Headed to Reno

On August 30 I wrote that the night before I played games until late.  I didn’t sleep well but it was OK because I was headed to Reno as soon as I was up at 5:30.

It was hard at first. The house was asleep. I grabbed cereal and tea for myself before getting my bags together. I put the bike outside and lined the bags up in the hall.  When I got everything together it turned out my friend was going to coffee but she only tried to sneak by me in a halfway quiet manner. I caught up to her with the bags and we sat with a local and drank coffee.

Then I half way noisily walked to Bart. The bike was really heavy and the bags barely fit on the plate. The commuters were very accommodating but I noted that I would want to store my bike at MacArthur Station if I ever did the trip again.

The ride to Emeryville was easy. I was impressed. I got a tag for the bike but my sound equipment had to be detached. Once inside the train, I settled in at the seat and when the conductor was done I relocated to the Café car and got some chocolate, coffee and whiskey. Initially I thought it was quiet time but later on the way through Auburn I decided to get lunch in the diner.

I started writing when it really was quiet time.

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.

Through Ross to Larkspur.

On August 25 I wrote that I woke at 8 o’clock as my friend returned from the dining room. She had quietly gone downstairs. I did the same and we ended up outback with the bikes eating apple French toast.

My friend went upstairs for a bit and I was texting with her to see if she could hear me from there. When I was done I returned to the room and we tidied and packed. She had left me alone and but later we got ready to go.

We went out back to the bikes and after having some issues checked out and walked up the street while. It was 11 when we rode past the seminary and through Ross to Larkspur.  We were really friendly during the ride. We checked the map at the edge of Ross and decided to go through the college but discovered Bel Air was closed.

I was frustrated that we had to backtrack. After that we got back on Magnolia and made a few decisions on the way to Redwood High School.  I noted that the trail through there needed some maintenance.

We had a hard time at Sir Francis Drake because the highway bridge was detoured to the highway. That made me really angry. When we got to the Larkspur Landing I tried to get a spot near the center about but we needed to cool down so sat with some locals. I got coffee and pastries.

We went to the bookstore before we walked the bikes to the ferry. I took photos as we left and the rest of the ride was great.

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.

Trip to San Anselmo

On August 24 I wrote that in the morning I put the bikes out in preparation for our trip to San Anselmo. We cleaned the kitchen before we got ready to go. My friend did a lot.

I had made coffee which was good because we made it outside a little late. We made the Ferry Building at what I thought was the right time but it turned out I had read the schedule wrong. We instead took the Sausalito boat which left around 1030. I noted it was not a roll-on ferry but it was roll-off.   We ate crackers on the trip.

When we got off I put money on Clipper Cards and we rode to the coffee shop. Then we rode to Corte Madera. We got separated near Mike’s Bikes because I had gone too fast. She was really nice about it. The marshes were easy and we went to Alta Tunnel Trail.

After that I put in a lot of effort climbing Horse Hill. I thought that the far side was epic as I loudly descended. At the park my friend surprised me with beer. We found a way onto the railroad grade/bike path from there and rode through the town of Ross to San Anselmo.

We checked in to our hotel and I parked out back. A bit later her old classmate showed up. She had brought a lot of small whiskey bottles.  Later we went to the pizzeria and the local park before returning to the hotel. 

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.

SOMA Sunday Streets

On 18 August I wrote that that morning I was up at 7:15, made coffee and Breakfast. When my friend was on her way out I already put the cargo bike out front. I spent the next two hours getting it ready. I threw in some extra wheels.

I quietly and left at 11:45. I rode all the way to second responding to noise when necessary. I parked at Salesforce Tower and took the overhead tram. I got some really great pictures. I got coffee and took in some of the features.

I rode to Essex to attend SOMA Sunday Streets then. I saw an acquaintance who was impressed. I took in the orchestra at fourth with someone I knew from the school. I rode quietly to Victoria Park. I saw a bunch of people I know and when I stopped through Rainbow Grocery I saw them again.

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.

T to The Ballpark

On August 10 I wrote that that morning between eight and 1030 I slowly prepared to meet my father and nephew. The Giants game was at one but he always meets early. I got food done, packed a lunch, got dressed and put my shoes on. I couldn’t find my keys and one of the hats got lost. I kept looking and eventually found the one I wanted.

