In Our Tweed Attire

On November 10 the day before had been friend’s birthday. She had gone for a beer and later we had a French 75 and Negronis. 

The next day we were up at 7 and went to a local cafe. Some lady was so pleased to sit across from us in our tweed attire.

Later we got back on our bikes and made it to the park for the Tweed Ride with 10 minutes to spare. We bumped into a fellow reveler on our way. Riding the cargo bike was a lot of work so I forged onward. The crowd was voluminous and I was so happy to see as many people as I did.

As people started to arrive the organizers started making announcements. I had to wait for a lady with a folding bike to move as we started rolling away. We headed up Steiner. I took a side route at Waller and met the ride there.  I saw so many people I had met at the ride in years past on the way to the Panhandle.

I noticed that riding a cargo bike forced me to ride slow except for bouts of fast writing. For instance short stoplights made a big deal for speed. At Masonic I went slow but ended up going much faster when we crossed. I also had to be innovative when we were crossing Stanyan.

We headed up to Stowe lake. One of the people riding with us told me about her bike event.  Acquaintances from different places told me about their husbands and home life. We rode past Japanese Tea Garden. My friend and I followed the ride up to the playground.

I parked down below and I got to know the people I had known for years. I ended up sitting with quite a few people and even got to know people’s extended family. My friend had taken on some responsibilities at this point and I was a bit focused on helping.  Later the organizers made announcements and I hung out with some of the more eccentric revelers while the ride sponsor followed the organizers and the crowd around. 

When it was time to go I had had a chance to get on the carousel and then I said bye to everyone because I had to go home. 

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.

We Walked to Mother’s

On November 3 I wrote that the day before I had done a couple things, had some coffee and then went downstairs to get the cargo bike I had borrowed before leaving at nine. I texted an acquaintance who said he was on his way.

A bit later a “quiet mass” of people had begun to develop.  I spoke to the organizers and when my acquaintance showed up the ride left on the way up Valencia.  We were supposed to go to Chavez but turned around at 24th. As the ride was ending I got to know a prominent marijuana activist. We spoke at length at Mission playground.  I met a bunch of people that day.

A short while later my acquaintance and I took the steps necessary to leave. After stopping at my apartment we rode to the Panhandle and Lincoln Boulevard to his new place. We looked at his backyard and the house’s ancient fixtures - the range is 75 years old.  We ate some lunch.  We went on a walk to the coffee shop and other places. I noticed some changes to the neighborhood.

That night I stayed at mom and dad’s. Mom and I hung out in the backyard and I took a picture of a hawk. We made tacos, I took a picture of us at the dinner table and we watched TV.  I wound down pretty late. 

In the morning of the day that I wrote this I went downstairs to be quietly lazy. My father turned the TV on a little while later. We ate breakfast. I texted my acquaintance and said bye to the parents.  I rode my bike to meet my acquaintance and we walked to Mother’s Meadow. I got a bunch of pictures then we had some snacks before we went to the pizzeria.  

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.

“Hold my Beer” Jokes

On October 19 I wrote that in the morning I drank some coffee and after eating I got ready to leave.  I brought some extra wheels for the walk to Haight Street, had a second coffee and quietly walked to the Dahlia garden.  Mom had let me know that she would not be able to meet so instead I met dad wo had brought cookies from mom.

After that I went to the tricycle event and got to know people over drinks and food. The organizers and I quietly enjoyed the picnic chairs. The race was fun and I made third.It was good that I had practiced. The host and I had a slight rivalry.

There were a couple of “hold my beer” jokes. Some of the people that came were really interesting. I had food from the barbeque and a bunch of snacks. I took a quiet walk alone and later helped tidy the picnic I realized it was a bit wet out. I had another beer after that and quietly got my backpack together to go.

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.

Mark West Station

On October thirteenth I wrote that the day before I had go to Sonoma Airport for a bike ride to the Russian River.  I took Shiloh Road, which was ok because of the bike lane.  Windsor was also ok at first but after a couple of turns there were fast drivers approaching from behind.  At one point there was a big hill going down and that made it easier.  

Mark West Station seemed less traveled but it went uphill from there.  However, it was in steps and I was able to view the road except in just a few spots - especially on the approach to Eastside Road where there is a hill just past a local reservoir.  That section involves a slight turn which obscures the road behind while climbing.

The ride gets more difficult near and through Trenton-Healdsburg road on the way to Eastside Road.  I noted that this was mostly good but the nearby a winery produces traffic at times.  Unfortunately, Wohler is an abrupt climb that isn’t easy to anticipate and will at times come with traffic.  However, that section doesn’t go on for long and ends with a downhill to the bridge.

I had to negotiate with tree work being done on the bridge and ended up hanging out at the park on the far side.  I was way thirsty but forgot to refill my bottle when I was done at the water fountain there.  I noted as I rode on that Westside Road was surprisingly easy for its length.  There were a few cars and it was a climb in places but I didn’t really have to fight with anyone.

When I got to Hacienda bridge I discovered a lot of roads.  There was a liquor store on the far side where I got chips and water.  I rode down Summer Place Drive to the I had reserved for a late fall weekend a few months hence.  I returned to the store and noted that the maps had indicated that River Road would not be terrible but there was one pinch point.  I checked it out and the only real problem was addressed by taking old river road.  The other direction did not look fun though.

Later I noted that I went to Steelhead Beach Park and tried to find an alternate path.  Instead I found a nagging concern that wild animals were watching me.  I returned to the main road then, visited the neighborhood across the street and made my way to Speers Market.  There I decided against taking Mirabel for Covey.

However, I found that Mirabel, though trafficky,  probably wasn’t all that bad since Covey was far too steep - literally climbing to the top of the hill.  I noted too that taking Mirabel to Covey Extension would have allowed me to avoid the inconvenience.

I had a taco and beer at Forestville and descended to what I discovered was an excellent bike path.  I took pictures to mark how nice it was.  The corner at Ross street was funny and the ponds at Atascadero had gravel.  Green Valley Road had sufficient shoulder but there was road work.

Later I took a picture of the Gravenstein Cidery - Manzana Products.  I found the town of Graton was easy to navigate but Occidental Road was less fun.  However, while Barlow was less trafficky, I should have stayed on Occidental.  Later I found that 116 doesn’t have the best path but only a bit later the path was all downhill into Sebastopol - though I should have taken a local street to avoid the Sebastopol loop.

Once I got onto Joe Rodota, the air became cooler and the wetland and preserve were idyllic in the setting sun.  I could see that they were being ploughed. There was a lot of dust in the air and at the time there were several fires in the Sierra Nevada which had fouled the air.

In the suburban section of the Joe Rodota a dog chased me for about a quarter mile. Later, as the trail became more urban, I witnessed the homeless encampments pretty closely.  I continued to the SR River and on to the stations.  I noted with horror that there was an utter lack of connectivity in the area and had to figure it out.

From there I rode to my old classmate’s household.  They had ordered some food and I taught them my favorite card game.  However, they got bored and we were tired so went to bed around eleven.

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.