Saturday Morning

Its Saturday morning. For a little while. It feels like morning because I slept in later than I have in a really long time. I got up around 9. I can't even remember the last time I slept that late...

Saturday morning is usually my day to go mountain biking, which is my second love (my first is Tamara, and my third is Collective Soul -- spiritual things are a whole different sort of thing for you judgmental preachers screaming "what about the Book of Mormon?"). I decided to take it easy this morning though, because this whole past week I have been feeling the effects of last week's ride and I need to take an easy day.

In case you don't already know the story, I was riding in the El Corte Madera Redwood Preserve, which has 35 miles worth of trails (a lot for this area) and is only 30 minutes from where we live, above Half Moon Bay with awesome views of the ocean and some of the biggest trees you've ever seen. It was especially pretty this day because of the morning fog. Here's a picture.

I came to this bend in the trail after one of the sickest, smoothest winding downhills ever. I like how you can't even see the tops of the trees through the fog. This was at about 8 am. I was so amazed by the scenery I took this picture to capture the moment.

Ah California. So anyway, my plan was to ride from the bottom to the top and back to the bottom again. The uphill portion would be a manageable 1200 or 1500 feet. That's strenuous, but not too bad if its not too steep. Part of my loop included a cutoff trail that would take me back to my car rather than drop into a deep ravine (the long way around) that would add another 1000 feet of climbing to my ride. I had to be done by 11:00 in order to get home and meet Tamara for some plans we had made, and I was comfortably on time. When I got to my cutoff trail, though, to my surprise, there was a big "closed" sign, gates put up, and big fines promised to violators (its even patrolled occaisionally!). So I had to take the long way around, add 1000 feet of climing and 4 additional miles to my ride, and get it done quick or face the penalty of a wife who now hates my second lover (my bike) for stealing her time with me. I certainly didn't want any of that drama! I got a charlie horse on the way out, and I can't remember the last time I was so physically wasted. If I could have taken my time it wouldn't have been that big of a deal, but I was pushing myself pretty hard, and today, a week later, I can still feel it. I'll be hitting the trail again next week though, don't worry.

I rode here a couple of weeks ago. This is in the Marin Headlands, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. No trees, but pretty incredible views up and down the coast. It was foggy this day too, until I got inland a little bit.

It was really cool when I got above the fog and I got incredible views of the San Francisco Bay. This is Tiburon and Angel Island. Alcatraz is just to the right, but it was still shrouded in fog.

Anyway, I am loving the biking out here, but I still miss the hardcore Utah stuff. I'll keep going back for more and more of that!