Wright's Lake June 28, 2011

Managed to drive up to within 2 miles of the lake. Took the bike uphill for about a mile, then stashed it in the woods and proceeded on foot. There was too much snow on the road to make the bike feasible. Hiked over snow berm after snow berm until I got to the boat ramp at the lake. It's completely submerged. The view is spectacular as you can see.

I think that's Mt. Price at the right. I've hiked up its shoulders to Grouse Lake and also to the cirque in the middle of the picture to Twin Lakes. I never get tired of this view and this area.

This is some of the snow we had to cross to get to the boat ramp. It was very firm and packed except at the edges and was not a problem to traverse. There was a vehicle just past this berm. He said it had taken him a half an hour to get through. I was very glad I'd oiled my boots to keep the water out because what wasn't snow was water furiously trying to get downhill right now!

I was also glad to find my bike where I had left it behind some small pinelings. It was well hidden and I walked around its vicinity before I finally spotted it.

Bike ride at Spenceville

Drove up to Spenceville Wildlife Area to try to bike to Fairy Falls. Unfortunately, I didn't start till early afternoon because I met the gang at Red Hawk. By the time I made it to the trailhead, it was about 3 pm.

Commando and I started off in the heat and dust. We stopped at the bridge and I encouraged him to drink and get wet. There were a lot of cows in pasture so I had to leash him up a few times. We walked up the hill and then had a spectacular view across a green, green saddle or maybe even a valley sprinkled with small white flowers. Commando spent some time running over the grass, clearly enjoying himself.

Then we coasted down the hill and stopped at the stream. The next bits are uphill again and it was getting late. I had Commando swim in the stream to cool off and he drank plenty of water too.

On the way back, the open saddle had cows over it so poor Commando had to be on leash again. He got put back on leash when a wily cow crossed the road (having gotten through the 5 strand barbed wire) to the other side and then went up a wash, through some rocks and disappeared from view.

We saw plenty of turkeys too so it was a good trip.

City Bikes is Great!

From an email I sent to them:

I'd like to thank your service department for their always extremely helpful and courteous help. Today I came in pretty grumpy with a trivial flat tire. It wasn't anything wrong with the bike, I just didn't know about the special air "thingie." I had been riding to work last week, decided to stop at the gas station to fill my tires, and let all of the air out. So, I just get grumpy when things don't work out. It's raining, I've had a hard week at work, and I bring my bike in. Now any other place could give me attitude, or ignore me completely, but the service guy was very helpful, explained about the air "thingie" (without acting snippy about my stupid questions) and helped me get an adapter so I could fill up my tire at any gas station. Oh, he also filled my tires.

Later that same day, I'm biking slowly along a gravel levee top watching my dog romp around near the river. Could like be any better? So, instead of contributing to grumpiness, your excellent service department made one person's life much, much brighter! Hey, it's not world peace or an end to poverty and hunger, but it sure made a difference to me!

New Bike

Finally bit the bullet and bought a new bike. I bought a Trek mostly road bike. It's very light, especially compared to my e-Bike. I also bought different shifters and a different seat. The seat is somewhat comfortable, but I wouldn't mind a little more cush.

Rode it to and from work today and it is much easier to peddle and get started and stopped. I'll also have to check and see if more people catch me as a test of speed.

So far so good.

Bike Trip on the Golden Gate Bridge

Donna and I met up with child in tow for a bike trip. We met at the scenic overlook area. I discovered that you can't get to the S.O.A. from southbound 101 so I would recommend parking on the other side in the triangular shaped parking area. That's accessible from both sides of the freeway.



We biked across on the Bay side of the bridge and then turned around after a brief exploration of the SF side. The views are fabulous, although it was overcast and cold.

We biked back on the ocean side of the bridge, and schlepped the bikes down some steps and up some steps back to the S.O.A. We stowed the bikes in my car and then went down to Sausalito to poke around. We ate lunch at a nondescript place next to the water while the child ran around exploring the rocks.

We then went back and sorted out the bikes and headed off in our separate directions. This was fun and we'll definitely do it again. I also saw a good (free!) launch site for the kayak and will look forward to a trip for that.

Post Repair Bike Ride

Should have taken the bike in much, much sooner. Just got back from the ride and we went faster and didn't take the bus on the way home. It's amazing how having all of the gears available helps!

Nice and cool with a stiff breeze...why is it always a headwind though? The turtle pond is drying out and the grass is turning crispy colored.

