Fixing My Rack

Finally got the car rack put back together. I had to take a trip down to the store and ask for help. It turns out there's a hex wrench adjustment that needs to be made. Once that was done (and it took a bit to figure out how that worked) the racks are on nice and tight. I'm going to experiment with a little trip onto the American River at say Howe or Watt and then go up and then down. If I'm right, there won't be much current and I'll have no problem. If I'm wrong, I'll have a short paddle to some current area and then have to turn around.

Castle Peak

Drove up to inspect some work done on Jodi's cabin and then headed to the Castle Peak/Boreal exit off 80. Jodi wanted a steep climb and I wanted a relatively flat hike. Neither of us had (we thought) gone this way before, but I figured that if couldn't be that hard as it was such a popular trail.

We started off around 4 pm and the trail climbed steadily (but not horribly) upwards. We reached a trail marker to the "Hole in the Wall" trail which climbed steeply to the left and Jodi headed off that way. I continued along the forest service road.

This is a very pretty trail with great views of meadows and Castle Peak. About the last 1/2 mile is a pretty steep climb and once the forest service road peters out and the Pacific Crest Trail it's pretty damn steep as it gets to Castle Summit at 7880 feet.

Spectacular views all around. The experience was a little marred because a large (20+) group of people arrived at the same time so there was plenty of loud talk and shouting, especially by one guy who had WAY too much energy. I was time for me to head back anyway so I feasted my eyes on the scenery and headed back.

I'll have to drive all the way up the forest service road next time and get to the summit of Castle Peak. Another day.

Winnemucca Lake via Woods Lake

Took Friday off and drove up to look at the potential house in Sutter Creek, then continued on up to Carson Pass. I was going to take the usual route at the summit past Frog Lake, but decided to try something different.

The Woods Lake trail is nice, perhaps a little rockier where it crosses or is actually part of a seasonal streambed. Most of the route is not too steep, although there is one patch close to the end that's stimulating. The path borders a snow melt fed creek that was rushing along.

Winnemucca Lake itself is gorgeous against it's volcanic backdrop. I sat and admired Elephant Back for about 10 minutes before heading back. There were lots of wildflowers in the forests and in the open hillside.

Attack ducks

Of course they aren't close enough to see but these juvenile ducks were in the mood for trouble. They followed me around and explored around my kayak at the shore while I was swimming. They left their mischief when I yelled at them.

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Sent from my Treo

Kayak

My beautiful and trusty kayak on Lake Natoma.

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Sent from my Treo

Dental weeniness

Apparently one of my ancient fillings (20 = +?) needed to be replaced and I am a giant weenie when it comes to dental procedures. The dentist prescribed some Xanax and I took one the night before (and felt nothing) and 2 in the morning.

Two was certainly the right amount although I did need an extra injection of novocaine during the procedure. I give props to the new-fangled electric drill because it seemed to have less vibration than the old and busted air powered drill.

Got home and slept for the rest of the day. Managed to wake up and eat dinner and watch about 1 hour of TV and then went back to bed for the whole night.

I can't believe that people actually take the drug recreationally! What's recreational about sleeping for 24 hours? If I'm going to recreate (which I'm not, drugs are bad), I want to see colors and other weird crap.

More Echo Lake Kayaking

Andy came up Friday and rented a Kestrel from CCK (great retailer, please patronize for all of your kayaking needs). On Saturday we loaded up in the baking 100 degree temperatures and headed for the lake.

We stopped in Pollack Pines for a fishing license for Andy and in Placerville for breakfast for both.

Echo Lake was very crowded! The lower lot was full, the upper lot was full, and people were parked along the road for a good half mile. The ferry that crosses the two lakes was in constant service shuttling hikers to and fro. The lake was riffly from a mild breeze and choppy from the ferry and few power boats revving around.

We paddled steadily to the upper end and then hung out where a cold, snow melt creek infalls. I floated around in the water while Andy got his fishing tackle ready to go. Then, he paddled out to experiment with fishing while kayaking. I floated some more, then strolled a few hundred yards in either direction along a casual use trail that bordered the lake. Then I got back into my Willow and poked along the shoreline.

After an hour or so, Andy decided that the one nibble he might have gotten wasn't worth it so we meandered around the various islands and then headed back to the launch area.

