Yesterday morning, I was being resourceful in front of this building, which once-upon-a-time was the hospital in Hollister. It was in fact the place where I was born, one of many babies that came into the world between 1907 and 1962. Today, the building is home to various offices and shops. Probably a few ghosts, too.  Anyway, back to yesterday. I was lying on the bottom steps trying to take a good picture of the huge trees that line the sidewalk in front of the old hospital. I was doing as someone said to me about getting one or all five trees in a picture, "Be creative." Imagine what the drivers passing by must've thought.  Or, the Mama, if she had seen me.

It felt so good riding with Tilda-Hilda this morning. The last time we went out was 11 days ago. My left knee was being a bear, so I stayed off it and took anti-inflammatory pills. The knee feels a bit stiff right now. Tilda-Hilda and I pedaled a wonderful 8.5 miles in 47 minutes. I felt like I could've gone on farther and further. See ya tomorrow.

Trivia about me: When I was in high school many, many, many years ago, I wrote a high school column called The Baling Wire for the local newspaper.  The high school mascot was/is a Haybaler. Baler for short. Not the machine, but the young farmer.    It's the Weekend in Black and White , hosted by Dragonstar.  Click here to see B&W photos by other participants from around the world.

To see more black and white photos by other bloggers, check out  The Weekend in Black & White , hosted by Dragonstar.

Tilda-Hilda and I did another long loop today—over 14 miles in 74 minutes. We went over three bridges. One was short, wooden, and very low to the ground, more like a cattle crossing. Ah, cattle crossing. What a misnomer. A cattle crossing is supposed to keep cows from passing through that point. Onward and upward.

The other night I dreamt that Tilda-Hilda had two flat tires. I asked the Husband what that could mean. "I don't know," he said. "Maybe it has to do with the car tires we're going to buy." I hope so. Knock on wood that Tilda-Hilda doesn't ever get two flat tires at the same time. Just before I went out the door this morning, the Mama called out to me from her bedroom. I peeked in and told her I was going for a ride. She sat up in bed. "Don't go far," she said. "I won't." The dream. The Mama's warning. A sky that looked like it could rain. Maybe I shouldn't go out, I thought. But, it had been two days since the last ride. And, my appetite has been up lately. So, out the door I went. Tilda-Hilda and I pedaled for 78 minutes, roaming around 14.5 miles, today. No flats. Okay, I didn't pay attention to the Mama. But, I did turn around on one road when I saw a Confederate flag.

I didn't think I would have a chance to go out riding with Tilda-Hilda this morning. The fog was thick when I woke up. Fortunately, it started breaking up within an hour. So, off we went. It would've been a good day for a long ride, but I told the Husband we were going through the neighborhoods. I had the phone, but I didn't feel like calling. As a compromise with myself, Tilda-Hilda and I pedaled down a road parallel with the last neighborhood. We also took a very short side trip on a road that ended at a winery. That's what's beyond Tilda-Hilda in the photo. Our trip today was nearly 10 miles, which we did in 54 minutes. Happy trails to you.

Tilda-Hilda and I had an excellent ride this morning, 10 miles in 55 minutes. It resulted in me sweating afterwards for quite awhile. Zap! Zap! Zap! Take that, Fat Cells! Mwaaahhaaa. We're not scared of hills, I'll tell you what, as Hank Hill (of King of the Hill ) might say. We pedaled up a hill, coasted down another, and pedaled right up another one. I don't know about Tilda-Hilda, but I feel like I could face anything. Even the black rat that may be in the backyard (See the previous post ). I saw a cute black kitten scurry quickly around A&W, which made me wonder if the black rat is actually a black kitten. I can only hope. We stopped downtown for a photo in front of the biker's mural that celebrates Hollister as being the "Birthplace of the American Biker". Yes, that's Marlon Brando gazing wistfully at Tilda-Hilda. Did you ever see that movie The Wild One , in which Brando played a supposed rebel of a biker? It was loosely based on a 1947 ou

A Happy July First to you, Dear Readers! And, because it's July first, I'm going to tell, and show, some of the firsts that the Husband and I experienced in June. Bottom line: summer is definitely here. Whooo-hooo! As some of you know, I do another blog called Take 25 to Hollister , which is all about where we live in California. Yup, Hollister, California. Our history and culture is not at all like the fictional Hollister, California of clothing fame. If you're interested in knowing the difference, check out this post . But, I mention the blog because our first-time experiences took place in Hollister and nearby locations. You'll also probably notice the watermark on some of my photos. Now, on with the show and tell. Hollister Airshow   Have you ever seen an air show from the flight line? It's definitely a different experience from suddenly stopping on the side of the road and peering up into the sky at the planes. That's how I've seen air show