We played golf this morning, just nine holes. Then Gene wanted to bike down south towards Deming, New Mexico. He is working toward his annual bike ride for his birthday. He started a few years ago in Canada to ride his age in miles every year. He realized as he gets older it will be harder to do, right? Hard to do 80 miles when he is 80. So he rides extra miles now and puts them in a "bank" for the later years. He did 100 miles a couple of times. At any rate, he is gearing up for his big ride in August. He hasn't ridden as much the last couple of years so he is out of shape and practice for longer rides. He usually does 15 - 10 miles, several times a week.
Today he decided to try about 30. He rode 28. I go ahead of him and set up my easel and paint while I wait. Today I didn't take an easel, just a 5 x 7 canvas board and my acrylics. Sat on the tailgate of the pickup and painted in the shade of a tree.

I got in a little over an hour on this view from Hurley. Plein air, like sketching, takes practice and when you do it more often, you do it better. Hopefully I will get back in the groove and get some more work done this summer. This was fun to do for a warm up. I'm on my way.
A couple of photos from where I waited for Gene at the end of his ride

These thistles are so beautiful ... and dangerous, huh?

This is a view to the east. I was at the turnoff for the City of Rocks, State Park. You can see some of the rocks
here.
**Note, after posting I realize the photo of my painting is pretty garish. I will try to get a better photo tomorrow.
5 comments:
Toby is getting ready for the Duncan Dehydrator bike race this weekend. He only signed up for 26 miles. Last night he rode his bike to church and was one sweaty man when he got there - it is so hot these days. The plein aire painting sounds more fun.
Jo: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but I would not want to hold a thistle.
Jo!
That plein air landscape is fabulous!
Don't touch it!
Lovely images Jo and your painting captures the scene beautifully.
I heard on the news tonight that a man bicycled across Canada, arriving here today and did it in just 22 days! He was cycling over 400km a day on some days! Makes me tired just thinking of it!
Bag Blog, I give Toby extra credit for biking in the heat. Gene tells me he makes his own breeze, but I don't believe it!
fishing guy, those thistles are mean things. That bush was about 2 feet tall, ouch! The blooms are just beautiful.
Leslie, thanks soooo much.
Jeanette, thank you, too. Gene has biked many of the trails in Canada but not all at once. Ha. I just can't imagine how difficult it would be. We were looking at the Tour de France today, wow.
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