I selfishly allowed Andy to hike back up to the car and sat and watched the crowds around. A retriever fetched a stick and walked along the top of the dam. Various boats exited. Several people wore extraordinarily silly shoes. Will "rich" people buy anything? I swear that a man wore sequined clogs that matched his wife's.

Andy made it back down and we loaded up. We had a brief delay while he unhooked a fish hook from his shorts. As a sister, I can say with due fondness, "ha, ha, ha, HA, HA, HA, HA" and wipe tears of laughter from my eyes.

A woman asked us about kayaking and we assured her that it was fun and she should definitely rent some tomorrow and go out on the lake and try it out.

So that was the great trip!

Even more sick cat news

Each day we disect his movements and wonder if it means he is in pain, or if it's time. He went outside for the first time in months...what does that mean? He decided to spend the day on the red couch. He slept in his wicker basket after avoiding it for about 3 weeks. He slept on the chair with the towel. He spent the day in my chair. He begged for food and wolfed it down. He is still snubbing the salmon feast but loving everything else. He drinks a lot out of the toilet. He slept in the spare room (sorry about the cat hairs Andy). Are we wiping up drool more often?

What does it mean?

Mt. Judah Loop

Went with Jodi yesterday to conquer the trail. At the beginning (up a rocky cliff face) I was expecting more of a smooth, "dynamited from solid granite" experience. Instead, the granite is very eroded and it's more like scrambling over small granite boulders and blocks. It's not too steep though with the numerous switchbacks. Then we began to climb gradually over more of a lightly forested dirt trail with long, long switchbacks. We reached the trail junction (where the Mt. Judah Loop leaves the PCT) and headed up again. There is some interesting overlooks and a weird puddingstone gash bisecting the hill. Not sure if it's human made or elemental.

There is still snow on the sheltered sides of the hills and the melt makes a lively brooklet running down the center of the trail. Part of the landscape is the ski area for Sugar Bowl so the lifts and run areas are evident.

The top is lovely (although we decided NOT to scramble all the way to the top) with good views of the surrounding mountains.

We retraced our steps to the trail junction and then I led us (somewhat inaccurately to Jodi's annoyance) straight down the ski run to a dirt road which I falsely believed would take us to a little lake and some cabins and the road that we started the trail on.

No quite. We pushed on heading down and rightwards until we hit a "trail" that followed along a dry creekbed. In spite of the DEET I was viciously savaged by mosquitos who apparently considered DEET more of a sauce than a deterrent. It was a bit of a scramble on the creekbed with some 2 to 4 foot drops. I did see a bike tread on one of the damp dirt areas and can't imagine how someone got a bike up or down the creekbed without walking it.

Eventually we did reach the pond area. Jodi (much fitter and faster) had reached it first and waded in for a cooling swim. Apparently it's all private property and some cranky "bad karma" guy told her to get the hell out and stay out. What a grouch!

I caught up to her as she was headed back up and we were on the road the whole way back to the car. I do think the shortcut saved some distance and was not quite as difficult as the rocky cliff part of the trail. I could be biased though as I'm a fan of hiking off the trail.

Keep in mind that I'm always doing this where there is some feature or other to navigate towards to avoid getting lost!

Remembering SF

I loved Muni and all of the busses. The 38 Geary is great because it's always full (Tip: Go to the back!). At rush hour leaving downtown the poor people near the Civic Center would watch bus after bus pass by because they were always jammed. The 1 California is great because it crosses Stockton street which is always fun. Mmmmm, I wonder if Hunan Home's is still there? The 30 Stockton (?) is fun too especially through Chinatown and you do NOT want to get in the way of the little old ladies with the pink bags. They will mow you down.

Just having the monthly Muni pass is too cool for words, especially when riding the cable cars. Ignore the turn stile at Market, just barge on up at Union Square and wave your pass while the tourists are handing over great stacks of cash to the conductors.

Jogging along the street just up from California after Van Ness, then down Lake street, then onto dirt trails in the Presidio and then to Baker Beach was a great workout. It slopes mostly downhill and you can cool your feet in the ocean. Then, just walk a couple blocks to Geary and take the 38 back.

The Embarcadero is open with views of the Bay Bridge, and don't forget the ferry over to Sausalito for breakfast on the weekend, or the farmer's market at the Ferry Building. It's easy to bike along the Embarcadero and then along Crissy Field and up and over the Golden Gate bridge and then return. Polar Bear swims near Ghirardelli Square are the best. There are busses to the Marin Headlands over the GG for hiking excursions too, and you're only an hour from the wine country.

