RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR!

2017 is off to a most excellent start!

Gerry and I went on a long bike ride at the beach on a cool and clear first day of the year, with temperatures in the 50s.

We loaded the bike rack onto the car and drove over to Santa Monica  It was less than a 30 minute drive on this holiday morning.  We found convenient, free street parking on California Ave, just north of the 3rd Street Promenade downtown.

At 9:45 am we began our ride and pedaled the four blocks west to the bike path on the beach. We headed north for about 3 miles to Pacific Palisades.  Then we turned around and rode south past Santa Monica and through the coastal towns of Venice, Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach  and Hermosa Beach.

The sand dunes and beachgoers at Playa del Rey

We took plenty of breaks to get out of the saddle and stretch our legs.  It was such a gorgeous day, and the surfer dudes were out full-force.  It was fun to watch them "catch a wave."

Dozens of surfers having a blast

After about 20 miles we took a breather at a scenic rocky point just north of Manhattan Beach.

Gerry getting comfortable for a few minutes

Plenty of tourists were out and about by noon.  Still, the bike path was relatively empty for the first 30 miles of our ride.

Manhattan Beach Pier is filled with throngs of people on this gorgeous day

We reached Redondo Beach, at which point we had ridden 26 miles and had worked up appetites.  Brunch at The Original Pancake House on Pacific Coast Highway sounded like a dandy idea.

The Original Pancake House in Redondo Beach draws a crowd

We both ordered the vegetable omelet.  Honestly, it may have been the largest omelet I have ever been served.  It was huge, and covered the entire plate.  We did our breakfasts justice, and left the restaurant fully fortified, ready for another 20 plus miles.

The sky clouded up a bit and the temperatures remained cool.  But, we had the wind at our backs as we pedaled back north to Santa Monica.

2:30 pm on our return back to Santa Monica

All in all it was a delightful day.  It clocked in at a 47.9 mile bike ride.  I think next year we should make it a 50 mile ride.  It's definitely doable.

We arrived home late afternoon and decided to take a sunset walk up the hill from our backyard to the Observatory.  It's just over a mile from our house to the Observatory.

A beautiful sunset on the first day of 2017

 Happy New Year, friends!