Monthly Archive: May 2014

family

Bay Front Park Ride

We should have done this 29 miler the day before on our 29th wedding anniversary!!  On our anniversary ride we decided to mix things up  and go on  bike ride to Bay Front Park in Menlo park the next day. It was a beautiful morning as we made our way to Coyote hills then around the back way to Don Edwards park and the trip over the bridge. First picture here is looking west from the pedestrian walkway that crosses over highway 84 at the toll plaza.  One of those places that you drive by a thousand times but rarely experience yourself.  You can see the bridge way out there and even the park we went to on the other side of the bay.  Its always fun to ride your bike on a bridge. The height, the water down below, the traffic zooming by you all make for a fun ride. Second picture is Barb at the top of the bridge and county line.  The ride over Dumbarton bridge is a good one. Easy peasy uphill and nice slow coast going down the other side. 

So once we got on the Menlo park side of the bridge, we crossed highway 84 and got on the bay side trail that would take us all the way to Bay Front park. The last time we rode our bike this way, Facebook was not around.  Today they have headquarters right there on the bayfront in the old Sun Micro Systems buildings. Whenever we drive by Facebook HQ these days, there is ALWAYS at least a couple of people there taking pictures of themselves in front of the Facebook sign.  I would say that it is a full fledged tourist attraction. Sure enough, when we got there at around 9:30am, there was a family of about 10 people taking pictures. We decided to get in on the act and take a couple ourselves.  Then the oldest guy in the bunch said he would take our picture.  Thanks old guy!  It turned our GREAT!

The rest of the way to Bay Front park was nice. Flat trail, little wind, nice sun. We have never been to this park before, so while Barb was in the restroom I found a map that showed there was a 2.3 mile loop around the perimeter of the park. Perfect!  There was also a sign that said that the park was built on top of the old Menlo Park dump. There was also an old sewage treatment plant and methane gas extraction facility on the back of the property.  Garbage and sewage and gas. OH MY! So we rode about half way around the park and there was a spot that we could climb a little hill. I wanted to see if we could see the bus stop and flag from this side of the bay. No such luck, even with the binoculars.  We were going to take a break here but decided to go back to Facebook and take a break there. GOOD MOVE!  Facebook did some nice work on the bay side trail that goes around the back side of their company property.  We had a couple pieces of fruit and shared a gluten free granola bar.

We made our way home the same we went went out, and by the time we were rounding the corner for home, the odometer was coming up on 29 miles.  I would do this ride again but maybe wait for rainy season when the hills are green at the park.  This ride is great because for all but the couple miles to took us to get to Coyote Hills, the whole rest of the way is on bike path. If you think about that its pretty cool.

Uncategorized

Peace and Love at the Bus Stop

It was real nice to go out to the bus stop today and see some flags flying. Its been about a month since “the man” ripped down old glory. John did a late afternoon ride yesterday and placed the Tibet peace flags. They lasted through the night and were still there when I went out today. A good sign.

PEACE

bike

May Madness – o solo mio –

Some how, some way, I pedaled over 250 miles in the month of May.  At one point during the month I was pretty sure that I would NOT hit 200 miles, which I had been able to do every month so far this year. The 75 miles in the saddle over memorial day weekend helped a bunch. It was all gravy after that.

I was out alone today. Vandy umping and Downing Tahoe bound. Did the usual route. Out to Coyote. Up heart attack hill, out to the bus stop, then over to the creek trail and head back home.  Hit the trail early (0730)  since it was an “o solo mio” ride.  It was a nice morning for a ride. Overcast to start with little to no wind. Sun started popping out as I was climbing heart attack.

There is a big old tree on the way out to Coyote Hills near Crandal Creek. The tree looks dead but its big. A couple of falcons built a nice nest way up in the branches. Today on the way out I stopped and took a look throught the binoculars. Sure enough, there were three falcons up there.  Tried to figure out if it was three chicks or a combo of mom dad and chicks.  Nature!!

Saw more nature out at “laughing island”. The spot between the bus stop and end of creek trail where the gulls nest, have sex and raise (and some times eat) their young.   Must be hundreds of them out there.  We started calling the spot laughing island because some mornings the noise from the birds sounds like they are all laughing. After hearing about the debauchery that goes on out there, who knows what the noise really is.  A look through the binoculars this morning found little seagul chicks everywhere! They blended in so well to the dirt that you couldn’t see them with the naked eye. There was also some sex going on!  Never saw that before on laughing island!   Click here for a “sunday morning with Charles Kuralt”  video

The only bummer of the morning was that I got a flat tire on the way home.  Did a quick change and was on my way. The way I figure, if I’m going to get a flat it might as well be out in God’s country. All alone out there. Good thing I had everything I needed to get the job done.

