Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Welcome Back to AZ -- Did You Miss Me?

The first time I visited Arizona I was with my young daugther. She insisted Arizona was a woman we were going to visit -- "Are we going to meet Arizona?" She would say. I tried my hardest to explain that Arizona was a place, but her 3 or 4 year old mind just wasn't cooperating.
Welcome to Arizona. It isn't what you think it is -- it's a woman you can meet.









It's storming. Lightning strikes are so frequent that it's like daylight. The crashes are close enough now so that I am afraid to stand outside. I can hear the crack as the lightning strikes. From where I am there is lightning in every quadrant of the sky.

Date: 25 July 2006
Miles Riding: 14.08
Weather: 109°F.
Bike: Road
July Bike Mileage: 84.47

Presently, it has finally started to rain. And rain it is. It's as if the heat creates a surface tension on the floor of the desert that the water can not penetrate. Once the tension is broken a torrent emerges.



It's just a few minutes later and it's now raining at the desert's normal 3-5 inches an hour rate -- and we are probably about to flash flood. There's several inches deep of water right near my patio and around the drive. There's no indication I need to move the valuables uphill yet.


It has slowed to a light rain now, and the light show rages on.

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Hyatt SFO

Miles today == 8

Despite a grand plan to travel about 800 miles today by car, train, bus and cab, from San Francisco to Phoenix Arizona via Lost Wages, I am sitting in a bar in the Hyatt Regency SFO (compliments of US Airways) and listening to the Marshall Tucker Band, having just devoured a Club Sandwich.

It's been spectacularly hot here -- and I believe it was 108 yesterday in San Mateo -- which is incredibly hot. I believe the fog has rolled in finally -- because the ground looks damp and the AC started working. It's a heck of a lot nicer in Phoenix.

I suspect this hasn't been my best travel trip. I did read most of the Memoirs of a Geisha while waiting for the plane that never came.

If all goes well I should catch a plane from SFO to Phoenix in the morning and be seriously late for work. I guess we'll just try again tomorrow.

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Into the Wind.

I took a spin down to fetch dinner and see if there might be a repeat of yesterday's dust storm. Leaving my house and heading West and North, I headed into a brisk headwind. I had spaghettti and meatballs and headed for home into a brisk headwind. There was a headwind for the entire ride. Except for during the two flat tires I got. That's four in as many days. I haven't had that many flats in as many months. Fortunately, Today, I had tire "irons" and a Zefal HPSomething (Thanks Jeanne). So all was well. Since I only had one spare -- I was pretty glad that I flatted out right in front of Paragon Cycling.

Date: 19 July 2006
Miles Riding: 18.96
Weather: 108°F. 14% Humidity.
Bike: Commutadora
July Bike Mileage: 70.39

Cameras 1 -- Dust storms 0. I carried the camera, I didn't see a thing.

Tomorrow I leave for Frisco (Did I say that? gag, er, sic), I mean San Francisco, for a few days. I was considering taking my bike and wearing tights to my interview just to make sure we get off to a good start. First impressions are very important. I decided instead to rent a car and get cleaned up a bit (you know -- suitcoat, blue jeans and a tie). I will be a bike free gas guzzling city dweller for a day or two.

I can already smell the ocean. Feel the wet sand between my toes, smell the coffee wafting through the open cafes, hear the cable cars, my seafood searching antenna extending ... is that chow fun I see ahead? Fish cheeks and tapas ... and later wasabi and oysters.

What to do Saturday?

