Across the golden Gate

Prologue

I have always liked the idea of riding over the GGB into Marin and beyond, but never got around to it. At the beginning of the team ride season, we bounced around ideas about possible routes and it was proposed we do a ride out of SF north, so wheels were set in motion. I started mapping out routes and some bright spark suggested starting at the Sports Basement Store at Fort Mason. I called up SB and chatted with Justin their marketing manager and also with Pedro, who is the bike dept. manager and they also suggested some rides. They also offered to provide some post ride refreshments. They also informed me that they have a huge parking lot and are within 5 minutes ride of the bridge, so it all worked out super for a jumping off point.

A week before I pinged the email list about who could make this adventure and was soon disappointed with the number of possible no shows, including the person who suggested riding into Marin in the first place! I was worried that I would be the only person in the parking lot, and so it was at 08:15 when I arrived. I was early though, we had a planned departure for 09:00, so I went into the store and introduced myself to Justin and we discussed a possible return time for our planned 73 mile ride. I thought it would be about 2:00-2:30 pm. Little did I know.

Back outside team members started to arrive. Ed Falsken, Keith Jordon and Keith Kruse, Oscar Nunez and German Villa and Wendy Jaramillo. Finally, Bill Briers rode in to the lot, having ridden up from Fremont!!! With me, that made eight (I do like even numbers of riders, so much nicer having pairs).

The route and ride

The route planned was as follows. Head over the GGB and descend in to Sausalito. Take the bike trail north of Mikes Bikes and follow to Blithdale, where turn left. Right on Camino Alto, go over the hill and when in Corte Madera go left on Magnolia. Turn left on College in Kentfield, which becomes Popular. Then veer left / straight on to Ross Common. Go right on Shady Lane, right on Bolinas Ave in San Anselmo, go left on San Anselmo, which becomes Hazel. Left on Lansdale, and follow to Broadway / Center Blvd. and eventually on to Sir Francis Drake. Climb over Whites Grade and descend to turn right on Nicasio Road. At Nicasio was the first planned opportunity to refuel. After leaving Nicasio turn left on to Point Reyes Petaluma Road. Continue straight / bear left on to Platform Bridge Road. turn right on to Sir Francis Drake again and climb the hill and descend to Olema (second possible refuel stop). From Olema, turn left on Shoreline / highway 1 and head south to Stinson Beach. At Stinson, turn left on Panoramic to climb up Mt Tamalpais (not to summit). We then planned to go left on Sequoia, which becomes Edgewood then Molino. go right on Miller and Left on Camino Alto to rejoin the route we took on the way out. However, I do not think we took the route noted above from the top of Mt Tam. I was following Wendy, who rides this area frequently, and we got back to Sausalito double quick, so I'll have to get details from him about which way we went.

Riding over the GGB was fabulous. The fog was in, and we could only see a little of the coast from the west side cycle path we had to take. KJ was taking pictures on the move and it was lots of fun, except for Bill who nearly slipped out on one of the bridge transition plates. Down into Sausalito and into the fog proper. My spectacles were completely awash and I could only see a few yards but I could smell the sea and the tidal flats and it was wonderful. The trail is a multi purpose trail and runners and riders appeared and disappeared quickly in the murk. We crossed numerous wooden bridges and then eventually got onto Blithdale. Wendy, Bill and German led the way, all 3 knew the roads well and we quickly got to Camino Alto and made our first climb of the day, a small 400 foot bump. A quick regroup at the top and then we descended into ever improving visibility and the roads of Kentfield. The Christmas spirit is alive and well in Marin and the township of Ross was amazing. I don't know what the median income for the inhabitants is, but the mansions, houses and homes are fantastical. We stopped in San Anselmo for Ed to tighten his bottle cage and then continued onto Sir Francis Drake and the first major climb of Whites Grade. I hung back and waited for KK and then as we broached the summit, Wendy was waiting to catch us in a Kodak moment, thanks Wendy. The 3 of us plunged down the other side and W and I cranked along to catch up. As we turned right onto Nicasio, I spied Oscar and his magic bright red overshoes spinning and we soon caught them. Another grade whacked KK over the head and he struggled to the top. Another regroup and then a nice tight group to Nicasio and a fun zig zag thru town and more tempo riding to the junction of Nicasio Valley and Point Reyes Petaluma Road where "oh no"!

