Birthday Weekend Report

My brother came to SF the beginning of November. He hadn't been since August 2009, so I had a lot to show him.  We rented him a bike from Sports Basement and we explored the city.  We met my friends for happy hour at a fun German restaurant/bar, Suppenkuche, and the next morning for a spin around Paradise Loop.  Last time Greg came, I think we ate every meal at a taquaria in the Mission; this time, we expanded our horizons and neighborhoods.  I ran a 1/2 marathon on Sunday morning in the rain, which, of course, meant Greg had to watch it in the rain.  He was a good sport, though. 

Afterward we rented a car and headed south to watch a cyclo-cross race.  Greg commutes on a "cross" bike and follows and frequently attends races in MN.  The race was awesome!  The bikes, which look like road bikes, are fitted with a less intense version of mountain bike tires. Depending on the race, the riders circle the dirt course for anywhere between 45-60 minutes, and the winner is determined by the most laps. There are "obstacles" the riders must dismount, jump over while carrying their bikes, or they can stay on their bike and jump (which, the spectators prefer!).  There are hills, 90-turns, roots, and a lot of dirt!  It was so fun to watch; I am sure it is even more fun to race! 

The weekend went so quickly and before I knew it Monday morning arrived and I had to drive GC to the airport

Andrea & Maggie's Birthday Ride

Last weekend, it was my turn to plan the birthday ride. Lucky for me, Mags shares the same birthday month, so we had double the fun!  I thought it'd be funny for us to wear fake mustaches, which lasted for all of about 20 minutes due to sweat and hydration needs.  We tried to act "normal" when we saw other bikers, but the reactions we got were hilarious.  There is nothing "normal" about 6 women wearing mustaches.  My brother was out for the weekend, and being a good sport, participated in the fun.  His mustache was white, so it contrasted nicely with his reddish beard.

Pre-ride meeting spot:  No"Shave"ember

MC's Birthday Ride

Almost to Alpine Dam

I think our cycling crew has started a new tradition...Birthday kid gets to pick the ride.  MC decided she needed to keep all of us honest and suggested a killer route for her day.  She somehow "forgot" how hard it really was...I guess that is kind of like a lot of things, once you forget how painful it was, you're ready to do it again.  Kind of like marathons and having kids (that's what I'm told anyway). 

Anyway, from SF, we headed north through Mill Valley to Fairfax, a hippie town where we refueled and reapplied sunscreen, then up & down to Alpine Dam, a beautiful reservoir, that even has it's own "Yelp" review!  Onward to a killer climb, and then to 7 Sisters, named for the 7 "rolling" hills on this section of the ride.  Rolling is not how I would describe them...Then to the final "wicked step-mother," Mt. Tamalpais.  According to Wikipedia, which is always right, nicknamed Mt Tam, it's the highest peak in the Marin Hills.  The view from the top is amazing--San Francisco off in the distance, the Farallons, Marin County.  All in all, we traveled almost 60 miles with 2500' of climbing! 

At the top of Mt Tam

As motivation, we nicknamed our crew, Team Tacos & Beer...hey, we needed motivation to get through!  And it worked!  Afterward, we refueled at one of my favorite restaurants, Tacolicious...No beer after this ride though...I had to bike home.  With the "reserves" low, I figured it'd be in my best interest to abstain!

MG & I are already planning our shared Birthday Ride...coming soon!

Wine Country with Ron & Betsey

Last Saturday, I went up to UC-Davis to visit with my grad advisor and his wife.  We took a brief drive through the beautiful Davis-campus and then headed to Napa.  Ron & Betsey are wine connoisseurs and both have taken wine tours and classes all over the country.  Ron now even teaches a wine course at NDSU!  So, of course, our trip to Napa was strictly "research!"

It was a perfect day--the weather was gorgeous, the vines were ripe with huge bunches of dark red grapes. After refueling with sandwiches and fruit at Dean & Deluca, we drove down Highway 29 and marveled at all of the beautiful wineries, and we wished we had a seat on the Wine Train!  We stopped at Peju, one of my favorite wineries, mostly because the folks leading the wine tours/tastings are animated and colorful.  The wine is pretty tasty too!  We stopped at Grgich Hills Winery to learn more about their biodynamic and organic wines.  Next, we headed to Robert Mondavi Winery.  The UC-Davis campus has several research plots devoted to wine growing, plus a beautiful event center on campus, named in honor Mr. Mondavi.

