Bay Area ride Sunday - 30-35 miles?

[cindysue]

Well well, lookie what I found http://www.pbase.com/tgrey/image/77988640

neato!!

Hey - weren't you signed up for LRRH?

[bikerz]

Jo - that ride and the starting point sound great!

What time shall we meet? Looks like it will take us 40 minutes or so to get there. Given that the heat won't be much of a concern, what time would you like to meet?

And Cindy, when can we see you? It HAS been way too long!

(I'll be sporting my new Sidi shoes and DA look-style pedals!)

A chance to see a bald eagle - wow!

- Ann

[jobob]

How's about 10 or 10:30? Lee & I will probably ride out to Sunol (it's 15 miles from our place) so we'd need to leave home about an hour before that. That way we wouldn't need to get up really early.

Cindy, yes, I was supposed to be at LRRH today. But Lee & I returned this past Sunday night from Lee's mom's funeral in Hawaii, and I wasn't sure I was up to more travelling so soon after I got back. But then Trekhawk made the decision very easy for me, she called me while I was still in Hawaii to tell me that her husband had an unexpected work assignment this weekend and she wouldn't be able to go to LRRH after all. Since she & I were going to drive out there & room together, I thought it was a good oppotunity for me to bail out as well.

[bikerz]

10:30 it is! We'll see you guys at the Sunol Glen Elementary School!

I'm looking forward to it!

[maillotpois]

Hope you guys have a great ride!!

That bald eagle is amazing. The family and I were up near Petaluma a couple of weeks ago and swear we saw what we thought was a bald eagle. We had binoculars and were able to clearly see a white head on what was a huge raptor. Maybe they're coming back?

[jobob]

Yep, we had a great ride indeed.

In part because WE SAW THE EAGLE !!!

Oops, dinner's about ready, gotta go. mwbr.
Yeah, I suck, what of it?

[melissam]

Whew, what a fun ride! It'd been years since I'd been on Calaveras, and it didn't disappoint. Let's see, as Jobob mentioned, we saw the Eagle. Between the four of us, we also saw: a bobcat (Leebob & BikerZ almost crossed paths with it as they were descending one of the rolling hills), a family of quail, a couple of hawks, some lizards, and a snake carcass.

We had a casualty: bikerz's lovely Seven's handlebar tape got a bit scratched after a chain drop/clipless pedal catastrophe. Her ankle and front wheel also bear evidence of the fall. On the brighter side, the racer boys coming up the hill gave her a perfect 10 on the dive. Frankly, sports fans, I gave her a strong 9 on the fall -- to get a 10 you have to do something extraordinary, like land right side up on the wheels. But then again, I am a little critical.

Jobob and I rode back to the parking lot, so I could come back to get BikerZ and her wounded Seven. Wait, strike that. Jobob towed me back to the parking lot. I got to drive Ann's TT (hee hee!) to SAG her in. Meanwhile, Leebob escorted BikerZ, who was descending Calaveras with no front brake, one foot unclipped, and a wobbly front wheel.

Let's just say that Leebob is the epitome of chivalry & kindness, encouraging BikerZ up Calaveras and its rolling hills, as well as hanging with her during the nailbiting descent. If you ever want a thrill, put your wheel out of true (so much so that it rubs against the brakes), and descend a few miles.

Ahem, anyway, after we were all safe & sound back at the parking lot, we decided to get something to eat. We ended up at Bosco's Bones & Brew in Sunol. If you're ever there, be sure to go to the bar and order Bosco's ale, just so you can watch them pour the beer. I won't say anything more, as I don't want to spoil the surprise.

We had a lovely set of appetizers, but I think we all enjoyed the stuffed Portabello mushrooms the most. Wow. And the sauce went really well with the garlic bread we'd ordered.

And, if that weren't fun enough, Jobob & I got to stay for another beer while BikerZ took Leebob back to get their car. Tough choice -- ride 15 miles into the headwind, or stay & have another beer while they get the car.

I think it's safe to say that a good time was had by all, and BikerZ's Seven will be patched up & as good as new in no time.