Monday, July 17, 2006

About Wilderness


I just want to make sure that no one starts thinking that the Superstitions are a great place to mountain bike. The Superstitions (Superstition Mountains) -- commonly called just "The Sups" -- are designated wilderness under the 1964 Wilderness Act -- meaning , 1. Most vehicles are not allowed. It's quite severe, steep and extreme, 30 lbs of food and water would be a better choice to carry than 30 lbs of bike. It's a great place for the uninitiated to get lost and die, or seriously hurt, but it's not the best choice to ride. I seriously suspect that the most commonly used vehicle in the Sups is the helicopter, but it might be the gurney with the wheel. Elevations vary from 1500 to 4500+ feet and weather and potential for illness due to exposure are signifigant every day. There are fairly permanent sources of water at Charleybois and Second Water -- and Hackberry Springs, but I would never rely on them. I have a lot of wildeness experience, and every time I go in to the Sups, I come out in pain. I've been disoriented, run out of water, become overheated, and survived. Be careful, carry a map and compass, water, and file a trip plan with a trusted friend. It's really verticle.

If you want to know more about what a wildernes designation means -- try this.

Personally -- I believe that the designated wilderness areas should be vehicle free -- however -- I am a lot more benevolent toward snowmobiles than any other form of wilderness transport, except snowshoes or skis. This is primarily because the footprint is going to melt -- so damage is very minimal. In the same vein I am tolerant of ATVs in sand dunes -- because the footprint is (for the most part) transitory. I am particulary unfond of the noise these vehcles make, and the permanent damage that ATV's do in other parts of the desert.
There are large tracts of opportunity for vehicular travel in the National Forests, National Parks and other less than wilderness areas.

Hwy 60 rolls through the superstitions to Globe. It's a beautiful winding drive through a tight dramatic canyon littered with roadside crosses. It looks dangerous to me -- but might make for a nice road trip on a bike or in a 57 T-bird.

Sunday, July 16, 2006

The Ground is so Hot ...


It can fry a snake. No -- seriously --- stay out of the bike lane. This guy was undoubtably the causualty of a car.

Date: 15 July 2006
Miles Riding: 10.96
Weather: 93°F.
Bike: Marin San Marino
July Bike Mileage: 51.43

Todays ride was a bit more eventful than I would like. I destroyed the original Ipod earbuds by rinsing one of them in the sink accidentally. I have tried to find a suitable replacement -- but they are impossible to find. I can't walk into a store and buy original Ipod earbuds. I even tried the Mac store. I have to order them online. This is the most insanely stupid thing I know of -- and only Apple could make that possible. Why? I couldn't possibly imagine.

So I almost died today because I wasn't aware that there was a pickup right next to me -- because I was wearing a replacement set (Griffen) of headphones -- and couldn't hear the ambient noise of the road. Not to worry -- I lost those later when I blew a tire and had to walk three miles because the tire tools fell out of the Banjo Brothers large seatbag, which defaults to dump the contents of the bag if the zipper isn't secured correctly. I'll be giving that bag away later.

Well that about sums it up. It was cooler because I went out earlier in the day. The brotherhood of the sweaty was out in full force -- so perhaps next week I'l start earlier and carry the camera. They all are eager to wave -- but -- not so willing to stop and offer asistance to a stranded cyclist.

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Monsoon Today


Date: 14 July 2006
Miles Riding: 18.70
Weather: 1o9°F.
Bike: Night Rider aka Commuter
July Bike Mileage: 40.47

Welcome to Arizona. This is the kind of day in the desert where it expresses its force in angst. Rattlesnakes belly up beside the road -- crows dodging cars to pick at them. Fierce winds overnight rollover into a dust storm blast furnace by mid afternoon. In this morning's wind I saw a soda cup lid on edge rolling down the road like a tumbleweed, driven by unrelenting hot winds. Today we had a monsoon. Wind driven dust in the form of haboob, blasting away at everything, giving way to the virga finally breaking the surface tension of the earth to throw half-dollar size dollops of water and lightning firmly at the ground. The desert becomes wet. It hurts to hear the droplets hit. Children run out to catch the droplets on their tongues. It feels good.

The short rain and thunderstorm repeal the blasting heat (113°F.) and humidity (a mere 23%) of today, if only briefly. I rode in to town for dinner and then rode back after dark, stopping for groceries, batteries for the light, and a flat. I believe the monsoon season is officially on.

I know -- you all must be thinking that darkness makes it cooler. Not true. It's just less sunny.

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Hot it is.

