A Protected Bike Path

In the morning of April 30 of 2022, I wrote I was up at 8:30. The boys were watching TV. I helped dad and had coffee. Then I collected everything and the three of us rode up 45th to Vicente and over to Wawona. The traffic on 45th was bad but Crestlake behind Sigmund Stearn Grove was OK – the area across from the reservoir on 22nd was destroyed from a landslide from the Hetch Hetchy supply had ruptured.

Later I noted that Ocean was a little hard but getting to Urbano – Eucalyptus and Moncada - was OK. We took Montfort and Ocean to my uncle's house but he wasn’t there.

I took the boys to the cafe on Ocean and picked up some beer while the boys explored the playground. We rode around City College. One of the boys fell off his bike at Genesee but he did OK. He actually fell off of his seat and dragged his feet sitting on his top tube.

We took Hearst to Circular and crossed to San Jose. The boys managed well but I was very surprised it happened. The freeway crossing there has a protected bike path but it’s still insane.

At Randall it was really hard – I had to get ahead of them and make certain they know where to go. We rode up Tiffany and then onto Valencia. Some driver yelled at us.

We found the group I was looking for waiting at Elizabeth Street. New people were there but there were quite a few people I knew. One person, who had put on events I had participated in had come with a friend. I had to take the boys for a walk twice but it turned out great. A noted archivist had came too.

The boys were happy when even more people we knew showed up. However, they got crabby so we left. The boys rode Valencia and were really good. They had ridden nearly 15 miles around SF. At home getting inside was hard but OK. We were alone together. We had TV and pizza. We had ice cream and then went to bed.

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 Tunnel Six

In the morning of April 23, 2022, I wrote that I got up at 10 and eventually was packed well enough that I was able to go to plank coffee. It turned out that the citrus fair parade was on that day so the high school band and fair trucks were lined up on the boulevard.

I had 2 cups in the morning air and rode to Ace hardware. The streets were OK to navigate – weak street system barriers. The guy who helped me at the hardware store could not open the display. The cashier didn’t get my humor.

I rode to First Street and through the park. Cops had blocked the road for the parade. Geysers Road was quick. I got a photo at sulfur Creek and drank water at the RV park.

I decided to visit tunnels seven and six so rode to Echo Valley and up to the overpass. The objects I had left were still there. I witnessed two cars.

I walked to the freeway bridge and left my bike. I climbed up to the freeway and, from that view point, tried to gauge the topography around Comiskey Creek. A short while later I descended to the bike. I was not prepared for tunnel 7 when I got to it. It was big and open with graffiti. Walking through was easy enough. On the other side I soldiered on preparing my lights for a long walk.

I encountered some downed trees – greenwood – eventually I found tunnel six. The entrance on the northside in front of me was caved in. It was still visible but only barely from the top.

I turned around and militated against myself climbing to the freeway. My thought process was that had I been younger I probably would’ve ventured out of curiosity but experience dictated that I avoid doing that.

The ride to Echo Valley after I passed through tunnels seven and came down from the trestle was fast. I live tweeted the whole thing. I had wanted to explore the 101 to Comiskey but rode to the RV park instead.

I rode back to town quickly and checked back into the Wine Country Inn before heading over to Wolf’s Bar and Grill.

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.

Climbing Mountain Charlie

On April 3 of 2022, I wrote that the night before I went to Santa Cruz’s The Jury Room Bar which I noted was near the Hampton where I was staying. Later I stopped at the donut shop across the street before going to bed.

In the morning of the day that I wrote this I had just woken up when a local acquaintance texted and a short while later we met behind the hotel. We rode to the market in the middle of town and he bought me some coffee. We sat in the market and talked about how we know each other, Twitter, our personal lives and children. We noted the people that we had in common.

We also discussed some travel stuff, getting between places. It was nice to connect with someone I had interacted with for years on Twitter but had never met.

We rode over to Lulu‘s and I noted that we were able to connect a bit better. A short moment later his friend showed up and we talked before I said goodbye and rode back to the hotel. Then I rode up Plymouth Road to Scotts Valley for a coffee. I went to the Lulu‘s that he told me to go to. A short while later I rode over to Glenview and took a short break before starting my climb.

When Glenview topped out I caught my breath. I had to descend to Bean Creek and then I started climbing Mountain Charlie. Some ladies rode past me. I stopped every 20 minutes. The views were spectacular. I really enjoyed myself. At the top I made a few stops but kicked myself for not bringing food. When I got to old Santa Cruz Highway I pretty much wanted to go home.

I had a few stops after that but was racing for the VTA. I ended up following a lady at one of the reservoirs. She had a pink basket.

I took a green train to Diridon. Whole Foods wouldn’t let me bring my bike inside. I had a beer on Caltrain while tweeting.

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.

Soquel Road

On April 2, 2022, I wrote that the day before I met an acquaintance on 14th after filling my tires. We went to 17th and Folsom and met Bike Party. A bunch of people I knew were there. A few people were passing out flyers. I bumped my ankle on my pedal and screamed in agony in front of an acquaintance. It was awkward.

We rode 17th to Texas. We rode through the dog patch. I interacted with a couple of cool people until we went across the Illinois bridge. Some lady fell on the tracks. A guy we knew was looking for her boyfriend.

At Heron’s Head park I got to know some of the younger new people. I saw some old acquaintances and met their friends. A person we knew had had a fall and was recovering.

We rode on Cargo Street and Illinois. One of us wanted to take another way but the leader was intent. We headed through the port and set up at Pier 50. I sat with a couple I knew for a beer. That one guy gave us donuts. I spoke with another new face for a long time. I was making phrases from New Jersey.

We rode down the Embarcadero to the cruise ship terminal then. I stood with really cool people. I really connected with some of them. I let the ride leader know I was impressed. Several of us got together for the ride home. I said bye to everyone at ninth and market.

In the morning of the day that I wrote this I woke at 6:30 but got up at 7:40. I made it to Townsend by eight and got coffee. I boarded at 8:28 and the trip to Diridon was OK.

Unfortunately VTA was very quick so I was not able to get coffee. I went to downtown Campbell and got coffee there.

I rode through Vasconia Reservoir and onward to Lexington reservoir. I took too many stops but I made it OK just fine. I got confused at the helipad. I climbed away from the reservoir and thought it would take forever but I found out it was OK.

I stopped at least five times before the top. I was warm and it felt like spring time.

I stopped at Mountain Charlie and got water. When I got to old Highway and Summit I was done climbing. I noted that summit was hard because I had to start slowing cars.

I thought that I could take a shortcut on Miller Street but it turned out that it went down into the creek. At Soquel Road I descended on the far side of the creek. The ride was really good. Near Soquel I had a hard time because it was flat. I also had to manage the traffic.

I checked in at my hotel and then I went to the Board rock. Then I went to a Thai place and finished the night off at blue Lagoon.

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.