Walking in the Woods

Off we go, the four of us on an 8 mile hike in Sanborn Skyline Park.  We did a loop from the parking lot to the top of Skyline.

As you might imagine, when you walk in the woods, you see trees.  We also saw a fair share of mountain bikers.  It's a bit technical on some switchbacks but fairly easy I think, coming from someone who does not mountain bike.  At least descending.  Climbing might be a bit tiring.  After about mile 1, I was done but well, I sauntered on....

Ah, a vista but with the smoky skies not much to see.  We're somewhere way above Saratoga and Hwy 9 and close to Skyline.  In the distance I could see the white tops of the Shoreline concert venue.  Stella and I were also "treated" to a view of a woman taking a bathroom break.  Not a pretty sight.

Occasionally we encountered a big rock or two.  Here my companions are baffled as to why there is no Expresso Bar or Jamba Juice.  Me, I kept sauntering on.  At one point, we heard a loud crack, as though fireworks had been set off.  It was deafening.  We realized a branch had fallen. Unbelievable sound.  It spooked us.

Can we say Yay, we only have 1 more mile or so to go.  Ah, At this point, Stella and I took the shortcut, while the men took a longer route.  "Two roads diverged ... the road not taken...." Good choice because they encountered a rattlesnake sunning itself.  Luckily no humans were harmed ... nor the snake.  A fabulous outing.  Looking forward to another even if I do whine.

Sweetest Time on Sweeney Ridge

Crestfallen (not really, but I wanted to sound dramatic) on CrestView as I had to walk a bit of it and The Boyfriend pedaled away.  Funny how the photo doesn't really capture how painfully difficult this climb is.

Yay, fun and easy descent on CrestView Drive.  The Boyfriend hit 40 mph.  Where are we, you ask.  Well, we decided to beat the week long heat wave and the poor air quality (from the heat wave and burning fire in Monterey) by leaving the South Bay and biking to Sweeney Ridge, a favorite ride of mine.  We began at the Pioneer Hotel in Woodside.

I first did this incredibly scenic and challenging route with Miss P. on a club ride.  It's been a year and today was the perfect day to do it.  I had to walk a bit on Tartan Trail.  Naturally The Boyfriend got up that one too.  Overall though, I fared well and I was proud of myself.

I suffer because the views are simply worth it.  Except here, you can see the ugly haze hanging in the South Bay.  I wondered whether the Mt. Ham club ride allowed for any views and how the cyclists did.  We, on the other hand, enjoyed the cool breezes as we made our way to Sweeney Ridge.

We came upon the marine layer.  It was like meeting Heaven.  Spectacular.  We watched planes take off from SFO.

Lookey, it looks like snow.  But as we know, it's bird shit....  I love this ride.  Oh yeah, I did fire The Boyfriend as my leading man as I struggled to get through the gate at Sweeney Ridge.  I'm always amazed that he puts up with me.  Then again, I am amazing, so he should, you know, simply adore me.   Returning home, I could feel in the air a cooling of sorts.  47 miles in 4 hr. 55 min.  Not bad.  We did cut out one climb - Bunker Hill.  Like I care.  More importantly, we had a fantastic outing.

Biking with the Birds

I biked to the airport this morning.  After a tearful adieu (not really) with The Boyfriend at SJC, I got back on Guadalupe Trail onwards to Alviso, promptly forgetting all about The BF (he's off to Utah for a mtn biking trip).  Plus, well, there was a bit of eye candy along the trail....

Perfect day bike around the Bay.  I took many photos but none captured the beauty or how you can see Shoreline, Moffet Field, the bridges, the cotton candy clouds hanging in the mountains near San Francisco and so much more.

Oh lookey, Swan Lake.  Haven't a clue what they were doing.

Oh lookey, a glam shot of me.

See the bird flying midstream, the two upstream, and the one all by itself.  I saw so many birds today. 

I wish you could have seen how the water was sometimes blue, then orange, and red.  Sediments?  Algae?

I planned to hang out at the "beach" but it was a bit overcrowded with birds.  A delightful adventure today.

Celebrating the 4th

A hill. A vineyard.  I must be in Tuscany.

Okay, I'm not in Tuscany.  I'm with Miss P doing a few climbs as we celebrate the 4th of July.  We're on Reynolds now, having just climbed Arnerich Road (o-u-c-h), Wagner Road and Pheasant Road, each off Hicks Road.

Atop Reynolds, and a bad hair day.  You can't tell, but, I was a sweaty mess.  The flies, all eight of them, accompanied me up Reynolds, much to my annoyance.  We decided to skip the rest of Hicks and Mt Um, no doubt disappointing the flies. 

We continued on Kennedy to the park in Los Gatos.  We watched the boys raise the flag as we pledged allegiance.  Next we listened to our national anthem.  A touching moment.

As we left the park, we had to stop for the train.  Choo choo.  God Bless America.

All Along the Reservoir

I had considered titling this blog entry, "Scenes from a Reservoir" but well, that sounded like an Ingmar Bergman film.... We stopped at this point of Lexington Reservoir to notice the ripples, after having finished up climbing Black Road and flying through a windy chilly (but much appreciated) Skyline Drive and Bear Creek.  A sight to behold, created by the wind I imagine, and to the wonders of Mom Nature.

I've been meaning to shoot scenes of the reservoir and today I got my chance.  Miss P once again came up with the perfect ride to handle the heat, and I was treated with Miss A joining us as well as The Boyfriend.  Plus, I met a really swell fella named Brian who shared some interesting stories as we struggled up Black.  First time for The Boyfriend doing Black.

Speaking of Sweden, glad you asked, much of the ride I thought about Alexander Skarsgard who plays Tarzan, releasing this weekend.  I've been in lust, no doubt you as well, with Alexander ever since True Blood series.  I've admired his father Stellan for quite some time, ever since Breaking the Waves.  The things I think about while riding, I know, I know.

And I thought about Oliva de Havilland, the last remaining star of Gone with the Wind, 100 years young, living in Paris.  Her Melanie was a character to behold, equally strong written female role as was Scarlett's.  One tough cookie.  Anyway, a bike ride, made memorable by the company and the scenery.  It helps when the world around you is full of doo doo.