Friday May 6th, 2011
It's gonna be a long day, so an early start is a must.
I'm running east on the US 60 before sunrise.
The Superstition Mountains
Into the Light @ Sunrise
Moving Asphalt
Bird Strike!
I was leaving Gold Canyon at 60 mph when I spotted a medium-sized brown bird coming in from the right.
I wasn't really worried, because they always swerve at the last second, RIGHT?
Well, this one didn't know that rule. It slammed into my right bicep and chest.
I was worried the big 4x4 following was going to run over me when the birdie knocked me off the bike.
It was surprising, the impact wasn't all that hard.
I felt the bird flutter across my left chest and under my left arm.
The next few miles were spent checking myself for feathers, bloods and guts.
Did the bird puncture my chest with his beak and I just can't feel it yet?
Unscathed, I carried on.
I'm surrounded by Sonoran Desert scenery...
So I park the bike for a break and pics.
Saguaro Cactus
This Cardinal was singing,
"Ha Ha! You left your zoom lens on the bike!"
I hike back to the bike to get the zoom lens.
Four tiny bright yellow birdies perform a taunting fly-by before I can change lenses.
I hike back into the desert and didn't see another bird.
The Saguaros are Blooming.
It's hard to get close to a Saguaro bloom because they are so high.
However, I found one with a nearby enbankment and shot this with the zoom.
I jump back on the bike and spent the rest of the morning
with the sun in my eyes.