Machine In Motion!!!

Ohhh...Yeah!!!

Since my last bike post I've had 5 days of FUN riding my new Ti machine...and what a machine it is! Click here for some first impression on my new frame: My Cycling Page.

Lots And Lots of Legs 2

Lots And Lots of Legs 2
Originally uploaded by dancedream2002.

Here's another colorful but pretty creepy millipede? that I didn't kill, but instead, let free outside.

I don't particularly care for these but, the feeling of just crushing them under your slipper...and hearing it go CRuNCh...I just wouldn't be able to take it. Better to let it go somewhere.

It's Here...

Lucy Thinks It's Cool!
Originally uploaded by dancedream2002.

Finally, after weeks and weeks of waiting, and, the stress upon stress of trying to get the perfect design, DRUM ROLL PLEASE *!***!***!***!***!* my new custom Ti frame finally arrived last week.

Click here for a shorty on it: 3 Pounds of Sweetness.

Red Rock Canyon - Las Vegas, Nevada

Two weeks ago I went to Las Vegas to attend the Waste Expo. Not having ANY luck on the slots and crap table, I decided to check out Red Rock Canyon. Although I didn't take my bike, I read and heard much about Red Rocks and the great cycling there so I decided to check it out.

Getting there was pretty easy, just take Charleston and head West, straight to the mountain range in the distance. Getting closer to the mountains, look for the cutoff on the right to the Visitor Center. There you will need to pay a $5 fee to drive the canyon, bikes are free though. (I lucked out as no one was collecting a fee on the day I was there.)

I found Red Rock Canyon Drive to be a very bike friendly one way 13 mile loop that starts at the visitor center and ends at Blue Diamond Road. From Blue Diamond, you need to take a left and ride back about 2 miles or so to the visitor center. Here's a link to a good map: Red Rock Map

I saw some cyclist riding from the nearby Summerlin area out to the Canyon. However, I would rather drive out and park at the lookout on Blue Diamond Road as the traffic to the canyon was fast (65-70 mph) and that is just a little to fast for me, even though there is a fairly wide shoulder.

Needless to say, the entire drive was awe inspiring. The canyon really lived up to its Red Rock name. Click here to see the pictures I took while exploring the canyon: Red Rock Canyon Picture Album.

If you don't bring a bike, bring your hiking shoes and WATER as there were many hiking trails from short loops to entire day hikes. I took some for a hunderd yards or so, just to get closer to the canyon walls. I also took one short hike to see the waterfall at Ice Box Canyon. The name Ice Box Canyon was so apropo as I was FREEZING in the cool afternoon shade. A waterfall in the desert seems very strange, but, it had been raining for a week or so before I got to Vegas.

Here's a link to some Red Rock Canyon websites: www.redrock.org and www.redrockcanyonlv.org.

Also, here's a short video I took of the waterfall.

Cool Sand at Red Rock Canyon

Red Rock Canyon
Originally uploaded by dancedream2002.

Have you even noticed how good it feels to run you bare hands and feet through cool sand...

Here's a close up of one of the type of sand you can find at Red Rock Canyon. Definetly not like the kind of sand you find here at the beach! More reddish and "quartz" like I would say.

Hawaiian Style Cherry Blossoms

During my first bike ride back from Vegas yesterday, I came across this stunning and "oh so beautiful" Cheery Blossom tree (aka common Shower tree) in the Punahou - Manoa area. And, I was so bummed that I didn't bring my camera as I haven't seen any other trees like this.

So for today's ride, I made it a point to bring my camera hoping that not too much petals dropped off.

It really reminds me of the Cherry trees blooming in Japan right now! But, ttytt...who am I to say since...I've...never...really actally seen a "real" Cherry blossom tree blooming in person :-) BUT, at least I can imagine that this is what it would look like. Enjoy...

Happy April...

Wow...it's been over a week since my last post and it's becuase I had to go to Las Vegas last week for a work. In that time, there has been a lot happening (for one...the rain has finally STOPPED here in Honolulu!!!) While in Vegas, I at least got to visit Red Rocks Canyon...as awesome place!

For an update on my new custom frame, click here: Still Waiting...






For an update on the April Autocross Race and the closing of Hawaii Raceway Park, click here: My Car Page.