Babageik News: Week in Review

I'm going to try a new era in blogging-the Week in Review. Setting my expectations will (hopefully) lead to a more consistent posting of whatever happens to be going down in my neck of the woods. Of course, if I can, feel like it or have time, I'll add more...but hey, let's shoot for low-hanging fruit and consistency for a bit.

With that being said-here's the last week in my life...

I spent most of the last 2 weeks in June looking forward to my 5 days off from work-running right through the 4th of July holiday. I mean with weekends is was goingto be 9 days away from responsibility of the job, time to ride like the wind (Thanks Christopher Cross) and spend real quality time with my family. As is the norm, I set the bar high; 100 mile rides every day (or at least every other), kayaking the Zambizee, finishing the backyard, camping in Pinnacles or Castle Crags, night rides and more. Reality however had a different course. What did I accomplish? A lot actually, enough to satisfy my time off and most importantly a time to re-charge and re-evaluate what I want and need to make life more fulfilling (more on that later)...

Let's see, where to begin--how about Sunday 7/1.

Sunday
Cari, Jake and I set out for Lake Hennessey and a morning of Kayaking. Our boats had been sitting for too long, and with Cari just getting Yakima racks for the Element, it was time to get back into the water. Of course we plotted for a much earlier departure time than we could ever hit, but got onto the road and heading to the lake at just the right time (as the early morning was pretty winding on the water-we came to find out). The element handled the boats like a trooper, although it's going to be quite a challenge for 5'-1" Cari to get them on and off by herself! Jake assumed his position in Cari's cockpit and off we went to explore the lake. It was incredible! So glassy, it made for easy paddling. We hit the middle of the lake and I was struck how much it reminded me of Whiskeytown (although no snorkling/swimming allowed)...There are a ton of water birds, osprey and other sites and we took it all in. The PB&J lunch was delicious as we floated together in the middle of the lake. The wind was picking up a bit and we began the paddle back-it's always amazing to see how far you're able to go in a kayak. I knew it was the perfect distance as I was ready to get back to the dock just as we arrived. Overall about 3 hours in the water was a great exercise and a much needed good day with my family.

Monday
All set to be a long ride with Grady, somewhere in Marin and maybe even from SF to Napa via Marin, Point Reyes and Petaluma. 120 and 130 miles were casually mentioned. What was for sure-my good friend Grady and I were going to ride for a good portion of the day and spend some time chatting about life in general and most importantly connecting as friends. What came about was this: I would take the 6:30 boat into SF and meet Grady at the Ferry building at 7:30. Coffee would be had and we'd set out thru SF to the Golden Gate Bridge and onto Mt. Tam. Grady set me onto a loop called Alpine Dam-said it was a good 60+ miles with a lot of climbing and options for more-sounds great. Coffee in SF was skipped as the lines were too long so we headed over the bridge and into Sausalito for a cuppa Joe and a quick breakfast. It was great sitting in the sun at Cafe Trieste talking about matters both important and not. As teh sun warmed us it was time to head out to Fairfax and do some riding. Let me tell you it was incredible. The day was perfect, clear, sunny, not too hot, but pretty warm, almost NO cars out in the back roads and views to die for. We cruised along the 7 Sisters (aka 7 Bitches) and could see out past Bolinas all the way to the Farralone Islands (Grady thought they were a battle ship). I had to get back to take Cari to pick up the Element, so we cut the ride at the drop to Stinson and headed back to SF. After some serious headwind and tourist dodging on the GG Bridge, we hung out waiting for my return boat and chatting some more. It was a great day and a wonderful opportunity to hang out with a good friend.

Monday night found me at the movies with my brother, my dad and my brother's wife Erin--we were supporting David's robot habit by checking out the movie "The Transformers". The theater was packed with Jedi-Elfs (30+ year old, live at homes that had way too much love for Optimus Prime) who hooted and hollered with each robot introduction. Overall, the movie was really cool, tons of action and explosions-I great time to just "be" and enjoy the show.

Tuesday
What the heck happened Tuesday? I remember walking Jake to school and it being hot. No rides though...I am totally blanking!

