Where's the Frigging Marine Layer?

Okay People, let's state the obvious -- it's hot. I'm tired of being hot. Well, that is to say, I'm tired of the physical symptoms of hotness .... :) Yesterday, I was ever so hot as I bowled in a tournament with my colleagues. My first bowl was a strike. Yeah, I'm hot. But I digress.

I swam last night in my pool. Swimming in the dark in a lighted pool is nice. Probably do it again this evening. Meanwhile, today, given the heat, I chose to take the hybrid to Alviso and then bike along the Bay. Smart decision as it was cooler. That's Shoreline Amphitheatre that you see in the above photo.

Supposedly, Sunday will be cooler. I do not hold my breath. Currently, at 6pm today, it's 82 in my home. You know I'm hot. :)

Mickey at the Airport

I didn't have anyone to play with as I rode along the Guadalupe Trail to Alviso until I came across Mickey at the San Jose airport! Alas, nothing else to share except some pretty photos.

Alviso

Hello, it's been awhile. I bought a digital camera. Oh oh, self portraits not a good thing. Photos of Alviso.

Spring Forward

After the rains, comes Spring. I finally fired up the bikes and took a spin last weekend, first with my friend Pat and a few strangers strolling up Highway 9 in Saratoga and along Skyline to Page Mill Road. The next day was spent with The Boyfriend going along Sand Hill Road and Canada Road. He was rather impressed with my speed on Canada after a lame start. Of course, I was slowed down by the many men who said hello to me and to which I felt obliged to respond.



Today, while The Boyfriend is away on a business trip, I returned to my beloved Alviso. More photos available from this webpage. The Guadalupe Trail is mostly complete now. When I arrived in Alviso, a train was passing and the driver blew his horn as he passed me. I went choo choo back to him, like he heard. On my ride, I saw a meadow of yellow flowers and pink ones that dotted the slopes of the river. On the path around the Bay, tiny white birds stood erect along the black sandy shores. On my return into Alviso, I came across a giant lightbulb in the yard of someone's house, at least 4 feet long, I kid you not. This is why I love Alviso -- for its surprises in a sleepy town in the middle of nowhere.

Got Milk?

This morning, I woke up with an enormous desire for milk. Got milk? Oh I believe so, something like a half a gallon in my tummy, making me look several months pregnant. After satisfying myself in Dairyland, I hopped on the bike for my usual ride to Alviso (photo above). Not a particularly interesting tale to share other than it was quite windy and there was this construction worker who told me that I was looking good. Good thing he couldn't see my stomach with the Bay of Milk in it. Move over Fribourg cows, there's a new Swiss Miss in town.

Sunday, I met up with The Boyfriend who was ready to do another ride even though he had just done The Death Ride the day before. Incroyable, n'est-ce pas! We did the same route we did on the 4th of July: Sand Hill to Canada to Mtn. Home to Alpine to his place. 32.8 miles, my avg speed was 13.9 mph which is what I did last time and for me, decent. Best part of the ride? The firefighters in uniform seen later at Starbucks. Oh alright, I must focus and begin to get serious as The Boyfriend and I will be participating in the Marin Century, Tour de Max and Tour of Napa in August. By the way, The Boyfriend in cycling clothes makes my heart race.

Let x=x

I was biking along the Guadalupe River Trail (photo above) on the Specialized hybrid listening to music on my iPod Nano and on came Laurie Anderson's Let X=X. Great song. Great album. I was alone on this ride since The Boyfriend is away. I came upon the drop to the lower trail which is still rather rocky and made more for mountain bikes. I decided to go for it. And ha ha, Joan Jett (hottie!) played next on my nano as I descended and fiercely gripped the reins (I mean handlebars). Wheeeeee. I bounced. I attacked the road. You know how Stella found her groove? I've never seen the film but I like the phrase. Well, I felt like I had found my groove in mountain biking, if you can call it that since I'm on a hybrid and not a mountain bike on a really rough trail. Went mountain biking on slickrock trails with The Boyfriend awhile ago in Moab (see photo above) and took to it except the deep sand areas were a bit difficult. When I finally got back on paved road in Alviso, I shot off like a roadrunner going home. The smooth surface felt wonderful. Anyway I enjoyed my ride even though I saw no cute boys to flirt with; well, come to think of it, there was this shirtless man with his dog in Alviso....

