Dumbarton Bridge and beyond.

It was a nice day yesterday, so I decided I would ride over the Dumbarton Bridge to Union City.  I had only been that way by car, so was not sure what it would be like on a bicycle.  The ride is actually easier than I expected and sure saw a lot of cyclists.  The next nice day I think I will try it again and go at least as far as where I lived in Fremont.  Nice change from the Bay Trail.  Today it is raining so I am doing laundry.  Something I should have done weeks ago.  I wish I could invent clothing that washed itself.  With my luck if I did it would wash itself when I was wearing it.

Rain and Showers

The weather report for today was 60% chance of rain, so I put on my rain coat and went for a ride of about 20 miles.  I did not encounter any rain but I sure found the mud.  I had to stop twice to pick the clumps of mud and branches from the gears and breaks.  The bike is still muddy, I will have to wash it tomorrow either with a hose or in the rain.  My black cycling tights where brown when I arrived home and it took to wash cycles to clean them. All and all a great day for a ride.

Hope everyone has a great holiday

Snow and freezing weather in San Francisco Bay Area?

Yes my friends it actually snowed on the hills this past weekend. When I went out for my mountain bike rides this past week the temperature has been in the high 30s to low 40s in the morning never getting above 56 in the afternoons.  I was surprised to actually see people jogging and cycling in shorts. I was almost warm wearing two pairs of cycling tights and a heavy shirt and cycling jacket.  I guess some people just do not feel the cold or can ignore it.

The Maple Tree

In my parents front yard

Another shot

From across the street

Been riding again since the 11th, Dad is feeling a little better.

Been on the mountain bike since the 11th, getting in about 45 miles each day. I am sure I will not make it to 1000 miles this month. Had to replace the chain and the freewheel (the gear set on the rear wheel).  Finding a chain was easy, but finding a freewheel for a 25 year old mountain bike was hard.  I stopped in to Performance Bicycle in San Mateo and spoke with Jae, He was able to come up with a rebuilt freewheel from somewhere that was in much better shape than mine.  If you have an older bicycle Jae is the person to talk to, in fact if you have a bicycle he is the man when it comes to fixing things.  He told me that the wheel bearings are starting to fail on my bike, but that they do not make that type of wheel any longer. I told him I am not surprised that they are starting to fail after 25 years and more than 300,000 miles.  He told me he had a rebuilt wheel set at home that he could put on my bicycle for $115.00 parts and labor.  Think I will take him up on the offer, wonder if he can come up with some rebuilt Suntour Front and Rear derailers? Would be nice.

Have not been on my mountain bike since November 1

I went on a 50 mile ride on the first of the month. That evening my Dad's heart rate went up to 140 beats a minute, normal is in the range of 65 to 80, so had to rush him to Kaiser Hospital. He has been in and out of the hospital since and between taking care of my Mom and him I have had no time for a ride. I was planing to go tomorrow but looks as if that is out too.  Today he was fitted for a heart monitor which he was to wear for 24 hours. However after 5 hours it became disconnected and I was not able to restart it so I will need to take him to Kaiser sometime tomorrow. Hope we can come in the morning.  I will call Kaiser tomorrow.

A Very Odd Day

When I opened the door this morning at 8 it was about 52 degrees, overcast with no wind. So I thinking I would be smart I dressed warm for my bike ride. At noon it was 70 degrees and I did not bring any shorts! Then the wind picked up and I thought glad I did not bring any shorts. However as the wind increased so did the temperature by the time I got home at 3 in the afternoon it was 75 degrees. Go figure that we are having hotter weather this fall than we did this past summer. It will be a good night in San Francisco for the World Series if it does not rain.

It was a good day for a ride.

It was overcast with light rain and no wind, which made for a good day on the trail for the following reasons.
1. The light rain washed my cycling cloths and limited the people on the bay trail.
2. The lack of any wind made things so quiet that the only things I heard was the sound of my tires on the wet pavement and the occasional mouse fart. 

Trail Changes and Repairs

The Section of the bay trail between the Green Bridge at Oracle to the Redwood Shores Library is being repaired -- large sections of the trail have been removed (holes a foot to a foot and a half deep) and are not very well marked.  I would advise taking the street.

