Category: 2016 Northern Tier

3-10-16

Dan T. stopped at my house. We loaded his bike onto my car and put his stuff in the back. The two of us drove to meet Wayne in Knight’s Ferry for a ride. No one had specified what we were going to do other than meet at 9:30…

So, we decided to ride the loop around Woodward Reservoir counter clockwise since day looked like it would storm later. Thinking we were smart…surely the wind would be coming from the south/southwest today…we started.

At first, it wasn’t so bad. We were getting the bigger climbs out of the way early in the ride. Then we turned the corner. Headwinds!! There were several re-grouping stops along this stretch as the wind did its work on us. Finally, we could see the Oakdale Cheese Factory but how to get there without getting onto Hwy 120? Oh yeah, Gilbert Road takes one around the back way to Rodden Road. Whew!

After lunch/snack (I had a melted cheese sandwich and bowl of tomato soup – mmmm), we headed back toward Knight’s Ferry on Rodden and then Orange Blossom Road. Fun riding through this area and seeing the houses and farms. There’s one house that looks like a castle and I think the sign by the road was Castle Farm or something like that.

We ended up with 37 miles. Good day.

3-11-16

Ended up having three appointments so no riding.

3-12-16

Thought it was going to be a wet day so made plans that did not including riding. It was a really nice day for riding…sigh.

According to the weather people, today was going to be rainy and cold. According to reality, it was overcast and comfortable.

After a nice breakfast with our friend, Ron, Dan had to go to the airport so I quickly changed clothes and loaded up the bike. While Dan worked with the buyer of the Mooney, I headed east on Ferretti Road then took Hwy 120 to Rim of the World. Some tourists from Tracy took my picture and I took theirs.

After a short rest at Rim of the World, I reversed my route to the airport. I did take one detour on the return. There was a lot of smoke just west of Ferretti Road on 120 so I rode down far enough to see there was an attended slash pile burn.

Got back to the airport to see the inspector was just getting ready to take a good look at the Mooney. So I sat on the comfortable couch in the hangar and caught up on all the ‘saved’ items in Facebook while Dan and the others did their thing.

Mileage: 21 (better than the zero I thought it was going to be!)

Weather report for today was cold but dry. So, I made big plans. Start in Moccasin, take my usual route to Jamestown but then follow Algerine Road, etc to Tuolumne City, retrace part of the route to Twist Road and return to start from there.

I started out from Moccasin and pulled over at the big Don Pedro overlook west of the 120 bridge. The water level is definitely higher in the reservoir. The middle mound in this photo is actually an island today. I’ll keep an eye on it as this will be a good indicator of how much more water we’ve collected when it becomes submerged.

Since I was solo, I took Harvard Mine Road which goes by the stamping mill remains.

As I got closer to Jamestown, I realized I would need more sustenance than I brought with me so decided to stop at Here’s The Scoop for lunch. Had ½ sandwich (chicken salad) and veggie minestrone soup. Not sure if it was my hunger but the soup was especially good. Also tried a vanilla tea – yumm.

When I stepped back outside, noted the drop in temperature and looked at the sky, I started wondering about my long distance plans. Then my phone rang. Dan said the clouds in Groveland looked very menacing. So, based on my own observations and Dan’s comment, I changed my plans and just headed back to Moccasin along the shorter route. Mistake! The dark clouds went away and it warmed up. It didn’t get sunny but it was still comfortable and dry for riding.

So, I stopped on the return route at River Road. I’ve been meaning to stop there since we moved to the area six years ago… There are a couple of monuments I’ve been curious about. Turns out the bridge we’ve been calling the Jacksonville Bridge has another name.

Another indicator of the rising water level in Don Pedro is the old road that had been revealed below the bridge is now under water.

Today: 34 miles

No cycling for a few days.  A new friend invited us to a ‘comedy show’ which was actually an ‘improv show.’  I had it on my calendar for Friday but, fortunately, was corrected before Dan and I drove to Fremont on Friday.  It was Saturday…

Anyway, we did get to the SF Bay Area on Saturday.  We were able to meet with some friends who live in Pleasanton at Jim’s Country Style Restaurant in the morning.  Service was unusually slow but that was ok as it gave us more time to visit!

Full tummies and we were off to say ‘hi’ to Dan’s parents in Newark.  Visited with them until it was time to leave for Good Neighbor Chinese Restaurant   in town to meet with our new friend and all of his friends.  Had a meal that reminded me very much of the meals we had when we were in China.  We all sat around a large round table with a lazy susan.  The food started coming out, one dish at a time, and we all took a bit.  We did not choose the food but that didn’t matter.  It was all good.  Last to be served were the oysters – after everyone took what they wanted, there were four left.  Can’t leave them to be tossed so Dan had them wrapped up and we made a quick trip back to his parent’s house so they could enjoy the treat too.

