An Amtrak Transfer

In the morning of May 27 I wrote I had woken up too late to catch the earliest train to Sacramento so I took it easy until 750 and rode to Civic Center. Then I took BART to downtown Oakland. I got Blue Bottle and waited at the station.

On the train to Sacramento I stopped writing as I approached Davis. The conductor was nice but the steward wasn’t. I packed up in West Sac and there was a 10 minute delay on the I Street Bridge. I rode my bike through the platform tunnels and argued with a Sacramento Regional Transit driver. I realized later that the person I should’ve asked for a transfer was the lady on the Capitol Corridor not the Sacramento trains.

Well riding I tried to imagine how planning a trip to the foothills would work. I was troubled by the way all of my invitees had agreed to participate in a midsummer get together. I wasn’t able to do much beyond taking the weekend off for the dates to which we had agreed.

At Hazel Station I saw an interesting path. I noted that I only had three hours to enjoy myself in the town of Folsom.

I left the station looking for a bank but it took a very long time. Mostly I got lost. I did learn a bit about the area though. I stopped at a café in the historic district and had a donut when I returned.

I raced to the bike path, which was a bit confusing but I figured it out. The old rail bridge was awesome and the rise to the dam level was interesting. There were lots of hikers and at the campground at the top I finished my beverage at the snack bar by myself and got a map from the custodian. The lake was packed for Memorial Day Weekend.

Once I shored up my different needs I rode the levees to Granite Bay. I spied a few side paths with potential in Granite Bay where there were a lot less people. Along the trails I noticed that the parking was much more expanded – still a lot of barbecues but more boats far off the shore.

I headed to the side roads north of the Bay and figured out how to go to Beeks Bight. The ride was weird because Oak and Dontons Points were options but my maps indicated I didn’t want those routes. The paths were not completely marked on the maps either. However, it didn’t matter because the directions were on the road signs. The end of the road was a big parking lot surrounded by water.

I headed back as fast as possible looking in on each spot. I knew I had a limited amount of time so I tried to see if any of the adjacent neighborhoods connected. I found a spot at the horse assembly that allowed me into an adjacent neighborhood behind a fence.

My phone was dying but I had looked before so I knew it well. Exurban neighborhoods like Granite Bay are disconnected so you have to be vigilant or crafty. Sure enough, though the streets connected all the way to the other end of the neighborhood, I had clearly taken a wrong turn. I noted that the map had said Bronson dead ended but luckily I checked a couple of gates and found a fence to climb.

After that it was easy enough to find the levees near the campsite but I was still nervous about catching the train back. I zoomed down and managed to check the time before going into the 7-Eleven on Auburn Folsom Road. I even took pictures. Of course I barely made the train and though I had been trying to get a ticket, I wasn’t able to get the system to respond properly. I decided to simply get on and sit down.

The lady across from me had a bike and was going to 13th St. She warned me about the fare collector who boarded at Rancho Cordova. I noted around then that the lady sitting across from me had an Amtrak transfer. I told her I should have gotten one myself. I decided at the last second to wing it and simply scratched my expired ticket to obscure the time on it. It worked – twice. I looked at the beer in my coffee cup and felt like an outlaw.

I noted as the trip neared its destination that the train was full of talkative people. I got off at the Amtrak station and made my way to the platform. I discovered then that the train was delayed. I went into the station and they said it would be 2 1/2 hours. I was able to charge my phone then and went to a local corner store.

I met some people while waiting on the platform. One was eating tacos. I was bummed out I couldn’t have gotten my own. I boarded the train at around 830 and started writing.

This is an occasional series chronicling my life. This Notebook Analysis series is meant to be contemporaneous piece developed as an agglomeration of my notebook pages. In each of these posts I used my notes to develop my recent thoughts.

They Had a Piñata.

On 20 May I wrote that I was productive until 330 at work but at that point I had to give up. I shored up most of my day and caught an express. That was a breath of fresh air. While reviewing this I recollected that I almost got hit by a car on Golden Gate.

At the Sunset house my friend had managed the noise from the day so well that it was clear she was in good spirits. She had gone to target and the zoo. She made a great meal and I had a couple of cocktails. I wound the house down and we watched Transformers the movie from 1986. She took off pretty much right when the movie ended and I was alone for an hour.

That night I slept all right. There was noise and I dealt with it. I got up at 6:45 and and I napped a bit. My sister was going to meet for coffee on Sloat so after my friend showed up we caught an 18.

I had to break our equipment down when we got there. My sister was already there and her daughter was really helpful. I enjoyed the coffee but the crowd was a bit difficult. We were in that one busy spot. My friend had brought those jackets mom had. She had gotten over her concern over mom’s ownership.

We left and met up at 45th and Pacheco because my sister had driven. They had wanted to catch us. It was nearly quiet time. I went ahead and set the house up. My niece and friend spent an hour and a half together and my sister went shopping for shoes during quiet time.

I was alone for an hour and a half after that while my friend went to the park at 43rd. I met them there and my sister was with them. It was a great place. However it was a noisy birthday party that I hated. They had a piñata.

My friend rode my bike home. My sister suggested we have dinner together and I started getting ready to go. She had told us she would be interested in a trip to Auburn if we organized one. However she said that she wanted a watch her amenity.

When my sister left I quietly went home. I made dinner and and everyone complimented me. Also, they cleaned up. Actually it was my sister. I went downstairs to wind down the house and when I returned my friend and I left for the Irish bar around the corner.