I met dad at at the coffee shop next to Church Street Station. We took a T To the ballpark. I took a lot of photos. I tried to go to the valet but they told me to go to customer services.

Once inside I dropped my cart off and we went to our seats. I stopped to buy some shirts. Dad had us sit in our seats. Then we went to the Coke Bottle and we loudly enjoyed ourselves.

As the first pitch went out I was buying fries. The first three innings were fun. The Giants got some runs ahead of the Pirates. I went to get water and popcorn - dad quietly followed me.

After the popcorn was gone I decided to go. That was around the end of the 6th inning. Dad and my nephew stayed at the game. I had an all right time walking to the 47 and the walk home turned out easy too.

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.

The Pancakes and Coffee

On July 27 I wrote that when The Larkspur Ferry docked it was still light. I got a good look at the passengers disembarking as I went over the pedestrian footbridge and up to the tunnel. The ride through the Canal District was hard but I knew the route well so I rode fast.

I did the same up Point San Pedro. At some point I realized the loud local gravel mine had imperiled my tires. I knew as I was to The China Camp State Park entrance that the residential route was better.

I had less volume with an easier claim. Someone in a BMW was following me as I rode out of the park road. It was annoying to deal with traffic in twilight. The views at sunset were wonderful.

At the site I made new acquaintances. The hostess fed me Tamales. There was beer and whiskey. I met some local celebrities and a  couple stayed up late with me.

I slept on the ground and managed well enough. The key was wearing a sweater and the wool socks. The two mats were also good. There were raccoons.

I woke up at seven or 730. There was nearly immediately coffee and they offered everyone milk. There were a lot of pancakes which just kept coming.

I got to know everyone pretty well. Eventually the pancakes and coffee were gone. My host had gone off on a lark but when he returned we agreed to go to the historic village in the park with a couple of others.  The ride was great. I said bye at the village. I made the ferry with three minutes to spare.

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.

Some Tom Waits Songs

On July 21 I wrote that I went to Flower Piano to meet some acquaintances. A couple musicians played some Tom Waits songs and it was really crowded but better than a free concert series.

I saw a lot of people I knew but didn’t see a lot of the garden.  However, the big meadow was marvelous. We kicked some guys ball around until a pianist I knew showed up.  After that we all left.

I stopped at the vintage clothing store and bought a jacket. Then I rode quietly to the apartment, unloaded, ate a bit of food and started to wind down early.  My friend showed up and we had a cocktail together.

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.

I Found our Campsite

On June 23 I will have that on the previous Friday between two and 330 I grab stuff to camp from dad, packed the car, texted my friend and then drove over the hill to the Mission.

She had done a lot of packing and only a little shopping. We put things in the car. Our companions for the trip had dropped off the biggest tent ever two days before. We put it in the car before I dropped her at Costco and Safeway.  I then waited while she put so much stuff in the car we ran out of room. 

As I didn’t know where we were going really, we went the long way and I had a lot of trouble with the drive. The highway was not really hard but after crossing Skyline Boulevard but going down to the State Park was really scary at sunset. The car was really noisy.

I found our campsite as the sun was going down. Big place in blue Creek is in a deep Valley and the trees are huge so the light was failing fast. I dumped everything out while my friend quietly watched.

Our companions drove up moments later. They had had to register for the site. They built the tent and the ladies occupied the center of the site and could be heard a mile away. I got some fresh air and we made noise well into the night.

When the tent went up, we put the mattresses in, opened our bags and then we settled in.  When we were ready for bed, I left the ladies to talk but they slept moments later.

It was really cold that night. I woke to everyone getting up. There was an effort to make coffee - the dehydrated kind. My friend had signaled she would pass but later she asked for some. She made basic food for all of us - croissants, cheese and a few other things.

We were lazy after that. While we quietly inspected the nearby forest and creek, we didn’t do much else. We were starting to get dirty. I remember noting dirt on my clothes and we even had to change. The spigot was a source of some of the mess.

Our companions started making tacos at one point.  When everyone else was throwing stuff in the creek, I had to go to headquarters because I had to get a ticket on my car. I walked over and came back with a bit of coffee from the general store.

