The Trip to Sausalito

On May 4 I wrote I awoke first and focused on getting out the door. Though I generally want to get the bike out I actually waited until around 915. By then we were dressed and fed. I had done a bunch of packing. I went down and got the bike, brought it out, did garbage and swept. The air was nice.

By the time I had returned my friend was already out the door. The ride was OK but we were delayed by my last minute repairs to my seat. I was doubly quiet on the ride and went too fast for her.

At the Ferry Building I got coffee and we followed our companions on our phones pacing their way up Market Street. They cut it close. In the end everyone boarded with a little help but we did lie about our electric motors. The trip to Sausalito was quick and we all met downstairs near the doors and proceeded to the Bayside Park.

When we were ready to go we stopped at Cibo but no one was there for the ride. We rode up bridge way. I was too far ahead on a few occasions but from Mike’s bikes I was in the lead. The start of the ride had few hiccups. We climbed horse hill and no one had to dismount. The descent on Meadowsweet was good but the drop to Tamalpais was better. My cargo bike was really heavy so it was sketch.

We crossed Tamalpais to the big park in Corte Madera. We set up on the triangle of grass and took turns walking around. There was cheese, crackers and sliced meats. There was a box of wine and I shared my whiskey. We all quietly went here and there. We took breaks and toasted twice.

Then we packed up and climbed to the railroad grade towards Miller. However we cut through the high school on our way into Wartburg to take Lucky over the creek.

We arrived at Super Bike around three. There was soft serve ice cream. I had allergies from the ride. Everyone had been lingering at the valet, so a couple of us quietly sat at the picnic tables until it got louder. From there we checked out the bikes.

When it was nearly time to go pay I started to feel like there was some urgency but it was OK because the boat was delayed. We were suffering from the ride at this point anyway so it was a welcome reprieve.

On the boat, I went below deck from Larkspur and by then everyone was feeling tired. We rode up Market. I said bye to everyone at Valencia. At home we unpacked while we were quietly upstairs.

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.

Easter Morning

On April 21 I wrote that Easter morning I woke at my parents house. I spent about an hour in the bedroom getting ready for my day. When I quietly went upstairs I did what I needed to eat and start the day.

Mom and dad left at nearly 10 and I quietly headed off to the café where I saw a coworker. She headed out a bit later and I had a hard time getting back home.

It was quiet time at noon and my sister showed up at around 1230. I had a sandwich. No one was happy with my handling of things. When quiet time was over mom was napping.

However, a short while later we did the usual festivities. After that a few of us went on a walk to the park. That took too long and I had a hard time. We went to the baseball and soccer field. Then we passed through the playground and went home. I noted that it was really hard. I brought chaos home and my sister wasn’t happy about it.

Later after eating I was alone together. My friend showed up and we wound down.

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.

Taylor to Sunday Streets

On April 14 I wrote that I awoke slowly in the morning. I went to Kantine for a good meal and boarded an F train to Sixth and Market. I walked up Taylor to Sunday streets. I got samosas and texted my old roommate pictures. I visited the park there, went to the bike shop and visited the community center. My sister and I had gone there last year with my friend.

There was chalk in the middle of the intersection because the streets were closed to traffic. I walked by some bounce houses and then I went down Golden Gate to watch kids playing grunge. I had filled and hung out in front of City Hall. I saw some friends.

I took the F to the apartment and had a quiet snack before going to a nearby park for a beer.

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 drove to Medford.

On March 29 I wrote that I awoke to my friend returning from the buffet and had left me to sleep. I went to the buffet and she watched her TV. She texted and I came back. We went to Temple coffee and walked around Davis. After that we got in the car and drove the 113 and onto Willows. I told my friend about my uncle’s life.

We got gas and she got snacks. We talked about New York and discussed the distance to Oregon. It rained in the mountains. We followed the rail through Shasta Lake and over the pass to Black Butte. The pass was crazy because there was more rain and sleet.

Once we got to Ashland we went to Brickhouse and I dropped a bottle of Lithia water. We walked through the park and the festival and got whiskey and salad at the co-op. We drove to Medford. The rain was so bad we lost traction at one point and saw a lot of emergency vehicles. We passed through Grants Pass and all the way to Eight Dollar Mountain. There was a wreck on the way at in the Illinois River Valley.

