Story for 1st Annual Lusty Tarantula Ride *no tarantulas found

Today we set off on a ride to satisfy our inner Entomologists and Matchmakers. In Southern California, the months of September and October are Tarantula mating season. The boys are out on the prowl looking for their soul mate, which is a tricky prospect since the ladies are all hiding underground playing it safe and being picky. Can't say I haven't done the same at a few unnamed LA watering holes.

Since Bernd saw quite a few a week before in these same mountains, we thought finding lusty male tarantulas would be a sure thing, especially if we covered ALL of Glendora Mountain Road to find them.

And so the story begins...pleasantly, to find that Glendora Mountain Road was closed to automobiles on this day. 
Talk about sheer luck! We were sure to find tarantulas!

We climbed and climbed up GMR, looking along the side of the road for any movement. Carley and I were sure to remind Ken, Don, Steve and Ted a ridiculous number of times to keep looking!

It was a beautiful day, and we had cool temps for all that climbing. We eventually made it to Mount Baldy Village for a drink and snack pit stop where we did find this tarantula...

...close, but not moving. 

After much deliberation, Carley, Ted and I decided to head toward the ski lifts. Ken and Don held down the Village, so to speak, as we pushed our way up. Steve had to head back solo for some other engagement, but I can't imagine anything better than tarantula-hunting.

Now, I've climbed to the lifts before, and the switchbacks are always neverending and steeper than the price of a Bud Light at a sporting event, but today, there was a HEADWIND. I hope there were no virgin ears along the last straightaway up to the sign, as I was swearing like a sailor at the evil bald mountain and its buddy, the wind, on the 14% grade.

But the three of us made it!!!

And sorry Ted, but we needed a great shot of the Badass Blondes on Baldy:)

After a high five to the lift operator, down we went.

Wait. THAT'S what we came up???!!

The switchbacks are "fun" enough with pushy traffic on the road, but after we got to the fast straightaway near the Village, I saw something moving on the side of the road. Bigfoot, perhaps? 

Nope. A deer ran between me and Ted on a 30+mph descent!

Zoinks! Thank you Replay XD for the still from my video. 

All safe and we found Ken and Don and headed back through GMR. The skies were clear and the car-free descent was a blast.

We even annoyed Ted with yet another selfie. Ha!

We made it back to Azusa intact, but what about the tarantulas, you say???

Well, unfortunately the ride's namesake was a bust. The lady tarantulas were just not having it this day.