Day 163: Johnny Rib Eye

Some of my friends started calling me Johnny Rib Eye since I’ve had rib issues for weeks now. It’s a funny nickname that I hope doesn’t stick. It’s kind of embarrassing if you think about it. Then again, I did earn the nickname through a series of crashes and coughing attacks, and I could have taken time off from R2R to heal, but that’s been out of the question for me. I’ve made my bed… My body has been telling me for days now that I need to rest. Yesterday I took a mellow ride, and then had an equally mellow evening of entertainment supplied by Mad Men. What a brilliant show. I fell asleep on the couch at about midnight and didn’t wake up until 9:45 am this morning! I normally rise with the sun, so sleeping in as I did this morning is very unusual for me, but I sure did feel rested. Tugboat was not too pleased about the whole thing. ;-) I spent the day tidying up the cottage, and doing laundry, all the while knowing that I needed to get out for my ride while the light and temperatures were still good.

As I was headed out the door I had this premonition that I was going to see “S” while on the ride, and that reminded me that I had promised to drop a book off to her. So I proceeded to find the book, and an envelope for it, so that I could drop it off at her place near downtown. I pulled that together, and then decided that I’d walk it up to her door later. Sure enough, as I rolled up the hill to the West Point Inn, I ran into her. Funny stuff. Tugboat and I will walk the book up to her later today or tomorrow.

I took it easy again today. I rode up to the West Point Inn via Railroad Grade. The weather was stunning, but the winds were howling. Huge wind gusts would hit me as I rounded certain bends on the trail. I sat at the Inn for a few minutes and took a photo or two, and I even met Riley, the Golden Retriever whose mom told me that “He’s living the life of Riley.” He's very cute. I rode back down via Panoramic Highway where I was able to ride down the road faster than an Audi A4. ;-) I then climbed back up to Railroad Grade via Gravity Car, and then back down to Mill Valley.

I'm not even going to write more this week about the Sheriffs and Rangers, but the photo tells you the summary story.

Distance: 18.44 miles Calories burned: 1,547 Time: 1:43:36 hours Elevation gain: 2,235 ft Garmin Connect ride details: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/19752850

Day 162: Taking it Easy on the Day after Thanksgiving

I had a wonderful day yesterday, albeit a lot of it was spent way outside of my normal comfort zone. In reflecting on the day as I rode my bike around Paradise Drive, I realized that I was very fortunate to have places to go. First I was with friends, and doing what I do best these days, and that’s riding my bicycle. Then I was so grateful to have a dinner table to sit down to for Thanksgiving dinner with a group of diverse and lovely people. In a way that's what Thanksgiving is all about. I really was, and am, quite lucky. The shot of the feet was taken during a post-dinner gathering of the minds… and feet. A smart man whom I admire once told me, "Watch their feet, and not their mouths," so here you have it, feet! On Sunday you'll see more of the feet of people whom I respect, and one of them will be made of carbon fiber.

Today I took it easy. My ribs were quite beat to a pulp during yesterday’s ride, so I went really easy today, and I will most likely do the same tomorrow. As I rode around the Paradise loop I enjoyed some big skies right around sunset. The colors were rich and warm, although the temps were dropping fast, and I had no light with me, so I high-tailed it back to Mill Valley without incident. "Infamous P" would be unhappy with the fact that I've apparently lost my protective glasses, and rode today without eye protection.

It was a leisurely day, and I needed that. Tugboat got his hike in too. He got to visit his favorite places, Stolte Grove, and the Homestead Trail. He pee'd on dozens of trees, and did other business with the marking ferver of an alpha wolf. He's now an off-leash male dog, and happy to be so. He's come a long way since I adopted him...

Distance: 20.79 miles Calories burned: 1,285 Time: 1:24:39 hours Elevation gain: 719 ft Garmin Connect ride details:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/19700223

