Target Summer Pops Symphony Silicon Valley

Lookey, it's me, all dressed up and nowhere to go ... but wait, what's that I hear, music playing in my favorite metropolis otherwise known as downtown San Jose. 

Lookey, it's Target Summer Pops Symphony Silicon Valley on the lawn at SJSU!  I am a happyTarget customer.  See one of the dresses I just bought for a whomping $20.  Such fun I had.  I ran into some friends as well.  Lovely concert, excellent sound.  Thanks also to Applied Materials Foundation, the City of San Jose and SJSU.   We listened to:

Strauss - Die feldermaus Overture
Bizet - Danse boheme
Williams - March:  Seventeen come Sunday
Sibelius - Finlandia (where The BF is en route)
Korsakov - Flight of the Bumblebee
Vivaldi - Summer with Christina Mok on violin
Piazzolla - Verano porteno
Mendelssohn - Wedding March
Mussorgsky/Ravel - Baba-Yaga and The Great Gate of Kiev

Snap, Crackle and Pop

As a child, I loved pouring milk over my cereal just to listen to the snap, crackle and pop!  Didn't you, too?  In Wunderlich Park today, when I came across this path (in the photo above),  I felt like Alice going down the rabbit hole.

Like something out a Grimms' fairy tale!  I like being in the woods.  There's always something magical or spooky or romantic to be found.

Good idea to go for a walk today after the bike ride yesterday.  I was tight.   The hike allowed my body to go snap, crackle and pop.  Wonderful!  It was swell to do something different. 

Cat and Mouse

A long long time ago, in a galaxy ... wait, wrong story line, but, awhile ago, The Boyfriend would leave me in the dust and I'd climb slower than a snail's pace and wonder why I was enduring the misery.  Today, on my day off, The BF and I did Mt Ham.

Nowadays, when we ride together, we play cat and mouse games.  I shot off like a rocket at the start of Ham and he did not catch me until mile 4.62.  It used be something like mile 2.  I made it to mile 17 before he caught me again on his descent.  It used to be something like mile 11.   I'm pleased.  I even smiled.

Hot and Cold

The last time I did Coyote Creek Trail and Henry Coe was with Miss P back in August 2012.  Today, The Boyfriend and I were assaulted by what felt like an artic wind on the way out.   I was a bit nervous since last weekend's minor crash but you just have to get back on the bike, right.

A few miles into the ride --

Me:  Yoo hoo, when will we be stopping for our lattes?
The BF:  Pipe down and drink your sports drink, Missy.
Me:  Does it come with foam and melted chocolate?

 A few more miles into the ride ---

Me:  Yoo Hoo, when I can expect the limo to arrive to shuttle me up to the top?
The BF:  Darn, I knew there was something I forgot to do this morning ... book a limo, right!
Me:  No lattes, no limo, say, what kind of boyfriend are you?
The BF:  The kind that puts up with your whining.  Get back on the bike and go.
Me:  Yes, Sir.

A few more miles into the ride ---

Me:  Yoo hoo, are we stopping to have a quickie?
The BF:  Sigh.

Well, it got mighty hot on the ride....  I was 2 miles short of the summit when The Stud came flying down.  On the return, for once, no headwind. Sweet. 

Just the Stats:

44 miles
32.5 mph descending
10.4 avg mph
4 hr 13 min

Dumb in Davenport

We arrived at Natural Bridges State Park (Santa Cruz) before the others doing Donny's club ride to Davenport.  The weather was what one expects at such an early hour -- misty and chilly.  The Boyfriend said, "Let's ditch the ride and get a motel room ...."  Naturally, I immediately agreed to his offer.  Of course, he was kidding.  Of course, I wanted to bop him over the head.  What a teaser. 

We had a good turn out.  Everyone was much faster than me.  Sigh.  Our first climb was Bonny Doon.  Haven't done that in ages.  I was cautious (having spotted deer here and there)  when we descended Empire Grade and Smith Grade.  I've never done Smith Grade and that was a nice surprise, being in the redwoods.  The sun came out, the sky turned blue and the temperature warmed.  We stopped in Davenport to have lunch.  By this time, I was suddenly spent and just wanted to go home and take a nap.  Unlike The BF who was full of energy and masculinity.  He was certainly riding strong today.  We had one more climb to do on Swanton (photo above).  As the group marched on, I turned around.

Artichoke field!  I wasn't thinking clearly.  I remember thinking that I should send an email to George Clooney asking if I could stay at his villa in Lake Cuomo.  How dumb is that?  Okay, big signs telling cyclists to walk their bikes over the train tracks.  I didn't have a problem going over the first time but on the return, my wheel got stuck and I went down, and onto Hwy 1.  A little while later, who should appear, but, my knight in shining armour.  He took care of me.  The bike seems to be okay.  As for me, I'm a bit banged up but nothing serious.  Clearly, user error.  And boy, do I feel dumb.  Next time, pay attention to the signs, all of them.

"What was a Woman to Do"

I have always wanted to visit Le Petit Trianon, built in 1923, modeled after the one in Versailles, and home to various performing arts.  Today was my lucky day, thanks to its free Lunch Time monthly series that launched today. 

I had a stressful week, so, this lovely venue featuring Kathleen Kasdorf Voice studio presenting "From Bellini to Broadway" hit the spot. I should point out to all single ladies out there that George Clooney is a free agent again.  And the firemen sitting at the french cafe near campus also helped me get over some hurdles (if only I had my camera).  But I digress.

Nice performances that included:  Ciribirinbin, Con te partiro, Dolente imagine de Fille mia, Lied der Suleika, O legere hirondelle, This Place is Mine, Steal Me sweet thief, and Dome epais .  And of course, the hysterically witty "What was a woman to do"  from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Well, this woman knew just what to do.  As always.

Drawn to Mines

Gotta love the things you come across on a bike outing.  The BF and I road Mines Road. Boy did he work me.  A nice outing for both of us.