The section of Bay Trail from the end of Radio Road in Redwood Shores to the Oracle Campus which has been closed for years has reopened.  It is well paved and easy to ride for both road and mountain bikes.  Has a good view of restored marsh.

It has been hot and sunny for the past 6 days...

however I have not done much riding. Visited my parents on Sunday to watch the 49er game.  Sure hope they win soon as it drives my father crazy when they loose. Monday and Tuesday my father was ill and we spent most of both days at Kaiser Hospital. Wednesday I took a short ride because I was still worried about my father.

In San Carlos on Wednesday

A Soccer Game in Foster City

New Section of Bay Trail in Redwood Shores

Restored Marsh behind Redwood Shores Elementary School 

New Section of Bay Trail Near Redwood Shores Elementary School

More Restored Marsh

Near San Mateo Bridge

San Francisco Bay

San Francisco Bay north of San Mateo Bridge

More Photos From Saturday

Here are the photographs that Sue took yesterday at the San Carlos Art and Wine Festival.

Union Cemetery Redwood City

Booth at San Carlos Art and Wine Festival

Me at San Carlos Train Station

I'm smiling because of the good breakfast at the Depot Cafe

Another Shot on the way to the craft show

My best friend Sue

Union Cemetery

San Carlos Art and Wine

Today my dear friend Sue and I went to the San Carlos Art and Wine Festival.  The Festival has been going on for 20 years now.  This is the 3 year Sue and I have visited, but we have been going to Bay Area Art and Wine Festivals for over 20 years now.  Here are some photographs of Sue at both the San Carlos Festival and at Union Cemetery in Redwood City. Yes we also like the history of Cemeteries too. 

Sue at the San Carlos Train Station

Sue at Art and Wine Festival

Sue at Art and Wine Festival

Sue at Union Cemetery

San Carlos Train Station built with the same sandstone as Stanford University
by the same stone masons that built Stanford University

Union Cemetery

Windmill at Union Cemetery, Redwood City

Union Cemetery

Sue at Union Cemetery

Headstone from Union Cemetery

Sue at art and wine festival

Already October

My connection to the Internet has been out since the 30th of September.  My neighbor Denise moved away.
I do not think the two are related, however I think I will miss Denise more than the Internet.  September was the fourth month in a row where I rode my mountain bike more than 1000 miles, and it was the best month yet as I passed the 1200 mile mark by 17 miles.  This month is starting slowly because I have been getting out of bed late for some reason and have only 85 miles so far.  I will have to push harder on Monday.

Almost October

Although it is almost October the last three days have been hotter than any during the summer.  It was in the 90s both Monday and Tuesday, today was still in the high 80s.  I really enjoyed the riding and discovered that I have passed the 1100 mile mark this month and by the end of tomorrow I will pass 1200 miles by at least 20.  So it is up early tomorrow so that I can get in at least 50 miles.

Near Bay Trail Burlingame

The third day of fall and it was HOT

Today was one of the warmest days in the past 4 months.  It was in the 80 degree range from about noon on.  Tomorrow's forecast is for slightly cooler and Monday and Tuesday could be into the 90 degree range. Go figure, froze my butt off all summer and now that it is fall all I have been doing is sweating.  Rode for 55 miles today and have ridden 1024 miles so far this month. If I can keep to the pace I could pass 1100 miles this month. Wish me luck and keep your fingers crossed. :-)

It's the last day of summer

Today was the last day of summer and it was only 65 degrees.  However the first week of fall looks as if it might even be hot.  Like in the 80s and 90s go figure.

Near Coyote Point on Bay Trail

Yacht Club at Coyote Point  

Looking south from Coyote Point toward San Mateo Bridge

The weather has been strange.

Friday and Saturday had very strange weather. Cloudy and windy but with temperatures in the 70 degree range.
Very nice for riding not very many people out and about.  Here are three photos along the trail.

Offshoot of Bay Trail just north of Coyote Point

Marsh looking west toward Hwy 101 and Burlingame

Rest stop on Bay Trail near some office buildings

It has been cold and foggy

For the last 5 days it has been foggy and not very warm in the morning, so I have been riding and not really thinking much about stopping to take pictures. Never much cared for foggy days, but fog is better than rain and the forecast is for rain this weekend.  It is still summer until next week, and even fall is usually warmer than this, dryer too.  Found this new web site where you can map your route and record your workouts.  Once I figure out how to make a detailed map I will do so.
Check this out   Map My Run

I heard this on the bay trail in Redwood Shores...