Day 161: Happy Thanksgiving

The day started off really nicely. I had planned well the night before. I had all of my gear ready to head out the door. I had my bike in the car, cycling gear in my backpack, and my GPS and digital camera charged and ready for work. It was the only way that I could do what needed to be done before starting the Thanksgiving Day Ride out of Fairfax. I also planned on meeting “M” whose car blew up on him yesterday, and he needed a ride. So careful planning helped me stay on time, and all in all things went well, at least at the start. It was so cold this morning that we barely chatted after arriving at the Java Hut parking lot. Instead we were all eager to get onto our bikes as a way to warm up. It must have been in the upper 30’s or lower 40’s when we set off for our ride. We had to ride about a mile on the flats before we’d reach the first climb, and believe me, it was so cold that we were all happy to be huffing and puffing up the hill. The first climb out of Deer Park took us up to Four Corners where we stopped briefly for nature breaks at the Porta-potty. There we watched another mountain bike crew drinking from flasks. I didn’t ask what they were drinking, but it was certainly something that would keep them warm, and ease the pain of the next climb. Me (?), I had cold water. ;-) We later learned that one of our crew had brought along Glogg and either never offered us a bit of the ultra warming stew, or he had left it in the car. We’ll be doing a post-mortem about this over the weekend when we all reconvene at Rockville for more mountain biking fun. We rode from there up to the lakes, and then around the Meadow Country Club’s golf course before doing some more climbing up Bolinas/Fairfax Road up to the entrance of Pine Mountain. It was there that we were unfortunately greeted by what would become the theme of the day, Sheriffs and Rangers everywhere. It was not a warm welcome, and by the looks of it, they were there to intimidate us. It was the kind of a show of force that reminded me of the old military marches in Eastern Bloc countries. They had their large four wheel drive trucks on the trails, and then there were their smelly and noisy ATVs that had exhaust fumes pouring out the back, and which were polluting the trail to the extent that it was difficult to ride up the hills behind them. It had a real military feel, and for what? We’re just a bunch of mountain bikers that are gathering on Thanksgiving Day as we’ve done for at least two decades. It’s a day when our mountain biking families celebrate our community with a nice ride along with other like-minded people.

After our initial greeting by the Marin County Sheriff’s department, we moved on to do the various climbs that are difficult on a good day, but for me it even more difficult. I am still nursing my broken rib/s, and the baby's head rocks were really aggravating my injury. The climbs were also steep, many of them over 10 percent grades, so as I’d try to take in a full breath of air, my ribs would fight back in pain. I did about a dozen climbs today wherein I was in pain, oxygen deprived, and unable to get a full and deep breath. Some of the climbs went on for long periods of time. What a pleasant combo. Back to the military state.

As we climbed up the last hill up to what has been affectionately called “Smoker’s Knoll,” we were again greeted by Sheriffs and Rangers. One of the Sheriffs that was on an ATV, and he almost crashed into two of us as we descended through one section of the trail. I was almost knock sideways by this idiot’s ATV trailer that was pitching side to side across the trail. The rider in front of me read the Sheriff the riot act when he was almost knocked off the trail. I’ll tell you this, If I didn’t have years of technical riding experience, I would be licking my wounds right now. The rider that was in front of me was so angry that I thought he might even go to blows with the Sheriff. It was a very sketchy situation.

When we got up to Smoker’s Knoll, appropriately named for the pot smoking that typically happens there, the Sheriffs were already there making sure that on this day there would be none of that. Any other day of the year and these sheriffs would not be on the mountain…

After a quick break, and a few photos, including a few of legends in the bike industry like Charlie Kelly and John Castellano, we began to remount our steeds for the long descent down to the lake. Just as I was getting back on my bike, another Sheriff’s truck was crawling up the last hill to the knoll. These heavy trucks should not even be out there chewing up the trails like tractors, but they didn’t care. They're as wide as the trail, so cyclists can’t get around them, and they can’t pass, so why have a dozen of them out there today? This truck was big, just like the others, and the guy inside was one of the notorious Sheriffs that enjoys citing cyclists on Mount Tamalpais. He cited me once for walking my dog up on Mount Tamalpais. That’s another story. After seeing him coming, I left quickly in order to be in front of him, instead of behind his exhaust fumes and slow descent.

I rode down the next section as fast as my blown ribs would allow, all the while thinking that I need to be VERY CAREFUL not to have another fall. So I went fast, but not that fast, and I was always in full control of the bike. Once at the bottom I heard from my other riding partners that the Sheriff that was coming up the trail just as I had left, had literally run over the back of a beautiful tandem mountain bike that was parked right next to ours just minutes before! Some were asking if it was intentional. Let's hope not!