Betsey, Ron & I at Robert Mondavi

We had so much fun catching up on the happenings of ND and CA, trips, kids & grandkids (their's!), and adventures and trips!  It is the sign of true friendship when you can get together and never miss a beat.

Lake Lagunitas Crew

As you may have noticed by now, I love to bike.  I try to get out a few times each week--by myself or with friends.  It's great exercise, a stress reliever (usually--see Tourist post!), it's a quick way to get out of the city, and I get to hang out with friends--and meet new.  It's a party in 4 hours--only I feel good afterward!  I have met some of my closest friends in the city through bike rides and/or other cyclists. I have gotten pretty good at navigating through the North Bay, right across the Golden Gate Bridge.  Though, I still could get us lost! The sights are amazing--homes on cliff-sides, views up the coastline, wild turkeys & deer, prairie, redwoods, beach!  We join a few thousand other cyclists out on any given day.

Our "silly" pose

A few weeks ago we headed north to Lake Lagunitas, a reservoir in Marin. Here is the crew before we headed to Cibo, our favorite coffee shop, and back to the city!  You'll notice one "lucky" guy in the middle!  Yes, usually we let other guys join us (we aren't "girls-only"!), but this particular day, he was the only one.

New Friends at the Garden

My garden next to my neighbor's...yes, pretty sad!

No, I am not including the "rat or mouse" as the new friend at the garden.  Yes, we have something/animal helping itself to our garden...rumor has it, it's the scurrying kind.  Though I have not seen it (and hope I never do), it did eat all of my lettuce!

Mojito mint and Chocolate mint joined my other friends, basil, rosemary, tomato, arugula at the Alioto Garden!  I can't wait until they grow!

Braving the Elements

Mustang Suit--a waterproof snowsuit

Yesterday, while out for a ride, I started thinking about the weather.  I know, how "Minnesotan" of me to think, talk, discuss, debate the weather.  Sorry, it's in my blood.  Anyway, the summer weather in SF is the opposite of the sunny, hot, dry climate associated with California.  It is windy, foggy, wet.  So the summer weather pattern is as follows (minus any technical weatherperson jargon/explanations)--the heat of the inland desert hits the weather & moisture from the Pacific and the Bay, creating fog that just sort of settles right over us.  Summer mornings are wet and foggy, the sun peaks out for a (usually) warm afternoon, followed by the fog rolling in again in the evenings.  The fall is generally the best weather in SF--warm and no fog.

Yesterday, as I was crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, out for a ride with friends to the North Bay, I got to thinking (pretty easy to get lost in thoughts when you sit on a bike for a few hours!) about how we adjust to the weather.  Really, we don't have a choice if we want to live where we do and in order to do the outdoor activities we love.  When I lived in MN last winter, I biked from my brother's to work each day--7 miles each way.  It was great!  I got to catch up on my NPR news & podcasts (though, I still have mixed feelings about riding and listening--a little dangerous!); catch the sunrise over the River; ride through UMN campus--around Mariucci Arena and through the Minneapolis/St Paul campus-connect-way (only law enforcement, buses, bikes can ride); over 2 footbridges, past the museums of the Warehouse District, over a cobble street (I pretended I was in the Paris Roubaix!).  There were mornings it was 17-degrees when I left Greg's, but I wanted to bike, so I dressed warm.  And really, I usually warmed up within the first 15-20 minutes.  There were a few miserable rides when I never warmed up, or during the year's first big snowstorm when I almost got hit by a cab skidding through a stop sign.  Those were the days I thought the bus sounded pretty good.

Braving the cold!

In thinking about other activities that people enjoy--skiing, motorcycling, rock climbing, hiking, fishing--all of these can be dependent on the weather (as well as the enjoyment of them).  But most people, if they want to get out badly enough, will put on the extra pair of long-underwear, rain coat, sunscreen in order to enjoy themselves.

Last winter, when I was home for the holidays, my friend and I ran outside when it was 5-below zero!  We really wanted to get out!  We were so bundled up, only our eyes (which turned into icicles) were showing.  Or a few winters ago, while working in DC, I went out on the water with co-workers.  We had to break the ice at the landing to get the boats in, but we did it.  We wanted to get out on the water and be adventurous!

So, dress appropriately to get out to "brave" the elements.  But get out.  Move, breathe, be.