My friend was really nice but we only had so much money. There was one point where our conversation was not great but it was important. We walked back after she had a second fernet.

My sister and niece were watching a cheesy special.. I tried not to tease my niece. After they had left. My friend and I watched Samurai Jack.

This is an occasional series chronicling my life. This Notebook Analysis series is meant to be contemporaneous piece developed as an agglomeration of my notebook pages. In each of these posts I used my notes to develop my recent thoughts.

Our Bike Ride

On May 12 I wrote that when I got home the night before my friend was up getting the picnic ready. I had stuff to do so was asleep at one in the morning. I had trouble sleeping at first but was a relieved when, at 6:30, everything was under control. I got out of bed and got ready for our bike ride. I got panniers out and found a long sleeve shirt and pants. I ate in the kitchen and had coffee.

It took too long to get ready because I didn’t have much of an idea what I was doing. I put the bikes out early but should have brought equipment out too. Eventually we quietly got ready and assembled our things outside. I got the bikes parked and she noisily sat waiting. Fortunately, we were in great spirits. Our companions we’re waiting for us at the corner and we all rode market together.

I rode through the farmers market ahead of everyone and we found our other companions. There were about seven of us then. We all tagged in for the ferry and waited a short bit before boarding. I brought my bike down and noisily asked halfway for help before I brought my bike. Later we all sat at a mid deck table together and I quietly took some photos.

When we got off the boat we ended up on the waterfront at the pier. We rode through the bus stop to Cibo for coffee. I saw an acquaintance who had just dropped her daughter off. We drank coffee discussing my birthday. Then we rode through Sausalito and found our way to my preferred path near Bridgeway. We used sidewalks for a little bit until Mike’s Bikes. We had some problems with noise there but continued. I got way ahead at the Richardson Bay Bridge so hung back. One of the group quietly led us to the picnic spot there.

I had it been having weight problems so when we stopped I took my bags apart and found the fruit had leaked. My friend fixed it then and I took some time to myself. A couple of us then quietly explored the field – the fog was rolling over Mount Tam on account of the wind. Eventually my friend traded with me and I ate a sandwich. I also drank some wine. One person took a nap. My friend had made cake and I ate it with the fruit.

I noted that I didn’t really remember what everyone else did but we had pickle sandwiches and bree and fruit. I had some candies that tasted great. We packed up and rode to Horsehill. One of our number tried to beat the climb so worked to get ahead but she had to walk anyway. A couple of us waited for a bit at the top of the hill.

I took the group through a park to find an easy route to the bike path in Corte Madera. Then I showed the station. No one cared enough for us to stay too long. Later I suggested taking a break and as we were climbing the hill near Bel Air we stopped near a park. It was a good quiet fun spot. I took a short walk by myself to get some air. Everyone was in good spirits but tired.

We got to the ferry half an hour early. I quietly rode around the lot and a little while later we boarded. The stewardess had problems with how the bikes were stored but I managed. Someone bought me a drink and I sat with her. I told them I should go to Sacramento bike party. We took pictures and had fun.

I got the bikes ready and my friend and I rode to the ferry building grounds. We said bye to the some of our companions before riding up Market. When we got to the apartment I brought the bikes up. My friend made us a meal and had me blow out a candle for my birthday.

This is an occasional series chronicling my life. This Notebook Analysis series is meant to be contemporaneous piece developed as an agglomeration of my notebook pages. In each of these posts I used my notes to develop my recent thoughts.

A Bit of Politics

On 5 May wrote that I stopped by the apartment to catch dinner. My friend had made me soup after her afternoon walk. I did all the steps helping to tidy and then wind the house down before heading to Maiden Lane for SF bike party.

The guys were there and a lady I knew was leading. I gave a flyer to everyone. The Bubble Bike Lady was really terrible about it. We rolled up Grant to Washington and took Kearny to Columbus. Then we took Grant to Washington Square. I gave a flyer to a few people. I met a new guy. We rode Columbus to Stockton and through the tunnel. I got a selfie.

On post I saw a tandem and let the riders know about the ride to Larkspur. However I had no more flyers. The ride went up Geary and I lost those people. I’m pretty sure we ended up on Turk and went to Jefferson Square.

I circled twice and found an acquaintance to hang out with. I gave him and another person a beer and we talked about high school. We also discussed a bit of politics and talked about our careers. I was bummed that I had no more beer but it turned out to be a breath of fresh air.

The ride left up Eddy and we rode up Fillmore and entered the Presidio at The Presidio Gate. I was happy with the lead for her route because it followed my normal route. One of the guys kept trying to cut me off while I was climbing some of the hills.

We got to El Polin and I hung out with a guy I had met a couple of times. I was alone for a bit and then grabbed my bike from him to go see another guy whose friend had margaritas. I had given flyers out to a bunch of people.

I also met some people that offered me vodka, amaretto and orange juice. They needed to get to Civic Center fast. I went with them to Julius Kahn and up Clay.

They all left and I went to Safeway at church. I had to get stuff for Charlie. The security tried to give me problems but I went and got what she wanted. I was in bed at two in the morning.

This is an occasional series chronicling my life. This Notebook Analysis series is meant to be contemporaneous piece developed as an agglomeration of my notebook pages. In each of these posts I used my notes to develop my recent thoughts.