This sent another ripple of anger throughout the cycling community as we were riding along the loop. The combination wasn’t good. We had Sheriffs making it clear that they’re the ruling party, and then hundreds of mountain bikers with loads of testosterone pumping through their veins. The amazing thing to me is that the entire ride today IS LEGAL! So why in the world are we paying for dozens of Sheriffs, and all of their four wheel drive vehicles, to “patrol” a legal trail in Marin County. Just look at the photos. Tell me that we needed all of them to be there in order to protect us. Why were they really there? We have cell phones, GPS units, etc., so we could have easily called Search and Rescue if we needed them. I wonder what it costs to pay a county employee on Thanksgiving Day to be there monitoring a bicycle-legal fire road in Marin County? Double-time? Perhaps event riple-time? It was truly an obscene show of force by the Marin County Sheriff’s Department, and one that I hope they end up feeling embarrassed about in the end.

I look forward to hearing other people’s accounts from today’s ride, and I hope that as many riders as possible write our County Supervisors about the chaos that the Marin Sheriff’s department caused today, and with a focus on budget abuses like today’s. I'd much rather know that the money spent today was instead going to public education uses. We concluded the ride earlier than expected since we didn’t stop at the normal resting points where the Sheriffs were rather imposing. Instead we just kept on going. It was fun to be with old friends while on a ride that I haven’t done in many years. I had forgotten much of the Pine Mountain Loop’s trails, but now the memories will be crystal clear for a while. I’m going to go back out there soon in order to relive today’s ride. I went on to have Thanksgiving dinner that included one person that I know, and maybe ten that I've never even met. I didn't cook, and barely contributed to the festivities beyond plugging in my iPod in order shuffle-up some music. There were people there from several different ethnic backgrounds, and different countries, and we, as orphans, made the evening work. There's something about Thanksgiving that brings people together. I don't like it's origins, but I do like what it's turned into in terms of a celebration. I was lucky to have a place to go, and to be surrounded by such quality people. Tugboat even reaped the benefits of the night by receiving turkey, and also stuffing loaded with sausage. Happy Thanksgiving to all of my family, friends, and diehard readers and supporters! I couldn't do this without you...

Distance: 22.54 miles Calories burned: 2,263 Time: 2:38:58 hours Elevation gain: 3,585 Garmin Connect ride details: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/19645578

Day 160: Bobcats on the Mountain

I saw a Bobcat on the mountain for the very first time today. I’ve seen them for years over in the headlands, but never on Mount Tamalpais. It was fun to catch a glimpse of this one that looked to be a male and in very good health. I'd guess its weight to be about 30 lbs. I sighted him just below the Double Bow Knot junction with Railroad Grade. He was running down the trail towards me, and then diverted into the brush. Seeing wildlife is one of my favorite things about mountain biking. I’ve enjoyed seeing California King Snakes, Rattle snakes, Bobcats, a variety of raptors, wild turkeys, Coyotes, and the list goes on. I’ve not seen a Mountain Lion yet, but I know that they’re up on the mountain. Close friends of mine have seen them up there, and I just hope to see one before it sees me. ;-)

Today I started thinking about Thanksgiving and just how different it will be for me tomorrow. How is it possible that in one short year I’ve gone from the host of some 18 consecutive Thanksgivings with family, to being an orphan at a dinner of other orphans like me? It’s stunning really, but I’m going to try to go with the flow. As a funny side note, I asked what I could bring. Mind you, I used to put on the whole show. I was asked to bring my iPod! That’s pretty darn funny after years of ordering turkeys, thinking about the vegetarians in the family, etc. I’m going to need to sit on my hands tomorrow afternoon so that I don't get in the way. I imagine that as I ride around Pine Mountain tomorrow, while on the morning’s festive ride out of Fairfax, that I’ll be reflecting a lot about family, current and past. The last year has splintered relationships and caused irreparable damage where there was warmth and admiration before. Time will tell how things play out, but the dust has not nearly settled from the storm that was unleashed on me during the last year. Until the then, I’m just going to keep on pedaling forward on my journey back to health.

Distance: 17.61 miles Calories burned: 1,589 Time: 1:39:32 hours Elevation gain: 2,356 Garmin Connect ride details: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/19607178

Day 159: Lunching Around in the Headlands

I’m feeling a bit sore today after my fourth gravity generated collision with the earth. I didn’t write about it yesterday for a couple of reasons, not the least of which was the heavy-duty pain killer that my doctor gave me. Sheesh, no wonder people take pills. Fortunately for me, he only gave me two from a sample package! Yesterday’s fall was another extremely random accident, but it made me realize that anything can happen. Any number of things could derail my journey. I’ve had broken my ribs, had a sustained illness, and yesterday I hit my head hard enough to make my nose bleed. The doctor said that I most likely didn’t have a concussion, but if I did, it was a light one.

