Yes, spring is finally here. On the Central Coast that means a few things. First, it means that we get wildflower blooms all over the place coinciding with the amount of rain we got over our winter. This year we were ABOVE average (HOORAY!). But we were still much less than we had back in 2016, when we had true "SUPERBLOOMS" going off all over the place. The blooms this year are pretty good though, and not counting 2016 the best I have seen since I've lived here (since late 2002).
The other thing that denotes spring is wind. And by 'wind' I don't mean 'wind'... I mean WIND! Yesterday it was holding steady all day at around 30mph. That is a bit unusual, typically it's around 20mph. This WIND season could last a week or up to several weeks. Typically it shows up mid to late March. It was a bit late this year, starting this Monday. So far today (Weds) is down to "normal" winds...15mph or so...give or take, but I expect it to be more by the time I get off work (and hope to go for a mt bike ride). We have winds in that range about 200 days a year I'd guesstimate (I could be WAY off but it feels like we have wind SO MUCH that is MUST be at least 200 days every year). I had planned on going mt biking after work a few times this week...so far I'm loath to pull the bike out of the car. It's one thing when it's reasonable 5-10mph wind...but much over that it gets no fun real-fast (I'm SUCK a fair-weather-rider!)
One of the guys I work with rides during lunch a few times a week. He went out yesterday (I was suitably impressed as there would be no way I'd go). He pedaled about 3 or 4 miles into the wind, holding maybe 5mph and turned around and fairly flew back. I do have to admit that a good tail-wind makes riding a lot of fun. But a wind is only your friend about 1/3rd of the time...(when it's coming from behind you in roughly 1/3rd of the pie of a circle). The other 2/3rds of the time it's NOT your friend but a mortal enemy. And actually a hard crosswind is even worse than a direct headwind. And when it's gusting? Boy, gusting can really be terrifying! I've been up on ridges with gusting wind, and it's amazing how terrifying it can be when you're moving quick and a big gust hits you, and suddenly you're not riding where you were a moment ago. On a road bike that means you might have shifted a few feet in the direction of the wind, and hopefully that's still on the road. On the mt bike you can suddenly be riding through something you'd rather not.
Anyway, I digress. SPRING! That means HOT weather is just around the corner (not for us in Santa Maria, but go 10 miles inland and there it is). All the winter rains causing all the growth and wildflower blooms, and by the fall we will have tons of new FUEL for wildfire season. Funny how a great wildflower season begets a horrible wildfire season. We just can't win...we desperately need the rains, and then when we do get them the fall fires are worse. It's a very odd situation...the good with the bad, or something like that.
Anyway, I DID ride tonight....it wasn't too bad. Our local hill here in town (Orcutt Hill) has a bunch of trails they opened up a few years back on what was oil-land. They did a great job, and then even cut new trails. It's not a very big park, but the trails criss-cross all over the place and is perfect for hikers, dog walkers, and yes, mt bikers (and even the odd equestrian shows up now and then). Due to the winds it wasn't as crowded as usual tonight, always a good thing. I have a bell on my bike so the hikers and other bikers can hear me coming...if only ALL the bikes would put bells on...they are so dangerous without. Being as the trails are bi-directional, come around a blind corner and suddenly a bike hauling ass coming at you with no bell, thus no warning...hikers must HATE that...I know I do, and I'm a biker! I try to be as respectful as I can to the hikers...I never blow by them at speed, and always thank them when they step off the trail to let me by, and when I get the chance I stop first and let them walk by. I'm an ambassador of goodwill...which is all wiped out by ONE asshole biker thinking he's racing the Tour de France on a local public trail frequented by hikers with kids and dogs.
But it is what it is, and I"m thankful they opened it up....I had poached it many years back, and remember there were some decent trails (they had cows on it back then). But I was always afraid of being caught so only rode it once or twice...opening it to the public was a real great thing.
And so. Spring. Is. HERE! In many respects, it's the best part of the year. Reasonable temperatures, green and yellow and gold and purple colors all over the place...yep...it is very nice here in the spring (except for the WINDY part). But that will soon pass, and then we will have summer. I'm already stunned how fast spring is going by...it's already almost the middle of April!
Gotta scoot....get out there and enjoy spring wherever you are!
Cheers!
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