Then we raced off (well, as best we could considering the traffic on 880!) to the Made Up Theatre – https://madeuptheatre.com/ – program.  Daughters, Jessica and Jennifer as well as son-in-law Sam were there waiting for us to show up.  There was a magician before the main show, Alan Leeds.  Then the hilarity began!  Jennifer said she laughed to hard she cried.  I know I was laughing to the point I couldn’t catch my breath.  What fun!

This morning we met daughters and s-i-l for breakfast at Country Way.  Time together was too short but then we headed on home.

It stormed in the mountains where we lived while we were gone and it rained in Fremont – off and on – while we were there.  There’s supposed to be another storm moving in tonight and well into tomorrow so I won’t by cycling tomorrow.  Tuesday looks promising.

 

Mar 1 – Another beautiful day (like 2/27) but I was solo again. Decided I wanted distance today. Started at E45 to 120 east, left on Cherry Lake Rd, right to follow ridge of Tuolumne Canyon into Camp Mather. Rode up to Evergreen Lodge for a snack. Reversed route except went back on 120 to Groveland. Dan found me as I was returning from Evergreen and again as I was riding up Merrell. I hitched a ride on Merrell to avoid the nasty hill by our house.  54 miles.

Stopped at Rim of the World and met three young women who flew to SF and are taking a road trip eventually ending in LA. They were impressed with my riding plans for this summer. I enjoyed the brief visit.

I also stopped at our local Stanislaus Nat’l Forest Ranger Station and spoke with two Rangers. One woman said she rides her bike to work from Tuolumne City via Wards Ferry Road. Good for her!!

While at the Ranger Station, I got a map of the Rim Fire audio tour. I was thinking it might make a good bike trip. Turns out it is almost the exact route Greg outlined for us the first time we ever rode together. So, it will be a challenging ride and is now on my bucket list.

Mar 2 – Decided to go easy on myself so started in Moccasin and rode in the “low lands.” No big climbs today. I stopped in Chinese Camp and looked at a couple of historical markers. One I had looked at before. The other was to confirm my suspicion that the Well Fargo Express Co Building is the brick building with the iron doors just off the corner. Also, because it was a recovery day, I stopped several times to take photos. So many wildflowers out already, especially the California Poppies.  Had to ride around the block to get 24 miles. I couldn’t stop at 23.7!

This was a hillside of poppies but I could only take a photo from the top so it kinda looks like a painted line.

Here is the historical landmark in Chinese Camp.

The Ferretti Shrine is on an old section of Hwy 49. Unless you know where to look, it is hard to find.  Someone put a tractor at the foot of the statue.  More info: http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=53271

Feb 19 – solo ride of 16 miles in my neighborhood.

Feb 20 – 66 miles in the flat-to-rolling-hills farm land around Linden. I have done this ride for the past three years. This time I felt GREAT when I finished. Not tired. Didn’t need to stop for a nap on the drive home. Started the ride with friends but Bill and Enzo went on ahead. Karen hasn’t been riding so she made it as far as the lunch stop before getting a lift in the SAG vehicle. I spent the last portion of the ride trying to catch up to Bill and Enzo. Never did but I felt strong!

Check out the route on the Pedaling Paths to Independence website: http://www.communitycenterfortheblind.org/images/2015/ppti100k_fina_lg.png

Took a break from riding to go see family in the SF Bay Area. Got to see the grandkids. Alex is getting big and can run now. It wasn’t that long ago when we were trying to get him to walk. Jasmine is only two months old but she’s smiling.

Another reason for the bay area visit was dental appointments. Dan ended up getting sick so he didn’t go but my teeth are clean and healthy. Because he was feeling so ill, we went home a day early. We got to see his parents but not my girls.

Feb 27 – back on the bike. This time Wayne S. was my cycling buddy. It was a different way of riding familiar roads. We went up Hwy 49 from Moccasin until we reached the top of the climb and then turned around and hauled ass back. We passed on by Moccasin and took the ‘usual’ loop to Jamestown. 44 miles.

Feb 28 – did not want to ride. Overcast, cool, no other buddies. Whine, whine, whine. I did anyway and it was a good ride (they always are). 22 miles

Valentine’s Day!  Had a great one.  Seven of us met for a nice ride on the most level roads in the area.  Mid-point was a stop at Evergreen Lodge for a snack from the little store and lots of laughter.  Most of the climbing is done on the way to the Lodge (although the grade is probably only 2-3%) so most of the return trip is coasting (or pedaling if you just feel like going f-a-s-t!).