Todays high was officially 113 ° F. And the low overnight was 91. You can see it all for yourself here. The ever happy bike buddy's on the bike thermometer topped out at 113.8°F., which is 274°C. I think. John? It's funny because usually happy bike rider's very same computer reads out distances in kilometers.

It is supposed to be hotter tomorrow with a 50% chance of no rain and 2-3° hotter. It's a wonder that these weathermenpeople can ever get it right with predictions like that.

Date: 13 July 2006
Miles Riding: 12.90
Weather: 113°F. 45°C.
Bike: Roadie.
July Bike Mileage: 21.77

Today's ride was unusually difficult and left me wanting to heave. I still feel mostly that way. My legs were spent after the first hill climb and it was difficult to keep cool.

Walking After Midnight

It's on the Ipod -- The Cowboy Junkies rendition of the Patsy Cline favorite. "I walked a mile ..." I am not on my bike. The ever happy hiking buddy thinks a ride on Friday would be good -- after work. Predicted temps for Friday are now 115°F. So -- maybe we can ride down to the Salt river. I can brag after that -- if I can manage it.

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Blogs of Note

No -- It's just wishful thinking that I might get into the blogs of note over at the blogger blog ... I am however in a section called the Blogs of Note over at the Foto Phantastic Blog. Thanks! I'm feeling notable now. Honored.

On the Ipod: The Ronettes, I Wish I Never Saw the Sunshine.

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Wild is the Wind

I want everyone to understand that it takes Nina Simone 7 minutes to lament this.

Nina Simone's rendition of Wild is the Wind:

Love me, love me, love me,
Say you do!
Let me fly away with you,
For my love is like the wind,
And wild is the wind.

Give me more than one caress,
Satisfy this hungriness;
Let the wind blow through your heart,
For wild is the wind.

You touch me,
I hear the sound of mandolins;
You kiss me,
With your kiss my life begins.

You're Spring to me,
All things to me,
Huhhhhm.
Don't you know you're life itself.
Like a leaf clings to a tree.

Oh, my darling, cling to me,
Are we creatures of the wind?
Wild is the wind,
So wild is the wind,
You touch me.

I hear the sound of mandolins
You kiss me
And with your kiss my life begins.
Daddy, you're spring to me. All things to me.
No, you know you're life itself.

Like a leaf clings to a tree,
Oh my darling cling to me,
For we're creatures of the wind,
And wild is the wind,
So wild is the wind.
Wild is the wind.
Wild is the wind.
Wild is the wind.

Monday, July 10, 2006

I am not (that much of) a Slut

Tim's post is right on target.

I need some new sunglasses in case you happen to be someone at Smith's looking for someone to say something nice about your glass.

Sunday, July 9, 2006

Welcome Back to AZ



Date: 08 July 2006
Miles Riding: 8.87
Weather: 103°F.
Bike: Commuter.
July Bike Mileage: 8.87


Date: 09 July 2006
Miles Hiking: 8
Weather: 100°F.
July Hiking Mileage: 12

In case your wondering, all the photos in the previous post were taken in Schroon Lake

Thursday, July 6, 2006

Dix Mountain Wilderness, NY




Paper Birch. Digital Photograph. © ShawnKielty 2006. All rights reserved.

So I went for about a 2 mile hike in the Dix Mountain Wilderness. Starting just below the Elk Mountain Lodge in the Adirondacks, and up almost to Big Sally Brook. A fairly short easy hike, but somewhat wet underfoot by the Arizona norm.

Giant Mountain Wilderness


Giant Mountain Wilderness near Lake Placid. I did about a mile strait up towards Giant Mountain.

All images © 2006 Shawn Kielty. All rights reserved.

Pharoah Lake Wilderness


Looking around for Rock Pond -- didn't quite get there.

Schroon Lake


Last night I stayed in a place without internet, or even a phone. In Schroon Lake. Schroon Lake was the setting of a Hitchcock mystery, wasn't it? Well it could have been. It should have been. I am inspired to move there for the winter and write the story.

