The Art of Plant Taxonomy as practiced from a Bicycle Seat
The countryside rolls by at a relaxed pace while on a bicycle. You hear more sounds and see more sights of the world around you. It is as if your senses were tuned to maximum sharpness.
When I'm pedalling on a steady climb such as Cherokee Road to Table Mountain, I'll watch the roadside for wildflowers. What's in bloom? Lupine? Monkey Flower? Wild Onion? How many different Calochortus will I see? It can be a game of mental concentration, a distraction from aching legs, but it also adds to the pleasure of the ride.
This is a photo of Juli Furtado training on her mountain bike. Now, she is probably not doing any botanizing while riding, but then again she climbs a great deal faster than I do.
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