Given that I’m realizing that my riding has inherent dangers, I’m thinking that I need to let at least one, if not two people, know where I’m riding each day. Where I crashed yesterday was very exposed, so I’d be seen quickly if I were to have truly been knocked out, but there are many places that I ride alone that have very little foot traffic, and are fairly hidden from plain view. I really don’t like to plan around things like this, but at the same time, I don’t want to be stupid about the possibility that I’ll be injured and not be able to simply walk or ride away unscathed. Today I was invited to ride with my friend “F.” He and I ride more often now that I’m riding every day and now that I'm fitter. We did a loop today that is great for a midday ride. Just over an hour, and with beautiful views of the Marin Headlands. The day was warm, and the skies were clear. It’s looking like another week of amazing weather in CA. During today’s ride we met up with another rider that had the audacity to ask us to move over in order to pass. I say that jokingly, because I seldom get passed, and “F” rarely ever gets passed, so this was a bit of an unusual situtaion. I immediately picked up the pace, and so did “F.” I was on this guy like glue, and due to my new level of fitness, it really didn’t faze me. I used to be quite competitive, but now I’m not. At least I don’t try to be, but there was something about how this guy approached us that lit my old fire.

We rode fast for the rest of the way up to the top of the hill that we were climbing. We talked to this guy along the way, who seemed to think that he knew us, and I thought that I knew him too, but I was wrong. He was just a fit guy, that rides a 29er, and lives here in Mill Valley.

On an unrelated note, it's fascinating just how far we've come technologically in the bicycle industry. Today "F" and I talked about the "Type II" fork that was the best of the best back in the day. Now we have suspension forks that are absolutely unbelievable. The funny thing about the fork shown at the left is that I don't even know how to take the wheel off. ;-) I haven't even tried, although I'm sure that it's easy, but it sure is different than the old quick releases. I had a good time today, and I fortunately kept the rubber side down as they say. My body is sore, and my headache hasn’t subsided, but I am being positive in my thinking that one day soon I’ll be injury and illness free. “F,” thanks for the fun ride today.

Distance: 13.11 miles Calories burned: 1,011 Time: 1:21:57 hours Elevation gain: 1,300 Garmin Connect ride details: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/19562220

Day 158: A Trip Down Memory Lane While Riding on Mount Burdell

My Monday morning got off to a typical start, nothing turned out as planned for me. I woke up with ideas about what I wanted and needed to get done today, but that was quickly pushed aside by a client of mine that needed help, ASAP. Without going into too much detail, their shipping computer system was offline, and they needed my help up in Novato CA. I drove off to Novato with my riding gear in the car, and my Santa Cruz Superheavy on the top. I had to take everything with me just in case the problem kept me there late. My rides are number one for me, but I try to stay available to my clients as best I can. So far I’ve been able to work around my year-long project. After resurrecting the shipping system, I headed out towards my old stomping grounds. I lived in Novato from 1996-1998 with “N” on the old farm that we lovingly called "The 49.” There were some 15 acres of property that had about a half dozen structures on it including a huge barn, a couple of chicken coups, and several Acme kit cabins. It had old fruit trees that I fell in love with, and began to restore, and remnants of gardens that were obviously well tended to back in the day. I saved many of the older plants and trees, including a black Iris that I’m currently nurturing back to health some 14 years later. One now lives in Kalamazoo, MI. Being in Novato today stirred up many memories for me. Those were a good time in my life, and ones that I've held onto over the years, and probably too much so during the darkest of times with “N.”

Today I rode at Mount Burdell, a place where I used to hike with Mick and Lune, and ride my mountain bike regularly. As I rode along the first set of trails that are low on the mountain, I was touched by the memories that arose as I passed by Oak trees where I used to let the dogs cool off on hot summer days, and the water troughs where Lune used climb in to cool off. She used to swim around in them like a River Otter, all the while making a silly little snorting noise. I miss that girl. Mick too. As I continued to ride around the mountain, memories continued to dart in and out of my mind. There was the time that “N,” “D,” and I had hiked to the top where they rolled Bali Shag cigarettes and smoked them while sitting on the lava rocks. Then there was the time that I was riding with dozens of other riders including “F,” some seven years back, while we were on a 100 mile all-day mountain bike ride. There were also all of the hikes that I did with Mick and Lune. It was truly a trip down (more accurately, "up") memory lane for me. I’m happy to know that I have those memories, and that they can’t be taken away from me.

