@cmgrowell@m.ai6yr.org
@cmgrowell@m.ai6yr.org avatar

cmgrowell

@cmgrowell@m.ai6yr.org

Old school software/Ga Tech aerospace engineer, SoCal League mountain bike coach, liberal. 30+ year SoCal/Conejo Valley local.
https://www.instagram.com/cmgrowell/?hl=en
https://www.strava.com/athletes/5034301

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cmgrowell, to gardening
@cmgrowell@m.ai6yr.org avatar

Running out of space for my succulent nursery. Had an old oven that we took apart, thinking we'd give the metal to the recycler, but realized that some of the parts could be used as hanging shelves. The big metal tub of the oven is already being used as a planter. Maybe I don't need more succulents, but I could use more variety. #gardening #california #socal

ai6yr, to wildlife

Baby mountain lion caught trying to chase down a housecat in Thousand Oaks. https://ktla.com/news/local-news/baby-mountain-lion-stalking-southern-california-neighborhood/

cmgrowell,
@cmgrowell@m.ai6yr.org avatar

@ai6yr My wife saw a mountain lion in that open space area a few weeks back, not too far up from the houses. Not surprising that it is coming into the neighborhood for dinner.

cmgrowell, to random
@cmgrowell@m.ai6yr.org avatar

Good looking California Kingsnake on my ride yesterday under May gray skies. This is a quiet access road that the snake crossed pretty quickly, especially once it noticed me. Rancho Sierra Vista / Satwiwa, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Newbury Park, CA.

cmgrowell,
@cmgrowell@m.ai6yr.org avatar

@ai6yr Yeah, not exactly warm on that side of town on these May gray days. Felt like temperatures shifted up by 10deg every time the sun peaked through.

ai6yr, to cycling

Preliminary study on a project in the City of Thousand Oaks, California on converting roads to include a Class 4 bicycle lane.

cmgrowell,
@cmgrowell@m.ai6yr.org avatar

@ai6yr I can share with the bike team people.

ai6yr, to random

Hmm, it appears my part of California has become partially "Seattle" this week, LOL.

cmgrowell,
@cmgrowell@m.ai6yr.org avatar

@ai6yr The view from MTB practice yesterday. We went down into Pt. Mugu to get under the clouds and out of the drizzle. Mostly worked. More flies than rain hitting my glasses down there.

ai6yr, to photography

Ah, I must have been suffering from "sheep" photographer syndrome that year. It's silly to go around the world taking the same photos as everyone else, tossing that one! (Multnomah Falls... overphotographed!)

cmgrowell,
@cmgrowell@m.ai6yr.org avatar

@ai6yr Mine's the best. Actually, it was nice to look back at the day, before the 2nd son was born and while my dad was still getting around.
https://flic.kr/p/shuZR

ai6yr, to random

At least two issues in this photo. TWO involving the Flag Code and the other to do with watering after rain.

cmgrowell,
@cmgrowell@m.ai6yr.org avatar

@ai6yr I don't think we've had our sprinklers on since Dec. Pretty easy to just slide the switch to off.

ai6yr, to hydroponics

Hmm, one of these is sitting in a dumpster down the street... Do I need to clone 8000 tomato plants?

cmgrowell,
@cmgrowell@m.ai6yr.org avatar

@ai6yr It seems to be worth a lot. Maybe re-sell it? Or does that put you on some sort of list.

ai6yr, to Energy

More than you ever want to know about exterior shading of windows for energy efficiency. https://basc.pnnl.gov/resource-guides/shading-and-solar-control-windows-and-skylights#edit-group-description

cmgrowell,
@cmgrowell@m.ai6yr.org avatar

@ai6yr @glightly We drove it home from Death Valley one afternoon. Up around 100F on the 395. I think we kept pulling over to take breaks because the heat was putting us to sleep. I don't think the photo was from that trip, but I took it there a few times.

cmgrowell,
@cmgrowell@m.ai6yr.org avatar

@stevenbodzin @ai6yr @glightly Oh wow, we did Saline Valley a few years ago, but that was in a newer Toyota truck over Thanksgiving weekend and there was snow on the ground in the higher elevations. Can't imagine doing it without high clearance or at least good tires. It was bumpy.

BakerRL75, to random
@BakerRL75@m.ai6yr.org avatar

@ai6yr Good morning? Ben’s Bee Bed and Breakfast open for swarming yet?

cmgrowell,
@cmgrowell@m.ai6yr.org avatar

@ai6yr @BakerRL75 We finally had some scouts checking out our empty hive yesterday. Could hear lots of buzzing up in the big blooming eucalyptus tree this morning.

ai6yr, to random

Interesting, USPS carrier (not my regular one and not at my normal residence) was not enthused about being handed a properly stamped USPS Priority Mail box, saying he "doesn't usually have room in the truck" to pick those up, and warning me to not hand him packages in the future and suggesting I go to the post ofice. I guess this guy only wants to deliver, not pick up, mail. 🤔

(my normal USPS carrier, who I know well at my house, is happy to take many packages from me. )

cmgrowell,
@cmgrowell@m.ai6yr.org avatar

@ai6yr As I recently learned, going to the post office is a miserable experience. They need a second line for people who want to spend all day in there.

cmgrowell,
@cmgrowell@m.ai6yr.org avatar

@ai6yr Oh, that lady was there that day, looking through all sorts of stamps and with all kinds of other questions.