My brother met us in his driveway. We were all very excited for the visit. He had organized a dinner with the neighbors’. Later we wound down at and had some tea.

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 Were in Davis

On March 28 I wrote that I went to work after getting coffee. I texted and emailed my father, my friend and my brother. I gave up around 3:30 and noted that dad and my friend were meeting me out in front of the office. So, I packed, made a reservation at a hotel in Davis and went outside. My dad gave me the keys to the car before hopping a bus to the Sunset and my friend and I drove to the bridge.

Near MacArthur maze my friend started to be very animated and chatty. We discussed many things until we got to do a Vallejo. We were in Davis a little while later. We found the hotel and checked in before going to a nice Thai place. After that we went to the same Irish pub that we had been to previously. We discussed family.

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 Levee to Arden

On March 17 I wrote that I spoke on the phone to a couple people about cargo bikes when the train I was on got a short distance from Sacramento. When I got off the train I rode up H St. to 11th and investigated the 19th and C bike connection to the American River Path. The streets around the Blue Diamond factory are closed to traffic. The guards chased me.

When my friend and I had last been to Sacramento we missed the 19th and C connection to the Sacramento Northern Bikeway and ended up at 16th and A. at that time, I decided that we should have backtracked when that happened because the distance wasn’t great.

After looking at the bike path I visited Ulysses Park and the bike dealer. I was apprehensive when I saw three cop cars because of my foray into Blue Diamond. I went through McKinley Park and stopped at a garage sale at Santa Ynez and J. Then I took M all the way to 62nd and entered Sacramento State to cross the Guy West Bridge and continue along on the levee to Arden Arcade.

I passed under Howe and Watt and went to my old classmate’s house. Some of the neighborhoods are gated so it was hard to navigate.

Another old classmate- a doctor- had texted as I saw him parking.

Our hostess welcomed us in and I put my bike in the back. I nearly didn’t make it to when I dropped my bike because I so many people with whom I used to go to school. I caught up with several of them as I ate from the taco bar.

I went and found some of my closer acquaintances and noticed that I tend to be really gregarious. It was nice to get some fresh air out back and I met all of my host’s brothers. My hostess‘s mom was really fun too. Many people couldn’t show up and I had really wanted to see them.

I was happy to hang out with several of them. I basically went from the back to the front of the other living room over and over. Two bands played and there was a DJ. I stood with a crowd of the hostess’ high school friends from Minnesota until the band sang happy birthday to her. Also the family – it may have been an aunt or her mother-in-law - brought out a cake and we all sang happy birthday.

By the time the cake had come out everyone had shown up and I made preparations to leave with one of my Sacramento friends. As we were going his brother - the doctor- opted to stay so we just packed my bike into the car and left.

I got up at eight almost. Then I had made breakfast with the family and after I ate headed out to have coffee with some of the revelers in Tahoe Park at a place called Bacon and Butter. The food was delicious.

After that I rode my bike to the station and took the noon train.

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.

Cross-Country Skiing

On February 6 I woke up that morning my friend woke me with some noise in the back. I tried to help but it only got worse. I got up an hour later. She was making pancakes and the hostess was making coffee. I didn’t get any coffee until I had separated the laundry. However it was cold. Also I had to wait for the dryer so I settled into tidying and organizing for our trip home. A new guest arrived and the house was chaos. I managed to help our hostess and that was nice.

By 1030 I was shoveling outside again. My friend was critical of me about it. I got pretty far in the packing and she helped. In the meantime the others went cross-country skiing and dug their cars out.

Once I had finished packing we drove through the snow down the hills fine. I had gotten coffee and on the way to the valley’s towns and that was a quiet ride. There was traffic in Davis. I had a lot of trouble with the trucks. We went to the local roadside attraction after and had a pizza.

The drive to Oakland was OK but after taking the carpool I had a terrible time going over the bridge. When we arrived we unloaded like lightning and I dropped the car off at enterprise six minutes late. I walked home easily enough and spent 40 minutes unpacking and tossing recyclables.

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.