OTBR: A Cycle Path in England

Latitude: N 52° 54.558
Longitude: W 001° 50.070

A child on a road trip with his family asks, "Where are we?" and the father answers, "Let's check the map. We're off the blue roads [the Interstate Highways marked in blue on the road atlas]. We're off the red roads [the US and state highways]. We're off the black roads [the county highways]. I think we're off the map altogether." It was always my dream to be off the map altogether.

After the jump, a few of the random places (and I mean random literally) that I visited vicariously last month that are "off the blue roads".

Touring the Pasadena Police Classic Car Show

From 2014 06 15 Classic Car Show

While visiting southern California for the Caltech commencement ceremony, Ellen and I took the opportunity to tour the Pasadena Police Classic Car Show.

If Detroit is the birthplace of the American automobile industry, then southern California surely has to be where the American love affair with the car reached its teenage years.

More after the jump.

Repeat Tweets: Blaming Clinton

Repeat tweets from June, 2014:

• Jun 1 2014: MT @SenTedCruz: "Clinton more focused on blaming vast right-wing conspiracy than terrorists." And Cruz is more focused on blaming Clinton.
  
• Jun 2 2014: MT @SenTedCruz: "For two centuries there has been bipartisan agreement that democracy depends on free speech." Pretty sure still true.
  
• Jun 2 2014: MT @SenTedCruz: "The First Amendment has served America well for 223 years." It even protects you when you lie that some want to repeal it.
  
• Jun 3 2014: MT @SenTedCruz: "Senators who sign up to repeal First Amendment free speech protections should be embarrassed." So should senators who lie.
  
• Jun 3 2014: Berkner's Jacob Patterson makes the North Texas High School Baseball Coaches All-Star team. Game set for June 9. d-news.co
  

After the jump, more repeat tweets.

Touring the Pasadena Chalk Festival

From 2014 06 15 Pasadena Chalk Festival

While visiting southern California for the Caltech commencement ceremony, Ellen and I took the opportunity to tour the Pasadena Chalk Festival.

It is so amazing what these artists can do with a square of sidewalk and box of chalk that I'll just let the art speak for itself.

More photos after the jump.

Touring the Mount Wilson Observatory

From 2014 06 14 Mt Wilson

While visiting southern California for the Caltech commencement ceremony, Ellen and I took the opportunity to tour the Mount Wilson Observatory in the San Gabriel Mountains.

The mountains are a welcome change from the crowds of the Los Angeles basin. Mostly in the Angeles National Forest, the scenery is magnificent. Even without the observatories as a destination, the ride alone would be worth it. But the observatories are a treasure all by themselves.

More after the jump.