Wednesday
The 4th of July-Cari had it off and we decided to spend the day hiking-somewhere. The caveat-Kona our faithful sheppard, pit, jin-doo, dingo was going to join us. After some discussion, we settled on Alpine Dam again. I really wanted to show Cari and Jake how beautiful it was and besides there are trails (all dog friendly) throughout the Marin Watershed. We cruised out and parked right at the dam-I had hiked out here about 10 years ago and took my family on the trail I had been on a 10 mile loop to Kent Lake. Jake was excited to find a Mountain King snake, a newt or a lizard, so I obliged! First animal was a scorpion, after that we saw some blue bellies and then caught a sweet garter snake. Jake has no fear and held it like a real pro (after it poo'd on me of course). Next up we saw a ton of red-bellied newts floating and swimming in some water holes...As we moved on we could see Kona and Jake fading-we were about 3 or so miles into the hike and mixed with the heat and distance, these two were dragging. Cari and I made the wise decision to head back. Good thing too, I had Jake on my shoulders for a good 1/2 mile (he was a trooper plugging at least 5 miles by himself) and Kona was dog (get it) tired. We ended the day with dinner at Papa and YaYa's with all of the family before retreating to our backyard to try out our first fire in our outdoor fireplace and to watch some of the fireworks.

Thursday
Thursday was a slow day around the house, I just couldn't get motivated to ride or really do much of anything--guess that is what vacations are for. I had a good time walking Jake to school, cleaned up a bit and just did nothin'!
My nothingness was spared when my brother and Erin called to see if I wanted to go to Walnut Creek with them to look for a new couch at Scandanavian Designs. Sure, I like trips to commerce and it sounded good. Scandanavian Designs has cool stuff, more expensive than I can afford, but it's fun to look. After haggling about the right couch we headed out again. Lunch was in order and we headed to the new old downtown Walnut Creek to California Pizza Kitchen. On the way there we passed the Apple store and David said after lunch he wanted to see if they had any more iPhones. Now bear in mind, he had ordered one for Erin the day they came out-it was due to ship the following week, but he just wanted to "look". Let me tell you a little about Walnut Creek--it reminded me of Santa Barbara. A lot of rich folks with nothing to do. Beautiful people, lingering around spending money...Anyway, lunch was great and we walked in the heat (100+ degrees) to the Apple store. After strong arming some tech dorks, we were able to hold the coveted device. David found out they only had 4gB models and suggested Erin get the 4gB and he could keep the 8gB on order. The argument was short-lived and before you could say iPhone Erin was behind us with her new 4gB phone in bag!
I joked asking if her life felt different, but overall the phones are cool to play with and certainly are pretty.

Cool thing about that night, Cari, Jake and I had our first fire in our outdoor fireplace. Roasting marshmallows and chillin' in the backyard is the bomb!

Friday
Friday found us all at home-it was great to walk Jake to school with Cari and Kona. After school, Cari, Kona and I walked to Browns Valley market and got a coffee. Our plans to camp were shelved as Cari wanted to clean/organize the attic and garage and build her wheels for her Surly SS. We muscled through quite a bit of the attic and picked Jake up at noon. Cari's friend and her kids came over for the afternoon, so I headed out on a MTB ride to Skyline. It was just what I needed. My brain and attitude really get bad when I don't ride and this was my first ride since Monday. It was awesome at Skyline-I saw no-one (par for the course) and my 2+ hours were filled with deep thoughts and singletrack. Funny to say, but the outdoors are really my religion, my outlet for spirituality and self reflection. Group and partner rides are fun, but can have baggage as I usually feel like I am holding people up (slow uphiller). When I am alone (thanks Kirby for helping me see the benefits of alone rides) it's really kinda nice and serves an necessary purpose in my mental health. Anyway the time on dirt was great!

***typing is getting slower and shorter as my wrist acts up...

Saturday-
I woke up saturday morning to hit up my always enjoyable group ride. Despite my love for solo rides, I would be incomplete without rides with friends and family--call it a nice balance. As always the conversation was great and the ride was pretty fast (for me). I had to pull out early (no Atlas Peak climb for me this time) to help with more garage duties and spend time with Jake-mo and Cari. Cari was going gang-busters getting spokes and such and lacing her rear wheel for the Surly. Jake and I took the opportunity in the evening to load up my SS and his tagalong and head over to Alston Park for some dirt riding. The park has mini hills and a lot of fast hard-pack dirt so we were having a blast. There's a big hill in the back that we fly down and the sweet blackberries at the end were icing on the cake.

Sunday

Sunday was a big day-Cari finally finished her Surly SS (fully rigid). Purchased as a frame/fork almost 9 months ago she took to the road this evening. I won't say much as it's Cari's story to tell -- see her blog )---but let me say it's awesome to have a wife that has the technical skills I lack. She did everything--built the wheels, installed everything, dialed in the v-brakes and road it like a champ on our little ride up top the first climb on Partick's Road (a pain for my fat-ass as I was pulling Jake on my SS MTB on the street)!

Can't wait to take her on the dirt!