ai6yr, to Insurance

The Texas Tribune: Many homes burned in the Texas wildfires weren’t insured, creating a steep path to recovery https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/04/texas-wildfires-homes-burned-recovery-insurance/

cmgrowell,
@cmgrowell@m.ai6yr.org avatar

@ai6yr Our insurer (Farmers) decided not to renew us this year after 25 years and zero claims. Concrete siding, concrete roof, enclosed eaves, fire sprinkler system, surrounded by succulents, but probably too close to open space and surrounded by older homes. A friend in DV (newer manicured housing development in town) had his insurance double. He looked around for other possibilities and the broker told him if he can find anyone offering it he should take it, no matter the price. It is seriously tempting to go without, but only because we have no mortgage and could rebuild on our own.

ai6yr, (edited ) to cycling

Based on all the help and recommendations from the and community here, finding that I am getting a lot of random comments from people about how much they like my bikes (both the road bike and mountain bike -- both from the 1990's, steel frames). A couple of weeks ago it was my revamped road bike (comment from fire personnel doing drills at a local park), and today from a person at a garage sale about the mountain bike. Reflective stickers for the win, LOL.

cmgrowell,
@cmgrowell@m.ai6yr.org avatar

@ai6yr There is somewhat of a trend in restoring and riding vintage mountain bikes going on lately.

ascentale, to random
@ascentale@sfba.social avatar

Welcome to our February 16th BikeNite! Thanks for joining, and I hope we all enjoy chatting about cycle stuff! Feel free to answer whenever at your convenience. Anyone can join, now or later. Reply to what you like, and boost for visibility.
We'll start out with our introduction:

Q1. Where are you posting from today? Have you had any interesting cycle experiences this week?

cmgrowell,
@cmgrowell@m.ai6yr.org avatar

@ascentale A1. Still in Ventura County, CA. This week feels like it has been nothing but biking related. Our XC MTB high school team has its first race of the season this weekend, so we've been doing final practices and getting ready for it. As a coach, I've been sending out emails with tips and reminders, prepping bikes, and packing everything that could possibly be needed. My wife is cooking the team dinner on Saturday night for over 70 riders and their families, so lots of effort went into that. I think we are ready. Finally starting to unwind now.

ai6yr, to random

Had to (drive) to the other library branch yesterday (too far to cycle), and noticed someone who had cycled there and asked them a question about their bike, and I was not at all surprised when they answered with a strong Dutch accent. 🤪

cmgrowell, (edited )
@cmgrowell@m.ai6yr.org avatar

@ai6yr The only dutch family I know in the area takes their younger kid to school using a cargo bike. Pretty rare for around here.

glightly, to cycling
@glightly@mastodon.social avatar

We need at leasst 17 more people using the hashtag (on public posts) to have a shot of trending.

Why do I care? Because Mastodon isn't the greatest for discoverability. I think BikeNite is a cool community and I would like to see more cyclists able to find us and participate in this a/synchronous weekly structured chat. @mastobikes @fedibikes @bikenite

cmgrowell,
@cmgrowell@m.ai6yr.org avatar

@ai6yr @Brownian_motion @artemesia @glent @stevenbodzin @oheso @glightly @mastobikes @fedibikes @bikenite Some of the MTB crowd have fancy long pants that are tight at the ankles. Kind of pricey, but I found a pair at GoodWill for $5. I really like them for when the trails get overgrown.

cmgrowell,
@cmgrowell@m.ai6yr.org avatar

@ai6yr @Brownian_motion @artemesia @glent @stevenbodzin @oheso @glightly @mastobikes @fedibikes @bikenite If you want more reflective items, they sell pant ankle bands/straps. If fact, I have one that you can have. It came with something else and I didn't realize what it was until just now.

ianjames, to random
@ianjames@journa.host avatar

From the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center:

Potential return of heavy precipitation and high elevation snow to California and Arizona, February 17-21, after a brief respite. cpc.ncep.noaa.gov

cmgrowell,
@cmgrowell@m.ai6yr.org avatar

@ai6yr Is that open to everyone? I missed the one you held for the MTB coaches in the fall and didn't realize until later that my certification expired later last year. I heard very good things from the coaches about your class.

ai6yr, to Arizona

Ha, it was better to be on the Southwest Chief this morning than on the I-40, Amtrak sailed on through Flagstaff without any issues, while truckers are stuck on the I-40 still.

cmgrowell,
@cmgrowell@m.ai6yr.org avatar

@ai6yr I check the railcams in the morning to look at weather around the country. Snow in Tehachapi overnight.

cmgrowell,
@cmgrowell@m.ai6yr.org avatar

@tsherrygeo @ai6yr Tehachapi has 5. Virtual Railfan has them all over the country. Southwest RailCams has a bunch, too.

https://www.youtube.com/@TehachapiLiveTrainCam/streams
https://www.youtube.com/@VirtualRailfan/streams
https://www.youtube.com/@SouthWestRailCams/streams

ai6yr, to random

Current insurance payment tally for the plumbing disaster in my house. Why you have insurance!!! 👀

cmgrowell,
@cmgrowell@m.ai6yr.org avatar

@ai6yr We've probably paid about that much for 25 years worth of insurance premiums that we've never used. I know, you could need it in your first year and that is how insurance is supposed to work. It is a lot of money either way.

ai6yr, to venturacounty

N70VC was parked over there for quite awhile on the ground (an hour?) it's torrential rain and pouring wind. I suspect the were waiting for an opening to mosey back to quarters. Heading off now.

cmgrowell,
@cmgrowell@m.ai6yr.org avatar

@ai6yr So, they ended up using a bulldozer to do this rescue? A strava contact had a video of them loading it up the next day. Kind of makes sense. That used to be a fire road, but it has so many washouts and ruts that a truck couldn't make it very far down it. (Looks like you can't view the video on the post unless you have a strava account.)
https://www.strava.com/activities/10705049914

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