Weekend Activity

Saturday cleaned and did chores.

Sunday went for a bike ride with Jodi along the American River. It was a good trip, especially because we stopped at 16th street and took the bus home. It reminded me of when I lived in SF and was jogging. I used to jog from Laguna to Baker Beach and then walk up and catch the 38-Geary home.

Monday I drove up near Cool and Foresthill. I hiked along the Middle Fork of the American River near the Ruck a Chucky camp. The road down was a little fierce for my car, but no broken tie rods and no fluids leaking from holes poked in the bottom by serpentine rock.

Then I drove back and across to the other side of the river. I took Sliger Mine road and exercised my cars suspension system until a dried up mud bed that was way too bumpy stopped me. I did see some sedan type cars below and I'm not sure how they negotiated the obstacle. I guess they just have bigger balls!

I walked down the road a ways to a curve and an abandoned cinder block structure (Sliger Mine?), then headed back.

On the way down I passed two women on the way up. One said to me, "Hiking alone?"

I wanted to give a snarky answer, "No, Harry the Rabbit is hiking with me." But I didn't, I just said yes.

She then said, "Well good for you."

WTF? Usually the conversation is more along the lines of "nice day" and "great day for a hike" or something equally tame. I got the sense too that she was a little critical, that I shouldn't be hiking alone. Yes, well, that's just the way it is. The humans I encountered (several cars passed me on my way up) all waved cheerfully, or, asked if I needed help. I suppose it's statistically possible that a mountain lion could attack me, a jogger was eaten 5 or so years ago...but I think I took my life in my hands much more on the drive on I-80 to and from the hike.

I also sort of wanted to point out that the deep tan they had now looked fine but once they got over 50 they'd look a lot more like leather (and not fine Corintian leather!) than they might prefer. Ooh, snarky!

Good weekend!

Biking in San Jose

In spite of the rainy weather Donna and I headed out about mid-morning on Friday to bike along the Guadalupe River Park Trail in downtown San Jose. The city has certainly gotten much more dynamic and interesting since I lived there. The downtown city hall is beautiful too, especially the pillars lining the surrounding streets.

We headed north along the Guadalupe River and saw mallards galore. The water was high, but didn't threaten the trail at all. It was also cold and overcast, with no real sun. We made it as far as the airport and then headed back against a nasty headwind for home.

On Saturday, we went to the Berryessa Flea Market on our bikes and did a hour or so of shopping. Donna wanted to get a decorative hanging pink flamingo for her yard. They had parrots, but no flamingos. At the same stall, I bought a gift for Andy and Ira's Sonoma house. I can't wait until they see what it is!

Sunday was get away day and I headed back in time to go to the SPCA for a King's game dog mobile adoption. Fortunately, we have almost no dogs so with 5 volunteers and only 2 dogs I "volunteered" to go home and get my chores done.

Fall Bike Ride Home

It's finally turning to fall here in Central California. It's been hot for the past few days and today was cooler. On the ride home the wind was swirling around, coming from the south and then from the west. When I turned onto my street, the wind was at my back and I rode with a yellow leaf stampede to home. Git along little doggies!

Bike to work

The NY times has an article about it, seems that more people are trying it to combat high gas prices. I've been biking, or walking, or taking the bus, or taking the cable car, or even driving for some time. It helps to live within 4 miles of work, although I know one guy who has an 11 mile one way trip. Another friend was roller blading until she changed jobs and her work is now too far away (and not very easy to get to without a car).

There are challenges: safety (all of us have been damaged), getting the right gear together at the right time (damn I forgot my damn nylons is not a good feeling at the work end), and staying dry during rainy season (nothing like wet, dank, clothes at the end of the workday to really fill you with joy--forget the shower, put in a dryer!) are the main ones. The beauty of it is, you don't need to do it everyday, if it's cold or hot or you're late, you can drive instead. Also, the buses have bike racks and that can cut some time if you're in a hurry too.

Oh, I forgot to mention route planning. That's important too. I want quiet, residential streets with either 4 way stops (I can run them when there's no cars) or stops for the other way and not mine and lights at major intersections. My roller blading friend also wanted less leaves and sticks and potholes.

Some good Sacramento biking sites:
http://www.sacbike.org/sacbiking/ (the best really)
http://citybicycleworks.com/site/intro.cfm (great, great, great service)