Training Log Archive: PG

Mid-30s, light rain, S 5 mph. Hadn't planned to go out, but it wasn't raining, at least while I was getting changed. But by the time I got started it was sprinkling, and then a little more, and a little more, with maybe some sleet thrown in. At that point, the obvious option to choose among the various routes I was considering was the shortest one.

Still good to get out.

Despite what the radar showed --



it looked rather benign outside -- overcast, but no precipitation of any sort. So I figured there was no excuse not to go out.

And it was perfectly fine. Upper 30s, though getting cooler, N 5-10. Got a very few flurries for less than minute, otherwise totally dry. And the ride was OK, I suppose it's good to have some wind, that way even a totally flat route feels like it has some hills.

And now, a couple of hours later, it is snowing pretty hard.

Low 70s, S 10-15 mph. A little longer outing on an unseasonably warm day, Old Deerfield - River Road loop. Started with shorts and 1.5 shirts, stopped after 15 minutes to wrap the long-sleeved one around my waist.

A pretty good effort. Weren't many hills, but still more than I'm used to. And there was a stiff headwind on the way back, had the bike about 3 gears lower than when I was heading north. But got around with no problems. Though my bike is sorely in need of some cleaning.

Back to reality tomorrow, a little snow is expected. Actually good it's not lasting, a few days like this would probably be the death knell for the peach and apple crops.

A final bunch of bird photos (I think).

Chiloe Widgeon. They were often out in the open, easy to see, with families, but I like this single guy hiding in the flowers.



A pair of Chimongo Caracaras, presumably a couple. The male and the female look alike, so I'm not sure which has claimed the high ground.



Crested Duck, rather drab, no bright colors, but certainly an aristocratic bearing.



More flamingos, but I like the look of this one, including the calm water in the lagoon and the whitecaps out in the lake.



Two adult Dolphin Gulls (bright red bill and legs) plus a juvenile, plus an Imperial Cormorant, all hanging out on the seawall at Punta Arenas. The water there is part of the straits of Magellan.



Southern Lapwings. Saw a lot of them, usually around where people were living. It seemed like their version of crows, but a lot more colorful. Heard their raucous shrieking calls many times.



Correndera Pipit. I look at this one and I can't help thinking it's the bird's version of a grouchy old man. But I love the photo.



A pair of Rufous-collared Sparrows. Saw them often, though they rarely posed so nicely. The male is the one with the red collar.



A Red-gartered Coot (again, who makes up these names), the weird bill and frontal plate, the rest so black you can't even make out the eyes.



A Red Shoveler. With a bill like that, I'd assume no one messes with him.



Spectacled Tyrant -- I get the spectacled part, but Tyrant? Huge white areas on the wings when they fly, but you can hardly tell when they're perched.



And Mrs. Spectacled Tyrant. They have the same eyes, the rest is pretty different.



And, finally, a White-Tufted Grebe, a tiny waterfowl (8-10"), totally cute. If I could choose one for a pet.... :-)

Upper 50s, S 10 mph. Very fine ride with Walter on the flats south of town, plus a little hill up by the town park. Waited until early afternoon after the fog had burned off and the roads dried. Felt like spring. And a Goldilocks pace, not too fast, not too slow, just right.

A few more photos. In Torres del Paine NP we stayed in a place called Eco-Camp for 3 nights. It had a very high opinion of itself. Among the possible activities there was the "Contemplation Trail" --



The sign marked the start of the trail, right where it was supposed to be (opposite the Yoga Dome), but there wasn't much of a trail. But just enough, and off I went.



It became clear quite quickly that I was the first person to contemplate going on the trail for some time.



Following the trail was a challenge. It helped that every so often it went by a spot where one could sit down and contemplate.



It also became clear that no one on the staff of Eco-Camp had contemplated doing any maintenance on the trail for quite some time



But, I must say, for me it was perfect. No one else around. A bit of an adventure (following the trail was not trivial). And easy to conclude that this little spot of Patagonia, like so much of the rest of Patagonia, would not be all that great for orienteering.

This was a late afternoon outing, and there was still time before I was due back, so then I walked up the start of the backpacking trail that heads off around the towers.



But I was only going far enough to get a bit of a view back to where we were staying. And then it was off to dinner.

About 40F, good breeze from the south, 10-20 mph. Some rain due in the afternoon so got myself out this morning. Roads were mostly dry, but a good collection of sand and potholes. Much happier riding a bike that deals well with such things.

And a few more photos... :-)

Not a very good photo (as an excuse, the wind was howling), but I just love the name of the bird -- Flying Steamer Duck. There is also a Flightless Steamer Duck, seriously, but they hang out along the coast.



Great Grebes, parent and child, they were a long ways away so pretty blurry, but I love the image. And certainly one of many cases where only after seeing the photo are you sure of what you've seen.



Fire-eyed Duicon. Who makes up these names? It's just a little bird with eyes that are more or less red depending on the light...



Long-tailed Meadowlark. A male. In the world of birds, it is usually the males that are the fancy dressers.



Southern Caracara. Rather common, often see them soaring, occasionally perched up, close, and cooperative.



At the other end of the size spectrum, a Sedge Wren. Saw just one, it posed for just long enough and then disappeared into the reeds.



South American Snipe, at dawn. There were four of them. Came back by the same place ten minutes later and no sign of them. You have to be lucky.



Patagonian Sierra-Finch.



Not to be confused with a Gray-hooded Sierra-Finch. Have to see the back to be sure which is which.



And then there were the Chilean Flamingos, of which we saw quite a few, usually quite a ways away. They actually fly rather gracefully.