Too bad Busvan for Bargains closed!

Clement street has great shopping as does Mission, Irving, and Fillmore. What's the great art store at Market near Van Ness, and I wonder if the funky psychic shop is still near there? Keeping up with the outlet stores was too much after a while, but browsing in the garment and furniture districts was always fun.

Although the Berkeley Rep was good I preferred the San Jose Rep. The Santa Cruz Shakespeare festival was always the absolute best...I still remember Waiting for Godot and Midsummer Night's Dream there!

The street fairs and parties...Folsom Street Fair is wild, Halloween in the Castro used to be wilder, but still has its charm, and Bay to Breakers is a party too. Don't run naked though, it's just gross!

My brother still lives there and I get to visit him, but not often enough!

Sacramento Knights Reno Trip

As is the tradition, we stayed at the Sands Regency in Reno. It's not the best hotel and the casino is pretty dirty, but it is cheap and conveniently located. Plus, we're guests of the S.K. so we can't really be choosers.

We hiked two loop trails. The first trail was in Bear Valley Discovery Loop. The second trail included an off trail scramble as we hiked off the trail around a little pond off of the Glacier Meadow Loop. Although the distance travelled wasn't much, scrambling along the base of the cliffs forming the ridge between Highway 80 and to old Donner Pass road was challenging.

The next day we woke up bright and early and had breakfast at the Atlantis casino, then drove south on 395 to Mt. Rose pass. We probably made only about 2 1/2 miles as the trail was blocked by snow. We ran into other hikers who had made 2 other attempts. They had been blocked at the parking lot on the first try, and at the top of the first short climb on the second try. Another hiker recommended that we take the alternate mountain bike route as it was on the west face and the snow was likely to have melted.

We also drove north on 395 and looked at some houses in Bordertown. It's a nice area and within commute distance to Reno.

It was a lot of fun for me to chat with everyone at BOE and hear the various stories. The gambling was amusing, but as usual, I did not win anything to speak of.

We'll have to try that Mt. Rose summit again, once all of the snow has melted.

Mini-vacation activity

Kayaked for the first time at the Willow Creek area of Lake Natoma. It is really very nice there. The cattle egrets have set up a nesting area just west of the launch area on some bluffs overlooking the lake. They always look so silly up in the trees...these big, white birds...looking "too big to be allowed" and perching precariously on branches bending under them. This is a successful survival strategy?

Next day drove to Clear Lake (and did a little hiking) to explore the area from a property standpoint. I mistakenly ran out of gas (duh!) and was very, very lucky in making it back to civilization and highway 20 before the car actually choked and died. Although there was no cell phone signal, there was a call box about 2/10's of a mile (1/5? ha ha) down the road. Thank you to my tax dollars.

Next day I stood up Andy and went hiking near Lola Montez lake after a long, arduous drive up the dirt road. The road has decayed since the last time and I'm not sure I'll be able to traverse it later. Snow runoff has created several deep cuts in the roadway. I was finally stopped by a snow bank at about 7200 feet. It's a beautiful area though and I'll have to explore it more often. On the way back I explored the area off Highway 20 near Bear Valley. Bowman Lake looks like it might be a great place to camp.

On Tuesday I washed clothes, dishes, and the cat. He tolerated being washed better than I thought and next time he'll get a more thorough cleaning! Also went to Malene's for the 4th and had a good time.

Now, it's back to work and I'd better get my ass in gear.

SPCA Dog Walk

Went in this morning for about 2 hours and walked 3 dogs. I liked the first one the best (Snickerdoodle, Doodlydoodle? Something like that). She was energetic and really enthusiastic about the whole thing in the that pure, energetic way of dogs. Then I walked Prince who was pretty tame. He did decide to lie down in the shade by the book sale area and refused to get up and keep walking. Funny! A treat lured him right away. Then I walked Snowy, a young pit mix. She was energetic and needs lots and lots of leash training.

It was a lot of fun. I was surprised when I went in to record my time and walked past the cattery how sad the sight was. It was visceral and unexpected.

More sick cat

Well, the biopsy came back and he's got a sarcoma on his tongue. Apparently it's common and there's not much that can be done. The vet gives him 1 to 2 months.

He's sitting on my lap now enjoying the cool morning air and we're both listening to some pissed off squirrel in the tree outside.