Yellow caution tape was across the road, barring our way. I made an executive decision and we crossed the tape and rode on. My thinking was that if we got stopped they would probably just turn us back anyway, so might as well take a risk and hopefully we would be able to get past what ever the problem was. No cars, super smooth asphalt, tailwind, lakes either side, no cars, it was great riding. As we approached the junction with Platform bridge road the road closure cause was spied. PG and E were replacing a power pole, but we had space to get by. Just past the blockage a small mutiny occurred. Wendy; German and some others decided the route went straight on. They had not read the route sheet and were on auto pilot. After 5 minutes they returned to the fold and we continued on the closed roads to rejoin SFD and make a climb that had KK struggling again. Following the climb was a nice straight descent to Olema and we stopped at the local store to grab a bite to eat. I highly recommend the store, good, fresh bagels and other carb's plus decent coffee (no restroom though). A 25 minute stop over and then we headed south on Highway 1 / Shoreline. Riding alongside Bolinas Lagoon was just soooo groovy. The ups and downs took there toll on KK and we decided to regroup in Stinson, 5 miles south. Along this road I had a mechanical, with my chain jumping off the derailleur pulley's and wrapping itself around the mechanism. The derailleur was ok, but it twisted the chain and for the remainder of the rode it was skipping when I put a lot of pressure down on the pedals. At Stinson we took some more photos and KK went to sleep in a porta potty. After his nap we rode out of town and took the left onto Panoramic and the climb of Mt Tam. KK's legs completely caved in, but he did a tremendous job of making it to the ranger station. Ed came back down to add moral support and after the regroup we flew down the other side into Sausalito. What a fun descent that is, well worth the climb up the mountain.

Back into Sausalito, more photos and then over the GGB in the daylight with the city in the background. Magic.

Epilogue

Finally back into Sports Basement. we wheeled our bikes to the back of the store where the bike department is and found a comfy couch to hang out on. Justin presented us with muffins, cookies and salty bite sized morsels and more importantly some decent beer. As Keith Jordon put it "damn near brought a tear to my eyes". German and Wendy went shopping and KK decided he was in need of a 27 tooth cog and gave it to the wrench there and then to put it on. I gave BB a ride home to Fremont and that was about it. Finally got home at 19:30

My final stats for the day were 73 miles and 5 hours 17 minutes in the saddle. Total elevation gain was approx. 5300 feet.

Thanks for reading

Gazza

Alarm clock thunder

Tamra has an alarm clock. Wait, lets get a little more descriptive.

It's called the Sonic Boom.......does that help.

Not only is the alarm sound a variable horn blast that can wake the dead, but it also has a vibtration device that you shove under the pillow and it shakes so violently that if your not well anchored it will bounce you outta bed.

And would you believe she still does not get up in time....she can actually snooze thru it. And she forgets to turn the alarm off on weekends, so we get rudely awakened on sundays at 07:00

I'm thinking of some sort of water dispenser to get her moving. i won't make me very popular, but then again I not anyway, so not much to loose

Tamra, you readin' this.....

Blond, the new black

Boner went blond, and now el presidente has gone all fair on us. Maybe i should have a crack at it (on what's left on top). In my youth i was a blondy, but life turns you darker.

He looks quite good for it though, takes years off him.

Maybe a team photo of all the blondies in our new kit, with surfboards under arm.

An Early Christmas

Linda's eldest Daughter Jenny is on a bus as i write this on her way to to Texas, to Lackland AFB exactly to start her basic training . She will be there over the Christmas break, so we did an early celebration.
Tree wnt up, some lights, a couple of outside deccy's and a wreath, Christmas dinner, christmas movies, gifts given and a family gathering. sunday was hectic but a good day, all the kids were having fun, the cats and dogs behaved, i got all the things i wanted to do for Jen squared away and Linda was happeeee..............so all was good.

I was trying to help Jen with some conditioning so that the BFT she would encounter would not come as a big physical shock. Jens idea of work and my idea and the Air Force idea of what physical training is about are at different ends of the spectrum, and me thinks that she will be in pain for a couple of weeks just catching up. sS avoidable if she had applied herself.

good luck girl, stay healthy and have fun.

G

Running (fast)

Sometimes, on very rare occasions I can run quite fast. Today at lunchtime was one of them, and i completed my 3.41 mile course in a new PB, by a whopping 1 minute. Dang.

I'll pay for that tomorrow

G