The Most Interesting Thing . . .

Canaan · **Posted:** Thu Jun 25, 2009 9:17 pm

Until about 6 months ago I was a pretty avid roadie, averaging about 3,500 miles a year for 13 years. Since I bought a full-suspension bike back around Christmas, I've ridden my road bike three times.

Besides the fun of building a new skill set, what makes me a throw a leg over the MTB instead of the road bike are the interesting things I see almost every ride. What's the most interesting thing you've seen on a ride? Animals; humans; inanimate objects; activities; whatever: all qualify -- post up. Mine is listed below:

I saw a snake called a Red Coachwhip about two weeks ago in Spring Canyon. The body was as pink as a pencil eraser, and the head was dark brown, almost black. The one I saw was about 4 feet long and it was hauling ass across open ground when I spotted it.

http://www.werc.usgs.gov/fieldguide/mafl.htm

Distinguishing characters: A species with highly variable dorsal coloration; tan, grey, red, or pink with bold black or brown crossbars or blotches on neck which may blend together; venter pink; slender body and tail; large eyes with round pupils; often described as a red snake with a black head.

Additional notes: A fast moving diurnal snake that is difficult to capture. Bites, excretes musk and twists body when handled. Large individuals should be handled with caution.

Scott Forty G. · **Posted:** Thu Jun 25, 2009 9:24 pm

protocol_droid · **Posted:** Thu Jun 25, 2009 9:24 pm

yeah, I know what you mean. Two weeks ago on the north side of otay reservoir right near the grafitti bridge we came upon a very large desert turtle just relaxing on the dusty trail. He didn't even budge or retract into his shell. "I"ve seen the likes of you before" I heard him say. On the way back to olympic, there was a rattler right smack damn in the middle of the single track and nowhere for us to go as there was water on one side and thick brush on the other. He moved on not too long thereafter.

mtn bikin is sweet

wirk242 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 25, 2009 9:28 pm

I saw a bunch or LARPers at Marion Bear.

Red Hot Sloth · **Posted:** Thu Jun 25, 2009 9:31 pm

A dude nude sunbathing by the creek on a fast descent at Noble...weird

protocol_droid · **Posted:** Thu Jun 25, 2009 9:35 pm

Red Hot Sloth wrote:

A dude nude sunbathing by the creek on a fast descent at Noble...weird

too bad you didn't have a helmet cam. :mrgreen:

Canaan · **Posted:** Thu Jun 25, 2009 9:36 pm

Red Hot Sloth wrote:

A dude nude sunbathing by the creek on a fast descent at Noble...weird

Come to think of it I saw one weird thing in my 13 years of road riding -- a naked* guy jogging on Torrey Pines Road by the glider port. I yelled at him to put some clothes on.

*except for running shoes

AliB · **Posted:** Thu Jun 25, 2009 10:08 pm

Scott Forty G. wrote:

My first time to Noble Cyn. I saw a mutilated carcass of a deer. I freaked out the whole ride :shock:

ah man I forgot about that one... that thing was fresh too.

Then there was the flipped dish network van off sunrise between pine mtn and noble - missed a crazy accident by like 2 minutes.

24v · **Posted:** Fri Jun 26, 2009 5:29 am

I saw a lingerie photo shoot in the canyon near my house.
I was :shock:

then

then

then

Zippy · **Posted:** Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:26 am

Been MTB'ing since I was 12 and I've seen all kinds of animals: mule deer (half-eaten one in Telegraph Canyon), Coyotes, Snakes, Bobcats, Racoons, Possums.

The scenery always clinches it for me: the view from Main Divide during VQ 2008 takes the prize, however. Thick cloud cover below the riders with the high peaks looking like tiny islands in a cloud sea. Reminded me of a Japanese rock garden. Someone got a picture of it, but I can't seem to find it...

Edit: running into the Girl's Cross Country Team training through Aliso is always nice.

619m5 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 26, 2009 9:50 am

Scott Forty G. wrote:

My first time to Noble Cyn. I saw a mutilated carcass of a deer. I freaked out the whole ride :shock:

The Cullens are in our neck of the woods. Damn vampires! :domo:

Berrybunch09 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 09, 2009 2:59 pm

Since I am new and just catching up on old posts. Here are a few from me.

*Almost hit a mule deer while riding in the Wenatchee WA area. Came so close I went through his dust cloud and almost shat my drawers.

*Had a Bobcat run next to me while descending Anderson Truck Trail and another one cross in front of me up on Noble.

* Watched a Mamma Black Bear meander across the trail while riding up in WA state. Luckily no cub or else I would have bolted.

* Way back in the early 90's before PQ got all developed, saw a couger off in the distance.

* Watched my buddy do a header over a rattler in MTRP. I have never seen somebody hit the ground and run so fast in my life :lol:

PacMan · **Posted:** Thu Jul 09, 2009 10:12 pm

--Aqua Bowling for Bikes with an old tire on the Alp de Wheez climb at Noble. I was on one of the bikes. Fortunately he sucks at bowling. :lol:

--Coming up on a rattlesnake only halfway through a rabbit on the SMaRT here in Fallbrook. That was pretty cool.

--Coming up on a big Bobcat eating a rabbit on a late afternoon/early evening solo ride on the SMaRT trail. That was creepy and made wish I wasn't on a solo.

--A bird flying into BJammin's wheel on a night ride at LPQ.

--BJammin on his CX bike through Tunnels. :bang:

bjammin · **Posted:** Thu Jul 09, 2009 10:22 pm

I saw a bunch of cougars at Aliso last weekend...

PacMan · **Posted:** Thu Jul 09, 2009 11:26 pm

bjammin wrote:

I saw a bunch of cougars at Aliso last weekend...

You went all the way to Aliso for that?? Don't you usually get tons of that on the trails around your house?? Lucky bastard :cheers:

The Most Interesting Thing . . .

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