mileage = 33.8 mi

Avg power = 155 W. Weighted avg power = 189 W

Total elevation gain = 2100'

Avg heartrate = 132 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/10171216529

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/59633430664

I had lunch with Dave Helfrick at Cocina del Charro.  Food was decent.  He seems like he is in a better place.  Living in a house with 3 other roommates, and that appears stable.  Going to Emmanuel Faith Church and appreciating the worship services.  Later in the afternoon, I went to the WWC for a swim, 2000 yds in 45 minutes, although I would have guessed it was slower.  Didn't really feel the energy during the swim, which had the routine 4 segments.  Swimming after a big lunch isn't a great idea, and I felt bogged down by wearing my rash guard to protect me from the sun on my back.  Ann went to the beach in the afternoon with Kay.  Finished Abaddon's Gate, the third book in The Expanse series.  The title refers to a gate created by the protomolecule that is a wormhole into an area of space where gates to other parts of the universe are also located.  The protomolecule causes ships to rapidly decelerate as part of a reaction to its perceived threat from them.  So a number of ships, including the Rocinante, get trapped beyond this gate and conflict ensues.

11-05-2023 Ride

Time trial route with John at a slow pace.  I had texted Dave to join as well but didn't hear back.  It was cool at the start, not as cold as I thought it would be, and the temperature increased by 15 degrees in the time we rode.  When we got back home, Dave's car was there.  He ended up riding as well, had replied to my text but didn't hit the Send button.  I chatted with him a little when he got back.

Avg speed = 14.6 mph. Total mileage = 17.6 mi

Avg power = 124 W. Weighted avg power = 145 W

Total elevation gain = 1030'

Avg heartrate = 110 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/10165935723

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/59676572963

In the evening, we went over to Emily's and Caleb's apartment for a belated birthday dinner for Ann.  Mexican food, and the spread was impressive.  Food tasted great, and we spent much of the time after dinner watching the cats play and viewing old Brady Bunch song videos.  Yikes!  Lemon squares for dessert.

11-04-2023 Ride

Solo ride over to the 4S Target, riding through the neighborhood and then the extended route through the 4S Ranch neighborhood.  A lot of Bisikleta riders on this day, Perse said it was because there was the prospect of pizza afterward.  On this ride, at the start, there were: Arnold, Perse, Jed, Rob, Fritz, Nel, Eric, Edson, Rush, Anthony (friend of Edson's and Rush's), Jhonar, Rudy (Jhonar's friend), Gio, Charlie, Gideon, and James.  We headed down to San Dieguito Rd and took it to El Camino Real, with an okay pace line that held for most of the time on the flats.  Over to Via de la Valle, where we turned right and rode up to El Camino Real, taking a left there.  At Via del la Valle, Jhonar and Rudy turned left to shorten their route.  I don't think I've ever ridden this stretch of El Camino Real in this direction, and it was about a mile and a half gradual climb.  I powered up it and finished in the front along with Fritz.  Then we rode down and over to La Bajada, taking a left there and riding down to Rancho Santa Fe Rd.  Up a little ways, then turning right to stay on this road and taking it all the way over to Olivenhain Rd.  Left turn there, then down to El Camino Real, where we headed north.  At La Costa Ave, Rush and Edson turned left to shorten their ride, and the rest of us continued on.  Around this time, Romeo and his friend Ed joined us for a while.  We rode on, taking on another gradual 1.5 mile climb up to Poinsettia Ln, where we turned left and caught up with some riders who had gotten ahead of us.  Then we had another little climb before we dropped down to PCH, where there were a bunch of riders doing Bike the Coast.  We rode to the 7-Eleven and stopped there for a break, perhaps a little longer than usual.  Edson and Rush were there, and they ended up leaving before we did, as did James.  We were a little slower on the ride back to Via de la Valle, since there were a lot of riders in the bike lane and we gave them plenty of space.  I did a fair amount of leading out on this ride, including the initial stretch up Via de la Valle.  On the way up, we saw Rush and Edson by the side of the road, but we ended up not stopping, probably a mistake, since we found out later that they were experiencing mechanical issues.  Home the normal way from here, including a partly coherent pace line on the way back to Three Witches, a final break at the gas station before the climb, and a good effort from me and Fritz after the break to get separation from the other riders and finish strong.  At the end of the ride, I traded bikes with Eric, who wanted to try out the Aeroad, as he is considering buying a new bike.  Our bikes are set up to be swappable, so we rode back towards home, taking the route through the neighborhood and staying on Matinal Rd until W Bernardo Dr.  We rode over to Marco's Pizza, where many of the riders were having lunch, then we turned around and rode back toward the original meet-up spot, taking W Bernardo Dr and RB Rd.  I was pacing myself on this last climb, legs felt fine but I didn't want to push it.  I rode his bike up to Via del Campo, then waited for him there to swap bikes back.  His bike is nice, I don't think he needs an upgrade, but he is considering it.  From there, I rode home the normal route of RB Rd to W Bernardo Dr.  I felt generally strong on this ride, no periods where I didn't think I had enough to catch up with or stay with other riders.  Am hoping that the miles I am putting in are going to translate to better endurance and, ultimately, more sustainable output.