Later I convinced one of our companions to quietly walk over to headquarters with me. It was remarkably easy. We stopped at a quiet grove of trees to have a beer and enjoy the air. We then went to headquarters and look at the exhibits. We quietly had ice cream and made another stop on the way back.

My friend greeted us. We drank some of the tequila. A couple of us ran back to headquarters for firewood and ice. It was really heroic and possibly unnecessary.  Back at the camp we started eating a third round of tacos. We made tequila drinks and tacos around the fire.

When we wound down, things were easy and all of us went to bed around 1030. I got up twice. It wasn’t especially cold. In the morning we ate potatoes and had more freeze dried coffee. The morning went all right but we needed to pack quickly.

I made tidied and broke down our stuff and packed the car. After our departure, our companions followed us to the highway along a one lane road. We waved at them as we drove away.  I had wanted to go to a famous restaurant to get a cup of coffee but we drove all the way to the city.

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.

Knot Hole Gang

On June 16 I wrote that Friday night my friend had stopped by and helped me go to Bike Party. I texted a bunch of people and one said he was going.

I made it to North Berkeley at the right time I thought but the route was empty. At Marina Park I checked and found I had gone backwards. I went to the bridge and found the party just returning from treasure Island.

The ride returned to Marina Park. I saw a lot of people I knew. I tried to leave early but that didn’t happen. I had a great conversation with one of the organizers about sound equipment.

On the way home on BART some guy yelled at one of the riders about his music. A fight ensued and the guy hit me in the back of the head. His phone got destroyed. I missed my train.

When I got home my friend was going to sleep. We talked a bit.

The day before I wrote this in the morning she was up pretty early and had gone running. I had a hard time waking up but it was OK.

When we were ready for our day we walked up to the coffee shop. She said goodbye and went to work. I had a second cuppa coffee and walked around the Waller steps before having some quiet time at home.

Around two I packed up and headed to the ballpark to meet an acquaintance. I ran from the 49 to the 47 but Barry Street was quiet. We called the place next to the valet the “knot hole gang” but I am not certain that name is typical.

We quietly watched two innings before going to the nearby marina for a beer. I went home after that - quietly fighting the crowds on the 47. That walk was not fun. I cleaned up, ate food and was alone together before winding down.

My friend was home by then. I headed out around 930. I had been told to meet some people.  One of them was at Bill Graham and her brother met me near Edinburgh castle. We had some whiskey before they arrived. Then we all went to Kung Fu.

When I got home late that night my friend and I talked about ancient cosmologies.

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.

The Crossings at Sunrise

On May 27th I wrote that when I left the coffee shop I rode for about 15 minutes. I had wanted to stop because of the rain as I was going over Nimbus but it wasn’t necessary but I did have to stop at Sunrise, where there are three bridges, to get water. One of the crossings at Sunrise is directly on the river and the channel was full. The other two crossings are much higher.

I tried to get some mileage after that but found the headwinds to be overpowering. I visited Rancho Cordova’s Hagan Park and zoomed through Riverbend.  By then I have stopped paying attention to where I was because my old classmate and planned to meet for lunch. I stayed on the levees and only stopped once to catch my breath on the way to Watt Ave.

I took a lot of photos as I rode over West Bridge.  I then crossed under the railroad tracks at 64th and passed a park on M. I got a little lost at 33rd on my way to Stockton.  FInally, I rode X Street to Yosemite. Broadway was right there.

My old classmate was drinking a beer while waiting. We both got a taco but mine were small. Afterwards we were stuffed so we went to a park and then to a bar. The name was Elixir. We played a game of foosball and he won both times.

My host showed up with his partner on foldable bikes then.  My old classmate told us that he was going to a bookstore so we hung out for a bit and then the three of us left.  At my host’s place we had pizza and watched Sorry to Bother You.  There were martinis.

In the morning of the day that I wrote this I awoke refreshed and made all of my host’s coffee. We ate a quiche and when we were done I rode 17th to Land Park and paid old classmate a visit. He made coffee and we talked about relationships. He was writing up his last report for grad school. Graduation was coming up.

When I said goodbye I rode to the station. I couldn’t figure out where to eat so just went to Starbucks before boarding. I met a guy on the train from Virginia who did federal transit stuff.

It was a good stay.

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.