There was a large group of people standing on a bridge shouting "Oh look at the Ostriches."  This seemed a bit strange as generally the Ostrich is not found in water and not naturally in the San Francisco Bay Area.  So I stopped to have a look.  This is what I saw.

A Great Blue Heron not a Ostrich, but I could not make the people understand as they had never heard of a Heron of any color or size.  Oh Well

NOAA insider states...

That the reason for so few hot days in the California this year was do to budget cuts and they where not able to pay the heating bill.  Yes I know this is a joke, but here is what one of my friends said after I told him the joke.
"Noah, the guy that built the Ark, what does he have to do with how hot the weather is or government spending?"
I replied, " Not Noah but NOAA the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration."
His reply was " Oh"
So I guess it really was not funny.  Tell me what you think.

Normally holidays are not good for a ride...

Because to many people are out on the trails, but I just could not pass up the nice weather.  It was almost 70 degrees at 7:30 this morning so I took off on a ride.  I did not meet very many people on the trail. Did see Charles riding his fold-up bike so rode with him a while.  You can tell he is originally from Canada by the red and white Canada cycling shirt.  I thought I was getting old to be cycling 40 to 50 miles a day at age 60. Well Charles is almost 80 and although I had to slow down a bit to ride with him it was entertaining to hear him talk about how the area had changed over the past 50 years.  I managed a ride of 55 miles today so do not feel to bad about having to take tomorrow off to take my dad to the dentist.  He is having a tooth pulled so does not want to drive himself home as the Novocain makes him a bit woozy.

Benihana Restaurant on Bay Trail, Burlingame

Bay Trail Burlingame

Looking at myself in mirror

Cyclists have funny tan lines, at least this one does.  From my toes to my ankles I am white.  From my ankles to mid thigh I am dark brown, since my cycling shorts are three slightly different lengths there are three shades of brown at mid thigh. From mid thigh to my neck I am white. My arms are dark brown from shoulder to wrist, from wrist to first knuckle my hands are white and from first knuckle to finger tips light brown. 

September Starts Tomorrow - where has the year gone?

I remember when I was in school many many years ago time seemed to pass more slowly.  The summer was much longer and from the start of school to Christmas seemed to be forever.  The older I get the faster time passes, it does not seem fair.
Here are a few pictures from a trail I found yesterday.  It is over a bridge from the bay trail in Burlingame, to bad it leads to a dead end.

Bay Trail in Burlingame

Burlingame

End of August

Well it is almost labor day and we have only had 5 days this summer where the temperature has been over 85 degrees.  Sure hope that September will be warmer than August.  I have ridden over 1000 miles again this month.

Bay Trail in Foster City

Bay Trail, Foster City

Bay Trail, Foster City

Bay Trail, Foster City

Two Really Hot Days then Cool Again

Both Tuesday and Wednesday where between 95 and 100 degrees, today was at least 20 degrees colder with lots of morning fog. Tomorrow is forecast to be even colder.  I guess it was a two day summer.  When I went out for a ride today I felt like a Sunday morning, because there was very little traffic on the roads and I had mostly green lights at every major road crossing.  On the entire trip I counted only 4 passenger trains. Normally during commute time I would see maybe 8 to 10.  A strange Thursday ride.
Now some trail flowers

Wow it was really HOT today

There was no breeze at all, it was at least 95 degrees all along the bay trail. I lost at least 2 pounds, that has not happened on a ride for at least a year. I did meet a really nice person who was trying to find a way from home to work along the bay trail.  I was able to show her a few ways to get to work.  I hope I see her again as she was fun to ride and talk with.

A Real Summer Day

Summer is almost over and kids are starting back to school, and we had the first real summer day of the year.  There was no fog and only a very light breeze and by afternoon the temperature was in the 80s at the edge of the bay.  So I started out at 8:15 AM and rode all the way from Redwood City to the San Francisco Airport Main Terminal Building and back a round trip of just over 54 miles.

Coyote Point

Coyote Point

San Carlos Train Station

San Carlos Train Station

Bay Trail, Foster City

Bay Trail, Foster City

Bay Trail, Foster City

Bay Trail, Foster City