SR 85 on-ramp at Evelyn

This week's early-morning schedule has me riding to work before the sun comes up.

I try to finish what I start

Despite appearances, this is not a value judgement. I find the image interesting because I would have thought that given the choice, people will pick either Coke or Pepsi. Also, the various levels in the Coke bottles suggests to me that there are various levels in the Pepsi cans too, we just can't see them.

Sunnyvale Sunrise

Murphy Park lawn bowling greens.

Plan B Pub

Saw this pub on an early morning bike ride in Sunnyvale. Looks like something you'd find a third world country. Didn't go in.

Egret

"f/8 and be there" is often attributed to the photojournalist Weegee. Does that mean f/4 on micro four thirds? Just kidding -- I know his point was not a particular aperture, but the "be there" part.

Jive

Pro-am competitors at the Pacific Grand Ball.

White Pelicans

Seen on yesterday's commute to work.

Bay Trail

A new section of the Bay Trail opened between Mountain View and
Sunnyvale this week. Taking the trail to work extends my commute to
work by about five miles, but it's quite pretty.

Half Bath

When we refinanced our house an appraiser had to come by and write a report. He took some photos of the house, but forgot to include a picture of the half-bathroom in the master bedroom. The rest of my day was busy, so I didn't have time to let him back in the house. So I offered to just take a picture myself and send it to him. He was satisfied with this solution.

This is not the photo I sent him.

Velobane

Tribulus terrestris has many common names including goathead, puncture vine, and velobane.

Evelyn Offramp

The offramp from southbound Mathilda to Evelyn in Sunnyvale is currently closed due to the downtown Mathilda bridge project which brings the bridge up to modern specifications. The project is expected to be completed in January 2012.

Brigham Young's Winter Home

St. George is a small town in the southwest corner of Utah that serves as a gateway to the famous national parks in the area, Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Dixie national forest.

It was founded by 300 settlers selected by Brigham Young to populate a town where he intended to build a home to escape the harsh winters of Salt Lake City. Young only used his winter home for four winters before he passed away.

If you visit St. George, free tours of the Brigham Young house are available. Be advised, though, that the tours are not conducted by the parks service; the home is still owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Dead Tree

The trees in Bryce Canyon are in a tenuous relationship with the landscape. Much of the area is either sandstone or eroded sandstone. The rock formations are created by the hundreds of freezes and thaws per year -- erosion happens relatively quickly. So there are many trees whose roots were clearly deeply embedded in the sandstone many years ago, but now hold their grip with just a few root branches.

Fairyland Trail

The Fairyland trail in Bryce Canyon is an 8-mile loop that includes several miles of the Rim Trail from Sunrise Point to Fairlyand Point. The heart of the trail is in the canyon, though. So if you only want to suck out the creamy center and just do the best part, start at Fairyland Point, hike through the canyon, and have your tour guides drive the van to the Sunrise Point parking lot and meet you there with lunch.

Then, have them drive you and your bikes all the way to the end of the road at Rainbow Point so you can ride the 20 miles mostly downhill back to the hotel in Bryce Canyon City, stopping for ice cream at Ruby's Inn.

Calico Ghost Town

Calico, California, was a large silver mining towns in the late 1800s, but went bust at the turn of the 20th century when the price of silver dropped. In the 1950s, Walter Knott purchased the town and restored many of the old buildings to their original appearance. It was donated to San Bernadino County in 1966 and became part of the regional park system.

Best Western Buttonwillow

Sun setting behind the Best Western south of Buttonwillow, California.

1200 feet

1200 feet of air between the top of Angel's Landing and the valley floor below. Zion National Park, Utah.

Fairyland Trail

Morning hike in Bryce Canyon, Utah.

Warped Floorboard

We're getting the carpet taken out of the living room and hallway, and also getting some floor repairs done at the same time. The previous homeowners had a water line going to the refrigerator (for the icemaker) that had leaked, causing some of the floorboards to warp. We're finally getting this fixed.

Sunflowers

Community garden in Boulder, CO.