I consider today a recovery ride.  22 miles round trip.  Average speed: doesn’t matter.

 

 

52 miles and I felt great. Felt strong on the climbs. All was good with my riding.

My route was, for the most part, a good one as there was usually not much traffic. Some areas had little to no shoulder but the vehicles were courteous and gave me plenty of room except…

I wanted to get more distance today and have limited choices on roads in this area. I did a loop which included J-59, La Grange Road. The State of California has put rumble strips in the very limited shoulder space in recent years. When I first moved to the area six years ago, they were not there. I did try to stay on the shoulder as much as I could but on some parts of the road I was forced to ride in the lane. Very scary as I had no place to go if a vehicle decided not to give me room. There were semis pulling 40’ trailers, tour buses, large pickup trucks and lots of cars. When the semis passed me, they were usually followed by five to ten other vehicles. The speed limit is 55 which means they are going 65. Eventually, I stopped when I saw vehicles coming up behind me and got as far out of the lane as I could while the vehicles went by. Thank goodness for mirrors. I lost track of how many times I had to do this. I think it’s a shame the State made this road into one that cyclists will probably not use. I don’t think I’ll ride it again.

I tried using Map My Ride to keep track of today’s workout. However, the battery on my phone was getting low so I had to shut it off about mile 35. A partial tracking is not what I wanted so I’m disappointed with that. My supplemental battery was not charged – my fault – so I didn’t have it with me.

Dan started doing some of the core building exercises he’d seen me doing which reminded me to do them myself. I’m also doing some stretches which sure feel good. I doubt I’ll be riding tomorrow as it’s the monthly breakfast in Modesto at the airport in support of their museum. As long as the fog burns off early enough, we’ll fly in and see friends.

Did the ‘core’ exercises yesterday for the second time. Already see a little improvement. Dan says I’m still wobbly but he didn’t see the first time I tried. Believe me, it was definitely better but there is still a long way to go.

Today I met Bill in Sonora and we rode over to Columbia and then started climbing Big Hill (appropriately named). Neither of us had a device to tell us how much climbing we did but based on the average of 100’ for every mile, which seems to hold true for our area, we did 3,000’ of climbing. 30 miles in 2 ½ hours with an average of 11.3 – I was impressed with an average of over 10 based on how I felt. Did me good to have someone to ‘chase’ up the hill since I worked harder than I would have had I been alone.

Before we left Columbia, I got this photo. Just before I took it, the street was TOTALLY deserted. Of course, by the time I got the camera ready, some folks walked in and ruined it.  I cannot figure out how to flip the picture so it isn’t on its side.  Sorry about that…just tip your head to the right.

Our weather has been absolutely beautiful this week. The forecast is for it to continue at least through the weekend. Woohoo!

Got out to ride several times this past week:

2/3 42 miles Moccasin – Jamestown loop This was a solo ride.

2/5 50 miles Moccasin to Columbia and back This was a solo ride.

2/6 25 miles Oakdale ride Greg and Gale went with me to join up with a group riding out of the Oakdale Bicycle Shop.

2/9 15 miles from home around PML and back home This was a solo ride.

What’s that – 132 miles – not bad.

On my days off the bike:

2/4 Met with others who are dealing with MS for a ‘coffee’ in Sonora. It is always so much fun and great to be with people who truly “get it.” We only meet once a month but I’m glad we have that.

2/6 I did ride but have to mention is was my birthday. That evening we attended the PML Aviation Association meeting and I had 200 or so people sing “Happy Birthday” to me! Nice (big smile).

2/7 My younger daughter and her husband (Jenn and Eric) came for a visit. We all went to Yosemite Valley. It was the first time for Eric. Some photos:

 

2/8 Dan and I ended up flying to Fresno thinking we would eat at the restaurant at the airport. It had closed down (sad face). However, we met a fellow aviator who gave us a ride to a restaurant he recommended. Then, he came and picked us up after we finished our meal. What a nice guy! We also visited one of our neighbors who has a shop at the airport. He restores airplanes and cars so it was fun to wander through his hangar and see what he’s done.

2/9 Besides a quick ride on the bicycle this morning, Dan and I joined with six others for a motorcycle ride on the back roads to Oakdale for lunch at Bamboo Garden (one of our favorite Chinese restaurants in the ‘local’ area).

Somewhere in there, I decided to start doing Core Exercises. Wow! Didn’t know how much I need those. It will take me awhile to get strong enough to hold the positions for the requisite time period recommended. I imagine it was pretty funny seeing me trying to do a side plank and wobbling all over.