Tuesday, July 4, 2006

Live Free or Die


These two folks took me in and took me for a hike near Sandwich NH. Alyssa and Mike. Alyssa spotted a birdy bird and pulled a bird book out of thin air (be still my beating heart). It was a black and white warbler. Despite a combination of quick fleeting glimpses and a short viewing period, I think we have a confirmed sighting. My first warbler. We had a great conversation -- I enjoyed it a bunch. My faith in the human spirit was restored today. I want to say thanks to Mike and Alyssa, because I had a great time, and I appreciate your sharing that with me.

We saw this view of those lakes.



They recommended that I eat at the Common Man in Concord. I had the Shore thing. It was good. Steak, crab. bearnaise. a spud, two veggies -- serious hiking reparation. Awesome. I am a pig. I ate it all. Plus a coke.

After that I found this deertickimus bitemyass spp. lymedisease on my neck and killed it. Then I ran off to take a shower.



I looked out the window tonight and saw fireworks. I've heard they take independence seriously here in New Hampshire. For those of you that don't know -- the New Hampshire state motto is -- Live free or die. There's not much else for me to say. Happy Independence Day everyone.

Live Free or Die





Live Free or Die

So I went on to the Lakes region and Squam Lakes.


Squam Lake Vista


Look at that


I thought of the Girl


Birch trees

Live Free or Die

I lived in a house at 1000 RR 1. I lived in the lower left corner.


House in Campton, NH. Digital Photograph. Copyright 2006 Shawn Kielty. All rights reserved.

I then headed off to drive the drive I did daily for seven weeks -- to shoot some of my favorite areas along the route. I stopped along the way at Livermore falls -- a short hike down to the Pemigewasset River (Matt) where I found this shot.


Livermore Falls. Digital Photograph. Copyright 2006 Shawn Kielty. All rights reserved.

The folks on the right hiked back up with me and were students at the New Hampshire Institute of Art. We had good conversation about life and Art -- I enjoyed it. I didn't remember their names though.

Live Free or Die

Troy NY
Troy NY. Digital Photograph. Copyright 2006 Shawn Kielty. All rights reserved.

Wow. Today is one of the days that we go after. The kind of day I live for. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It started rather non-descriptly with me wandering around Troy, waiting for my daughter and her boyfriend to be ready to travel. I wandered into the soft white underbelly of Troy, photographing scenes of old brick and worn out city

I pick the young ones up and off we go to Epsom, NH. After a great breakfast at the the Top Notch Cafe or Diner in Bennington, VT. I drop them off, and go out to play in New Hampshire.

I lived in New Hampshire a few years ago, one summer. I like it. I lived along the Mad River. That's a good name for a river.

The Mad River

The Mad River, Campton, NH. Digital Photograph. Copyright 2006 Shawn Kielty. All rights reserved.

Monday, July 3, 2006

Swim at the Best Western Rensselaer









I know it's not much. I was really calling this the ugly hotel until Danielle pointed out it's really the stinky hotel. It's nice really -- not extravagant. but interesting and friendly. it's working fine. The elevator has an interesting smell, however. In case your wondering the pool was good.

Louis Rubin Memorial Approach in Troy, NY









The Approach to Rensselaer. Digital Photographs. © 2006 Shawn Kielty. All rights reserved.

Commonly called just "the Approach," famous for being a bitch -- 152 steps to the quad from my ugly hotel, according to the hotel counter person. I asked her how she knew -- people tell her -- she says. My daughter said that she thought I might think it pretty cool.

So I ran it four times this morning. I figure it at two miles total. I'll calculate it later on a map. I skipped the temptation to run a mile around the gamefield, since that would be a bit jock-like.

Saturday, July 1, 2006

Midway Airport


There's a reasonable post coming -- about the immediacy the web brings to things like a trip to midway in Chicago. I think travel produces some strange effects like the vignetting of this image due to being jostled during the travel. Had everything gone well I would have been able to post these immediately from the terminal while I was waiting in line for my plane.