Waiting for the Race, What to do?

Being my first bike race ever and with a camera, I arrived in El Dorado Hills at 11:30 a.m. A little before the race began at 11:45…but some odd 70 plus miles away.  I didn’t want to miss out on a prime spot!  

The bike tent for a local bicycle shop was going up and one other car showed up in the “park and ride” expecting more crowds, as I was…important information was shared.  I drove to Target for the bathroom and to scout out a closer location to a “curve”…parked car, loaded up and headed off for the AmGen curve in El Dorado.  

The good news is that I learned to heck with parking far away.  I hiked up that swell road with more lenses than I ever could have used, but insisted they come along for the “carry”.  I was alone for almost 2 hours..  occasional bike riders/racer wannabees rode by, I took pics and waited.  

I brought my course work for my current photography unit, found strobes really couldn’t compare to the beauty along the side of the road…  

Decided I do like Foxtails...when attached to a plant and not my animals!

This is a pretty urban area, developed within the last 5 or so years…  

Not bad for a curbside!

There are hills along the winding road with old trees…  

Alone on a Hill

It really was entertaining for me.  Here I have my wonderful D300s camera “at the ready” on my tripod with a 17-50mm and I plunked my 70-300mm on my long-lost D40x and went to town with every nearby site!  

Leftover, but still pretty to me!

I was pretty entertained by the birds playing nearby!   

Come on already, ready for the race!

What kind of birds are these? Find myself looking at swooping local birds only to realize they are vultures…like to think these are Hawks 

Good to have playmates!

 with friends, you tell me!  Although I was excited to view the race first hand…was more excited to share these pics.  Nature is still my first choice:)