Slow Bike Ride

Monday, September 5, 2011

Day 60: Ocean Beach San Francisco, CA Elevation: 0

Miles: 11.0
Average Speed: ~9.0
Max Speed: 21.0
Total Miles: 2,227

Patrick & I cycled to West Oakland BART station & rode BART to the Embarcadero where we met good friends Kristin & Wayne from Santa Rosa. West on Market street to Page and up some very steep (my opinion) San Francisco hills to Haight St. where we found the Blue Front for second breakfast - organic gorilla vanilla coffee. Then into the panhandle and through Golden Gate park to the beach. It was still foggy and col but lots of people were out enjoying the holiday, anticipating the sun - they weren't disappointed. At the beach we did the obligatory wheel dip in the surf, then drank three bottles of champagne spiked with orange juice and headed back into the park for a picnic lunch that Kristin & Wayne packed from Santa Rosa. After the short ride back to Embarcadero we shared a pizza at the Lanesplitter - best pizza west of Gandpa Tony's - and that was it.

Wayne urging us on up Page St.

At least these hills are measured in blocks, not miles

Burning quads

Smile? or struggling for air

The Haight

Old Victorian Lady

This is dedicated to.......whomever

After second breakfast

Conservatory of Flowers

More Flowers - sun breaking through

Exposure

Patrick, Wayne, Kristin - water falling from where? This is Golden Gate Park.

Arriving at Ocean Beach

Ocean Beach

The traditional baptism

Come on - a little closer

That does it

Can't remember the joke but it was damn good

That really does it

Perfect ending - tough to beat

Ocean beach - holiday strollers

Lots of people out as the sun begins to break the fog

Ride back to Embarcadero or bus? Required serious discussion.

Lunch in the park

Trying to stay connected - that's the little netbook PC

Patrick on Skype with Nicole

Everyone, even the dunces in San Francisco, enjoy the holiday in the park

Guy Fawkes - aka Anonymous - this is San Francisco after all

End of the day - end of the ride

One more thing.....

For anyone contemplating a long ride, slow or fast, I suggest you consider these recommendations:

1 - Do it with a partner - someone in comparable physical condition, emotional stability, or instability as the case may be, and roughly similar views of one's place in the universe

2 - Don't worry too much about developing the obvious cycling muscles - they will develop as you ride - but really work on strengthening your entire body, especially upper body & abdomen

3 - Invest in Kevlar tires & the best hand pump money can buy

4 - Take more spares than you think you'll ever need and take little else

5 - Learn how to nose breathe especially when pulse & respirations are racing - get a rhinoplasty, if necessary, so you can breathe like a horse

GOOD LUCK!

Th-th-th-th-th-at,s all folks. Thanks for listening.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Day 59: Patrick's Place, CA Elevation: ~74.37

Miles: 57.48
Average Speed: 10.07
Max Speed: 31.21
Total Miles: 2,216

Had a Mexican breakfast across the parking lot from the hotel and enjoyed conversation with an engaging host about cycling and studenting. We had our escape route from Stockton meticulously mapped out but were foiled in our attempt because Stockton police & CHP had the whole route cordoned off as a crime scene. The cop at the tape line said the most obvious way around wasn't safe so we struck out on dead reckoning and got out of Stockton unscathed. Heading west across the southern delta area we could see Mount Diablo in the distance. Road was intermittently good and horrible - no shoulder - but traffic was fairly light and few trucks. Stopped for second breakfast at Discovery Bay about 23 miles west. We're not quite sure the people we saw around Discovery Bay were human beings. Leaving the delta we climbed about 900 ft up the north flank of Mount Diablo then down into Clayton and finally Walnut Creek. It was 3 pm by then so we stopped for a snack and refreshment which included a 64 oz margarita which obviated the possibility of riding on to Orinda. I had earlier vetoed the ride over Grizzly Peak - too tired - Patrick suggested we get up at 6 am tomorrow and ride the hills before going to the beach - I vetoed that as well. So here we are at Patrick's Place in Oakland looking forward to Day 60.

Across the delta Mount Diablo looms

El Camino Diablo

Mount Diablo still about 15 miles off

Grizzly Peak beyond Walnut Creek

Walnut Creek in the valley

Gastroileal reflex kicks in without regard to time or place

Tomorrow to Ocean Beach. Friends Wayne, Kristin and Ted may meet us at the Embarcadero and ride the peninsula all together, stopping for second breakfast, of course, along the way.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Day 58: Stockton, CA Elevation: 14

Miles: 47.07
Average Speed: 12.15
Max Speed: 30.64
Total Miles: 2,158

I was wrong about tedium. The ride to Stockton was quite pleasant. Made good time losing the last elevation, then fair roads, little wind and not too hot - arrived in Stockton around noon. We passed through the lower foothills and on into the valley past vineyard after vineyard, then orchard after orchard. Stopped for second breakfast, after 23 miles today, at one of the many fresh fruit and vegetable stands. Coming into Stockton I started quizzing Patrick about the city about which he professed ignorance and said he'd never been here which for some reason surprised me and Patrick said, "Why would I visit the worst city in America?" Asking a few people where we might stay they were unanimous in not being able to come up with a safe option. City cop directed us to a Howard Johnson right across street from police HQ. Unemployment very high here, no one has any money and everything is inexpensive. Plan to watch Helen Mirren emote at the early show.

Passing lower foothills

On into the valley and wine on the vine

Fresh fruit break under the olive tree

Tomorrow we'll ride Marsh Creek Rd. past Mount Diablo into Walnut Creek then Orinda at which time we'll decide in the moment whether to climb Grizzly Peak or BART into Oakland.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Day 57: Jackson, CA Elevation: 1,200

Miles: 59.87
Average Speed: 12.85
Max Speed: 34.40
Total Miles: 2,111

Slept in a little this morning at Caples Lake just west of Carson Pass. Had a breakfast of camp food and finally got on the road about 9:27. Patrick relieved me of one pannier, bless his heart. Exactly 1.3 miles down the road we arrived at the Kirkwood Inn where we decided to have second breakfast. Kirkwood Inn was built in 1864 by Zachary Kirkwood - place served as way station, hotel, pony express relay point - some of the original structure, with bullet holes they said (we couldn't identify any), is incorporated into the present inn. After passing the Kirkwood Ski Resort we had several very tough climbs - Patrick can climb circles around me. But at least he truly understands what it is to do a slow bike ride. Then it was pretty much down hill to Pine Grove where we stopped for gas - malted milks. Then one more tough climb and on into Jackson where the atmospheric pressure is crushing and suffocating. Patrick's rear tire went flat just as we pulled in - and yes, it was another dreaded wire.