So after I fixed the flat I was back in the saddle, back on the creek trail,  and  quickly coming up to 250 miles on the odometer.  Where would I be when it hit 250? Where or where will I be? Turns out it’s at highway 880 and the creek trail. A place where the hustle bustle of everyday life zooms by on the freeway,  while life on the creek trail goes about 12 miles per hour.  I’ll take the creek trail anyday!!

side note – 1191 miles so far this year!

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Freedom returns to the Bus Stop

The boys and I have been riding for years out at Coyote Hills.  One of the coolest things we ever did was put up an American Flag out in the bay waters.  Latched to some old and rusted scuttled boat engine that sits about 100 feet off shore. When the tide was low we went out there and put up our flag. When the elements started to wear the flag down we would replace it. We put three flags up over the last couple of years. When the tide is high the flag looks so cool out there just waving in the wind.  So who has a problem with the American Flag?  Cargill. Thats who.  Apparently we are trespassing if we leave the levee road to do “flag duty”. We have been told a few times by Cargill guy that we could get a ticket if we are caught off the road. Whatever Cargill guy!!

So about two months ago someone (Cargill) took it upon themselves to trespass, go off the levee road, make way  out to the flag and rip it down. Job well done!! Slap freedom in the face why don’t ya!? We could not believe our eyes when we saw that the flag was gone. We figured we would bide our time. Let things settle down before we broke federal law and went out and put another flag out there.

We didn’t have to! When we went for a ride this weekend, someone else had put a flag out there!! Freedom fighters!! Some patriotic, flag loving American had taken it upon themselves to right a wrong. We were not the only ones who appreciated the beauty of old glory waving in the wind out in the bay.

God Bless America!

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Muddy Ride to the Bus Stop
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sports

Flaherty Night at the Ball Park

Thanks to Matt Flaherty,  Flaherty Night at the Giants game was a success.  He scored us some tickets to the Giants/Twins Orange Friday night-er.  Anne Marie and I had talked about going to a game. Matt was nice enough to get us come complementary tickets to the game.  Mr Gamesigns scored us tickets on a night when both catchers were wearing Gamesigns!!  Pretty cool.  What a game it turned out to be  and what a great night we had.  Perfect weather for baseball. We met Anne Marie,  Joe, and their GREAT grandson Jayden at the Willie Mays statue a little after 5pm.  This was Jayden’s first Giants game! He got the full tour. Touch Willie Mays statue toe for good luck, then walk around back to see McCovey Cove and look through the outfield gates as the Twins took batting practice. 

Couldn’t ask for better seats in the park. Lower box sect 119. Third base side almost right behind home plate.  I think we were in the same section as the player wives and family. I could swear that Pablo Sandoval’s brother was sitting right behind us. And when Pablo blasted a homer early on it was a cruise to a Giants 6-2 win. All in all a great night.  Thanks Matt!!! 

remodel

Coyote Hills Transformation

The houses are coming!! The houses are coming!!

Unfortunately for any nature loving person, the construction of 500 houses next to Coyote Hills has begun. A few weeks ago the Patterson Family finally got to sell the last of old Patterson Ranch to developers,  and for the last few weeks, double loaders have been making trips back and forth between “phase 1” and the old quarry next to the Dumbarton Bridge.

But get this. The ground study indicated that that top two feet of soil in the new housing development is “TOXIC”. The soil contains decades of toxic who-knows-what that was used when the land was an actual working farm. So part of the “deal” was that they would remove the top two feet of soil and dump it in the old quarry,  a hundreds feet deep pit that sits next to the toll plaza at Dumbarton Bridge.

But get this!! The pit where they are dumping the toxic soil will someday be a park!  The city of Fremont is letting developer fill the pit with toxic soil that someday your kids and grand-kids will be playing at and swimming in. Luckily for us the toxic stuff will settle to the bottom.  At least thats what they say. Good luck with that!

On our saturday ride we went to the top of skunk hill to see it for ourselves. Truck after truck pulls up to the pit and dumps the toxic soil. Oh, and since it was another windy day in Fremont, that toxic dirt and dust was blowing right into Fremont!!!!

While up there I took a 360 video view. Check it out by clicking here.

We also noticed a little make-shift memorial just off  the single track up on skunk hill. Just a couple of pictures and a can of Arizona Ice Tea, along with some nicely placed rocks to keep everything together. We paid our respects and carried on.

Related articles
Fremont: Agency OKs pesticide-laden soil dumping in Dumbarton Quarry