He's had a good life since I moved in (and maybe before, who knows) and he'll keep having a good time until he's not.

It's just amazing how this little furry critter wormed his way into my heart. Back in the day I'd be sitting in the yard waiting to be bitten by mosquitoes and he'd come out of the wild and overgrown ivy meowing and meowing. He'd let me pet him but not pick him up or hold him. Then I started feeding him. Then I started luring him into the house with food placed just inside the front door. He's a scaredy cat and we spent a lot of time with him just at the front door sneaking a quick bite and then darting out to the "safety" of outdoors.

Finally he got comfortable coming inside and began to relax and take advantage of the heat and cool. I installed a cat door because he was a big one for going out, coming in, going out, coming in and I refused to devote several hours a day to be a catomatic door opener.

He would sleep on the roof, or on the roof of the shed under the branches of the camellia tree. He also liked a little nesty area under the false quince. He spent some time on the concrete slabs around the garden area (once I'd ripped out the ivy and built it). And he would usually be waiting for me on the chimney ledge when I came home from work. He could survey the street and still stay tucked up nice and safe.

In the last year or two he's spent more and more time inside. I bought a litter box for him and actually locked him in after a cat mugging incident. I would call it a cat fight but he's tiny and unable to fight. A small gray tabby kitten once cowed him and forced him into the house.

Some might think I should have made him into an indoor only cat to protect his safety and perhaps they right. On the other hand, it's a decision I made that I believed was in his best interest and I'd do the same thing again. He didn't wander and I never saw him kill a bird (although I think he would have liked to). He was never going to catch one of the bold jays that would occasionally dive bomb him (and me!) to protect “their” territory.

Now, he hardly ever goes outside. The last time he was out, he was beaten up (no wounds) and now he's content to stay inside. He goes out occasionally on the front porch if I'm with him.

Indoors he likes to sleep on a lap (and don't move too much or he'll meow in protest). Over time he's made many indoor places to sleep...the spare bed in the spare bedroom (leading to the "cat has his own room" joke)...the back of the red IKEA couch...all of the living room furniture...the top of the TV cabinet when he could still get up there...the dresser in the front bedroom...the dining room table.

He had a bout with cancer in his bowel and the vet at 65th street did a GREAT job of surgery. He had chemo from Dr. Stephen Crow at SAMG and the brilliant surgery and the chemo gave us about 5 more great years. Thanks to my brother Andy for forgiving my horrible extravagance (and it really was immorally extravagant).

Don't know how old he is, I've had my house since 1998 (it's 2006 now) so perhaps it's 8 plus 5 for a total of 13 years.

He hates one of my friends which is mean because she's fed him many times. He loves another friend and tolerates my brother.

I never named him...it seemed wrong to give him a human name. He's a sentient adult; I don't understand his language and don't want to presume to tell him what his own name is. Yep, it's stupid but it's how I feel.

Just a few thoughts before I toss him off my lap (probably to go in the wicker basket) and get moving for my day.

Letter from Dad

Dad has been writing to his cousin about some property in New Brunswick. This is his letter:

Dear George,

I have been wanting to write to you for some time. You overcame my procrastination. Of course I will sign the course of action you advise. In fact I hope I have remembered to include it with this correspondence of June 20.

It brings to mind a wonderful summer I spent in New Brunswick with Grampy at his house there. It sat on a corner of a graveled road that had no junction with another regular road for another forty miles (?) after passing Grampy‘s house. Just before Grampy‘s house a dirt road went up to the McCutcheon farm. Chester and his brother Ralph lived with their parents there. All of the McCutcheons were great friends of Grampy. Chester visited us in Cornish for Sandra’s wedding.

For fun Ralph and Chester took me deer hunting one late evening. That involved a rifle, a large flashlight, and a drive past a game warden‘s house and a detour through large areas of sloping fields fronting his house. The pick up truck was parked some walking distance back past the warden’s house and we walked back to jacklight some deer below his house. A deer was lighted, a shot was fired with no resulting joy, we heard a vehicle start up near the warden’s house and consequently we ran towards where the pick up was parked. The rifle was hidden in one stone wall and the flashlight in another. Arriving at our transport we drove circuitously back to Grampy‘s and continued our evening conversation there. Soon a car drove up and the driver stopped to chat knowingly with Ralph and Chester and courteously with Grampy. He even kindly said he hoped I was enjoying New Brunswick. Definitely New Brunswick had exemplary people.