Avg speed = 17.5 mph. Total mileage = 60.4 mi

Bisikleta route avg speed = 18.2 mph

Avg power = 151 W. Weighted avg power = 184 W

Total elevation gain = 3200'

Avg heartrate = 120 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/10160560699

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/59644920076

Later in the afternoon, I rode my scooter over to John's house, and we drove to see the SDSU-USU football game at Snapdragon stadium.  Both teams were not great, and SDSU's offense was difficult to watch after they scored their first touchdown.  But they came back in the fourth quarter and scored 10 points to tie it up and send it into overtime.  USU won it in double overtime, righfully so.  They were the better offense on this day.  John and I ended up walking a little over 2 miles, maybe 2.5, to and from his car.  The ride home from his house on my scooter was chilly at times, I needed a better jacket, and the scooter doesn't have the best illumination.  Need to be careful about riding it at night for longer distances.

11-03-2023 Ride

Got up early and went for a walk while it was still pretty dark, listening to podcasts about the situation in Israel and the recent Catholic Church Synod of Bishops.  Then I took a morning ride to establish a more frequent riding cadence for the last two months of the year.  It was pretty chilly, and I couldn't find my primary gloves or headwear, which was a bummer.  Headed through the neighborhood to Matinal Rd and then over to W Bernardo Dr, where I joined the reverse time trial route.  Was maintaining a steady pace but not pushing it too much.  Morning traffic was heavy, which caused me to hit a lot of lights.  I continued on Sabre Springs Pkwy past Poway Rd, then got over to Poway Rd via Springhurst Dr.  Down to Oak Knoll Rd, using it to get to Pomerado Rd, where I turned left.  I felt like I had a decent stretch here, taking it all the way down to W Bernardo Dr and the normal climbs back to the house.  Any time I was near water, it was definitely colder.

Avg speed = 16.6 mph. Total mileage = 20.3 mi

Avg power = 150 W. Weighted avg power = 175 W

Total elevation gain = 1200'

Avg heartrate = 128 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/10153579591

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/59640813499

11-02-2023 Hike

Packed up our stuff and had breakfast (pancakes) before heading out from camping at South Carlsbad State Beach.  This was a decent place to camp, more suitable for RVers than for tent campers, IMHO.  We made it home without too much traffic, just a little on the I-15 before Via Rancho Pkwy.  Unpacked the camping gear and stored it in the garage.

In the early evening, I met Emily for a hike down by the park, following our normal route by the lake.  We talked a little bit about the NAR lawsuit judgment, as well as what came out of Jan Baer's car troubles.

Total distance = 2.27 mi

Elapsed time = 48:46

https://www.strava.com/activities/10150791544

11-01-2023 Ride

Because we couldn't make the pumpkin cake the previous evening, we made it in the morning in the Dutch oven.  It was okay, probably too hot at the top and not hot enough around the edges.  After breakfast, since it was high tide, there wasn't any point in heading down to the beach, since the water was up to the cliffs.  So I went for a bike ride, and Ann drove into Carlsbad and hung out.  I rode south on PCH to Del Mar, then continued on to take the inside route up Torrey Pines, which was a grind as usual.  Turns out that Strava said this was a PR time for me, which is a little surprising.  Then it was back the same way I came.  Generally, I made decent time, but there were a lot of stops at traffic lights and I didn't get into an extended cycling rhythm.  On the way back, I kept riding past Poinsettia Ln to Island Way, turning around there and heading back to the campsite.  It turns out that Ann was driving back to the site at almost the same time.

Avg speed = 17.5 mph. Total mileage = 31.4 mi

Avg power = 160 W. Weighted avg power = 180 W

Total elevation gain = 1180'

Avg heartrate = 133 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/10144345397

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/59601038220

We sat around the campsite for a while, then walked down to the beach, walking up to the northern set of stairs to get down there.  The tide had receded, so there was beach to walk on.  I brought my spring suit, so I went into the water and tried out some ocean swimming.  It was a real challenge, having to deal with the waves breaking in.  I'll need to chat with some other triathletes to hear more about how to swim efficiently in the waves.  Water was cold to get into, but with the spring suit I generally got used to it.  Came out, sat for a while, then went back in for another, shorter stint.  The goggles weren't so useful, as the waves displaced them from my eyes and they fogged up.  I had a quick shower after we got back to camp, and it felt pretty great.  For dinner, we made Dutch oven enchiladas, and they were tasty.  I was pretty wiped out at the end of the day, so Ann made a fire and we sat around it for a while before heading to bed.