Eschscholzia californica

Eschscholzia californica, otherwise known as the California Poppy and dotting the landscape for my ride to Alviso. I was treated to an assortment of wildflowers on the trail and on the bay and plum trees in full blossom along a corridor of First Street. When the petals fall, it's like a snowstorm. I did the Alviso Slough Loop Trail (photos of which I borrowed a few for this blog) Saturday as the weather continues in a lovely holding pattern. I took the lower instead of the upper Guadalupe Trail for one segment on the way to Alviso and boy was that a thrill, quite bouncy as the trail has yet to settle. I attempted the same ride Sunday but the legs weren't up for it. And there were no shirtless male runners as on Saturday to motivate me. Have you ever seen Alec Baldwin on celluloid, shirtless? Then you will understand what got me going. Wildflowers, wild men, hard to decide which was lovelier. I wonder if there is a genus/species for shirtless men. Homo sapiens yummy? Later in the week, I'll be in NYC with The Boyfriend and I imagine I'll have much to say.

Big Bird

I spent the weekend biking without The Boyfriend to Alviso and around the bay on my Specialized hybrid. It's a 26 mile loop that I managed to do in 2 hours 15 minutes one day and 2 hours the next day or an average of 13 mph and a max of 24 mph. On Saturday, I encountered an Amtrak train and a freight train and a lot of ducks, the kind you better brake for since they're as large as pigs. Practically as large as the one in the photo. Oh, alright, that's an attraction, part of the Roadside America famous architecture; this one being in Flanders, New York. I also saw egrets standing in the water, staring and looking regal. Occasionally I'll see an egret near the airport and I kinda want to say, "Hey, are you lost? Do you need a ride somewhere?"

The weather has been fabulous the last several weeks. I've done quite a few rides on the Hybrid as well as the Bianchi. The Boyfriend forgot the digital camera on a few occasions despite being reminded to bring it. He took photos of our Sierra Road trip but has yet to send me my copies. I'm thinking about firing The Boyfriend :)

Here's a photo of me on the bay taken in 2005.

Guadalupe River Trail

Here are some photos of the Guadalupe River trail I often take when biking to the airport and to Alviso.

I'm in the Mood

Guess what! The weather was delightful over the weekend so I finally got out on the blue bicycle. I ride to work every day on a little boy's bicycle (Specialized) but that's more like strolling, you know. And a bit less than 2 miles each way. When I was four or so, I lived in Libya and rode around on a red tricycle. Those were the days, eh. It's been a month since I took the big bicycle out.

Saturday, I met the boyfriend at Page Mill and Arastradero and we biked many roads in the Los Altos Hills, including Moody Road, which was a bit of a killer for me since I haven't biked in awhile. I met a woman cyclist on Moody and she understood when I explained that the climb was taking its toll on me. It's lovely in the Los Altos Hills. You pass a few vineyards, some fancy schmancy mansions, open space, horse stables (I once took a horseriding class through De Anza Foothill College and we met at a stable in the area), and rolling hills that are green this time of the year. We did 21 miles. Can't say I was Speedy Gonzales. But it was nice to get out again and to smile and wave to men who seemed to want to help me every time I stopped.

Sunday, I took the Hybrid to Alviso (photo is of the Marina). The ride can only be described as serene, well, once you get to the bay. The trail leading to Alviso is gravel and bumpy in places. I stopped in Alviso to watch a photo shoot of a band. Once on the bay, I watched ducks and birds float on the water. Returning to Alviso, I had to stop for the train. I love trains ever since I lived near the tracks in Kfar Shmaryahu, a suburb in Israel. I did 24 miles in 2 hours. Again, can't say I was Speedy Gonzales.

Well, clearly, I must get back in shape and prepare for Tierra Bella in April. Thank you Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears and Glen Miller for keeping me in the mood. And the boyfriend, too.