My routine there was to visit the outhouse upon awakening. It was a short walk there and each morning I would pass a steaming pile of bear droppings. Then I would wash up and Grampy would start to make his delicious sourdough biscuits telling me to go catch breakfast (trout) in the stream in back of the house. In a few minutes I would have three to five brook trout and return to the house. Grampy and I would prepare the trout for pan frying and a fantastic breakfast would be ready in minutes.

The neighbors would always include Grampy and I in their baking each week so we had fresh bread and sometimes cookies or a cake. One neighbor added me to his family for a blueberry picking trip. We went there in a horse and wagon. I hope I turned in more than I ate but it was a long time ago (sixty + years) so my memory fails me on that issue.

Another time some friends of Grampy took us on a day trip to a remote lake. We had to take a motor boat to the island they lived on. I saw and heard loons on that trip. This trip was up the road past Grampy’s.
Mention of Chester certainly evokes pleasant memories.

However a correspondence from you brings forth even more and greater memories of the most wonderful family I have ever known, the WALKER’S. Your mother and father were exceptional, and their children Betty, George, Tom, Kathy, Dorothy all contributed to my ideas of what people
should be like. Each of you were different but with your own admirable qualities. For all of the terrific things each of you did for me, huge THANKS!

Sick Cat Slightly Better

This morning he was begging for food around 4:30 am. Normally I ignore this as it is TOO EARLY! In fact, one of the first commands I taught him was, "Cats who meow at 4 am go outside and stay outside no matter how cold it is."

I digress. I put some Fancy Feast Turkey and Giblets down for him and he gobbled it up as fast as he could. I waited a little bit, and put some more down and he munched that down also. I didn't give him anymore because he tends to throw up easily.

Here's the funny bit...it's time to go to bed and I'm showing my mother (who's staying with me this week) how to give him the pain medication. I haven't given him any because he's not in pain anymore. As soon as he saw the medicine bottle he got very excited and begged for some. He hopped up on the dining room table and nearly knocked me down getting it.

Now I just have to find out what substance the vet flavored the medicine with and put it in his food and maybe I can get him to eat more.

So, today was a good day for the cat.

Sick Cat

Well, my beloved, ancient cat is really on his last legs perhaps. I took him in for a regular checkup about a month ago and everything seemed fine except for his kidney disease. Almost immediately though, he started drooling when he napped and then began drooling even more. On Friday, it didn't look like he'd eaten anything all day so I took him into SAMG on Saturday.

The news isn't good. The vet found a mass, most likely cancer, on his tongue. It's possible that it's an ulcer from the kidney disease so the vet wasn't sure. They did a biopsy on Saturday and he's home here with some pain medication.

Well, he's clearly in pain now. He isn't eating much and I haven't seen him drink either. He's spends most of his time in his basket (unusual). It could be the pain of having the biopsy done, or it could be the cancer, or it could be the kidney disease.

Obviously, I just don't know. He just ate a tiny bit of food and went back to his hut. He normally welcomes petting but when I pet him, he doesn't seek out more so clearly he is in a lot of pain.

I really love this cat and will be very sorry to see him go. I'm so glad that I bought this house and that he welcomed me as his companion for these many years. I wish we could have many more years but it's not looking good now.

Hell Hole Again

Drove to Hell Hole for a quick kayak trip. The rains over the winter really did a number on Mosquito Ridge road and whatever road leaves HH for Georgetown. Lots of slides, big and small. Some slides were just dirt, but plenty were dirt mixed with giant several ton boulders. In one place, you could see the dent where the boulder landed, then the scrape marks on the pavement as the boulder was dragged to the shoulder.

The water was not as cold as I thought it would be although it was plenty high. The waterfalls were tame but still flowing. Lots of debris (logs, logs, logs, sticks. twigs, branches, and bark) in the water.

My arms are a bit sore.

Tomorrow it's another bike ride with Jodi.

Lake Natoma Wind

Drove up after work for a quick workout. Jodi went with to rollerblade. I kayaked across, then cut back and went to the ranger point. It was a little windy and cold but still very relaxing and pleasant. There were a ton of other boats, kayaks, canoes, crew rowers, outriggers, single and double rowers, sail boats, sail boards, and surf skis. As I was leaving, a kayak class was starting.

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.