Ever since I moved here to California and started roaming around the woods, I was always told that I had to be on the lookout for a certain type of person who you might not want to meet.
Yesterday, I had my encounter. I was off the main trail, but on a little side trail I noticed. I went far. I got to the end of the trail. I looked up. There sit 3 marijuana growers cooking potatoes and eggs for lunch, or maybe it was a late breakfast.
Oh shit is the first thing I think of, but I put on a big smile and act friendly. They are nervous for a minute, but relax quickly. They offer me a drink of water, but I politely declined and left after pretending I'm half-lost and ask for directions.
I wonder if they are going to stay there or if I ruined their good thing. Who knows? I had suspicions that someone was growing pot around there anyway, you could sometimes get a smell of it on one section of a particular trail in the summer time a few years ago.
Good thing for them it's a very low-use place. I bet they cover their tracks better now.
Yesterday after our ride, we watched a guy in a huge 4 wheel drive pickup circle around the Howarth Park parking lot 4 or 5 times looking for a parking spot. He finally finds one on the top level near the trailhead. He and his dog get out of the truck and they go hiking! 50% of the parking spots on the next level down, about 150 yards away were all open.
Well, maybe he only wanted to walk a total of 250 yards for the day.
And to be honest, there were at least 10 people cruising in circles looking for close parking spots so they could go do their walking.
I got to build a brand new Orbea Orca the other day. It's a sweet bike, but to me the best part is the handlebars, they are the Zeus Cat III carbon bar model. They feel like magic and fit my hands perfectly. I'm getting Orbea to send me one, I've always avoided using carbon handlebars, but these feel too good to not ride.
OK, Romney is gone!! Now if Huckabee will drop out and the 70 year old McCain has the heart attack he's long overdue for we'll get Ron Paul.
Actually we wouldn't really get that lucky. Romney only 'suspended', which means he doesn't lose his already gained electoral votes and can come back at any time. I wonder if the above scenario was what prompted his suspension instead of actually quitting.