As life goes on I’m shedding the bad memories in what I hope is an appropriate and healthy fashion, and embracing those that are worth holding onto for a lifetime. I have an incredibly detailed memory, so for me it’s important to let go of what I should, and yet embrace and protect the memories that I want to carry forward.

I had fun today. I rode rather slowly as if I was taking it all in for the first time. As I looked around today I could almost see Mick running tree to tree, and rock to rock, marking everything that he could. Then I could see Lune staying on the trail and eagerly looking for shade, and her favorite water trough. Although those memories are over a decade old, and as I rode through there today, they were so vivid that they could have been from yesterday. I’m now glad that my client had an emergency that took me back home to Novato’s Mount Burdell.

Distance: 10.25 miles Calories burned: 882 Time: 1:27:56 hours Elevation gain: 1,458 Garmin Connect ride details: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/19514376

Day 157: Partners in Recovery - Detachment

I returned to Partners in Recovery today after missing the last meeting. I was sick during the last meeting, and most likely contagious, so it wouldn’t have been fair to myself, or the other meeting attendees, to show up sniffling, sneezing, and coughing active germs out into the air. At the same time I felt as though I was missing out on one of my commitments. Today I was warmly greeted by the friends that I’ve made through the meeting. A number of people came up to me in order to check in on me, and some had even heard about my broken ribs, so they asked about that too. I was very touched by the warm and caring welcome, and it’s a part of why I will most likely never stop attending this meeting. They’re good people that truly care about others. During today’s meeting I was reflecting a lot on the fact that I’m coming up on a year in working on my own recovery. My start date (birthday) towards recovery was on December 1st of last year when I dropped “N” off for the first of her two-month stay at Serenity Knolls. I was reminded today of what I felt like back then, and it’s one of the reasons why I keep going back to where my own rebirth began. December 1st will always be a special day for me, so I’ll elaborate more when that day comes around in a week, and I'll hopefully take a special ride to commemorate the day.

A couple of topics that were raised at today's meeting reminded me of a leaflet that I found in one of the pamphlets that was given to me during my early days in recovery. It’s appropriately titled “Detachment,” and it outlines some incredibly useful prose for understanding the term as it applies to alcoholism. In the early days of my own stumbling around in recovery, and when I still believed that I had a marriage to save, I memorized this leaflet and I’ll most likely keep it as a memento for the rest of my days. So here it is for those that might need a little help thinking around what I found to be so difficult a term to understand back then, and one that I'm so clear on now. Time reveals things that you’d never expect, but you need to give it time, “one day at a time.” Today’s ride out to Serenity Knolls reminded me about just how close I need to stay to them, and the Al-anon program. It’s not a weakness in me that requires this closeness, but instead it’s all about the strength that it gives me. I also now know that I have something very valuable to offer to others that are in their darkest hours, just like I was one short year ago. I have already helped others during my journey back to health, and I want to continue to help those that have been affected by alcoholics. One other thing to point out about my recovery, it seems like every day that passes right now I rediscover something that I used to do. It’s a bit frightening. I met with an old girlfriend from the early 80’s the other night. She knew me when I was committed and dedicated to myself in ways that were almost extreme, so she couldn’t believe that I could have been knocked so far off track by someone else’s drinking. I explained that I was, and am, one of the most loyal people on the planet, and that when I dedicated myself to my marriage it became hallowed ground, and that I’d do absolutely anything for it. Now of course I know better, yet I don’t want to ever lose my ability to dedicate myself to someone, or something. I just need to remember, or better said, I need never forget who I am and what makes me happy. Thank you to everyone that asked me why I wasn’t at the last meeting, and those of you that asked about my broken ribs. There were several people that asked for my contact information. I hope to hear from you.

I woke up to an unexpected rain shower this morning. The forecast was for clear skies, but no, it was raining, albeit lightly. I rearranged my thinking, and of course what I was going to wear and take with me to San Geronimo. In the end it wasn't so bad be out riding in the rain, but I did get wet. It was still a great ride and worth it. The funny thing that I realized on my last climb back to Mill Valley, is that the ride is now easy for me to complete. The first time that I rode out there I felt like I was doing a long ride. My, how things have changed for me.

Distance: 31.43 miles Calories burned: 2,046 Time: 2:05:51 hours Elevation gain: 2,013 Garmin Connect ride details: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/19444982