Calling All Climbers

Perfect day weather wise for Miss P. and I to do Jerome's club ride.  Cool on the coast but not cold; unfortunately, much too warm for me upon our return to Woodside.  Another warming trend has descended upon us.  First, we climbed Kings Mountain.  I can't remember when I last did that lovely road through redwoods.  A female cyclist liked my socks.  Okay.  The conversations one has while biking.... This photo is somewhere on Tunitas Creek.

After descending Tunitas Creek Road , we turned onto Lobitos Creek Road.  This photo was taken later upon return.  Onward we climbed next tackling Verde, making our way to Half Moon Bay.

I have never cycled Purissima Creek Road nor Higgins Canyon Road.  What a treat.  Quiet but again involving rollers and a bit to the summit.  Some of the gang continued on to Half Moon Bay but Miss P and I decided to turn around at this point.

Good idea as the fog bank began to roll back in. I met a woman cyclist who helped me find my water bottle lid.  Somehow it fell off. 

Here we are admiring the view, somewhere on Lobitos Creek.  Next, we intersected with Tunitas Creek, and climbed that til we hit Kings Mountain for the final descent.  Miss P. encountered deer right before she turned on Tunitas Creek.  Me, I only saw a turkey vulture. Wait, I forgot, monarch butterflies were attracted to me and joined me several times on the ride.  A bee did as well but I told him to get lost.  Lots of male cyclists said hello.  One asked if this was my first time.  Oh, please.  Back in Woodside, I went to the market and guzzled a liter of water.  The woman at the checkout kept calling me honey.  She also wished me a nice day.  Thank you Ma'am, we had a nice outing.  It was a lot of climbing but worth it as we appreciated the beauty of where we live. 

My Favorite Organist

Lunchtime lecture at St Joseph Cathedral Basilica with my favorite organist, okay, the only organist I have ever met, but boy Dr. James Welch, University Organist at Santa Clara University was fascinating. He has performed all over the world, including Notre Dame in Paris and the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City.  And even in beloved Solvang.

His lecture:  "A Most Complex Machine:  The Tracker Organ, a marvel of human engineering, visual symmetry and acoustic beauty."   This organ contains 40,000 wooden parts.

We enjoyed his lecture as well as his concert that included pieces by Bach and "A whiter shade of pale" by Procol Harum.  What a nice way to close out the work week.

Napa Weeknd, Tour of Napa

Sunday, August 20th, 2017

Well goodness, what a surprise, the Tour of Napa had changed its route.  The Boyfriend and I hadn't done the Tour since 2011.  Gone is the stop at Aetna Springs.  Mostly we rode along roads that were dotted with vineyards and car free.  For the first leg, 21 miles to the first rest stop,  we steamed through, with me averaging 18 mph.  Mostly, my motivation was keen on getting some food into me!

The Boyfriend generously stuck with me the entire time.  We had a blast doing a different route and seeing a part of Napa we had never explored.  Unlike previous times, I didn't meet people and chat away, perhaps because The BF was nearby?  No naughty tales of funny exchanges to share.  I fear my blog is ever so dull!  Wow, with pleasant temperatures, the ride up Ink Grade was remarkably uneventful and almost easy; though, for others, a challenge, requiring getting off the bike and walking.  The descent afterwards remains one of the best, technically easy as you coast downwards into the valley.    At the end, eating our post event meal, we did talk with a club member, and much like our club, she remarked that the event did not sell out, and recruiting new members, particularly younger people, was a challenge.  I finished in 5 hrs while The BF did it in 4.30 hrs.  Driving home was a breeze, no traffic snarls.   Wouldn't have needed a limo to take me home....

Napa Weekend, Part Three

Saturday, August 19th, 2017

Entertainment after our 30 mile ride - visiting downtown Napa.  We decide to hang out at the Oxbow Market, somewhat akin to the San Pedro Square in San Jose.  Here we found a place to eat a pizza and a yummy beet salad at an affordable price.

After dinner, we explored by walking along the bridge and taking in the sights.

Not quite Pisa, but in some ways, I felt the charm.

Me struggling in the wind but appreciating the calming cool temperatures and picturesque views of a city in revitalization.
 

Napa weekend, Part Two

Saturday, August 19th, 2017

The Boyfriend and I realized awhile back that it was worth going to Napa for a weekend and doing our own ride, a loop involving Mt. Veeder that was independent of doing just the Tour of Napa.  It's a lovely 30 mile ride of climbing and biking past vineyards.

You take in the charm of the valley, close to the vines.  As we did the ride, I realized that while the scenery was beautiful, I actually think Solvang and Livermore have more to offer.

The Boyfriend outside our airbnb. 

Napa weekend, Part 1

Friday, August 18th, 2017

The Boyfriend and I are here in Napa, staying at an Airbnb, a first for us. It's a horse ranch.  Long ago and far away, I once took horseback riding lessons at Foothill/De Anza College.  Omg, I watched one horse eat its own poo!  We didn't realize we had a great location in terms of being able to bike to the start of our planned ride for Saturday as well as being only a few miles away for the Tour of Napa on Sunday.  We were also close enough (driving) to downtown Napa as well as life's necessities (aka Starbucks/Peets, and grocery stores).  Our room had air conditioning,  a fridge and a Keurig machine plus we had a sitting room and bathroom, all well and good.

Our hostess was kind and provided an excellent recommendation to eat at The Red Hen (good and affordable Mexican cuisine).  Napa is ridiculously expensive, so being able to book this lodging was a plus.  A hotel provides more privacy but overall, I was satisfied with our choice.  Our hostess' dog Coen was a treat -- facial expressions bordering on human.  Unfortunately, the drive from San Jose to Napa, a late afternoon start, was stressful for me.  It took four hours.  Note to self:  Next time, hire limo.  Ha ha.

Hiking Henry Coe

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to hike Henry Coe even if it meant doing 10.5 miles.  My buds above charging head as we head out towards China Hole.  We were fortunate to have a breeze and mild temperatures.  It was weird driving up Henry Coe rather than biking it.  Neato peato too because Frank and Stella just got a hybrid and we learned all about and got to observe how it shifted between gas and electric.  The electric is so quiet.   I enjoyed our automobile lesson.

I love the the Manzanita tree. Straight out of a Star Trek episode.

On and on we went, through Manzanita groves and then open areas such as this.  I was glad for the opportunity to see what Henry Coe looks like.  We came across a few hikers but mostly we had this vast playground to ourselves. 

Behold a sight of me trying to not look glamorous, ha ha, almost to China Hole.  We saw butterflies and little dinosaurs (aka lizards) plus brazen squirrels.

China Hole!  We took off our shoes and welcomed the water upon our tired feet, plus, the minnows who sucked our skin.  A delightful experience. I remember that same sensation many years ago as a child in a swimming hole in Israel.   Bill and Frank ventured further and before we knew it, they were submerged deeply in the hole.  I couldn't be bothered to strip down and join them; I needed the time to sit and relax.  To leave and continue on our hike, we had to climb out and cross the creek 12 times.  And it was a long hard climb out at times.

Upon one of these crossings, we came across my favorite insect -- The Lady Bug.  Clearly engaged in a ritual or mating party or something to which we could only observe and marvel.   While crossing another part of the stream, and I'm sorry it happened too fast to take a photo, a bunch of turkeys took flight in a noisy and clunky manner.  Another spectacular sight of nature to behold.

One last look before heading back to the Hybrid.  10.5 miles left me with a few blisters, sigh, but I loved that we did this hike and I got to see the splendor of Henry Coe.