Mid-Week Rides: December Ride

Thursday, Dec 17 2015

Alberto writes:

A pattern seems to arise. For a complete year and maybe longer, the mid-week riders get an invitation from Chris Weld… “We shall gather at so and so place from where we shall go…” It seems to me, unless Mr Weld calls for a mid-week ride, no mid-week ride takes place. He is the primary instigator.

I take the time to acknowledge and recognize this effort - thank you Mr. weld.

Enough of the baloney.

I had no idea how many would show up, but had an inkling. I said to myself five or six. By the time I arrived at Bob Burns’ house - almost the default gathering and departure place - sure thing, Randy Hendrix and Markus Baur were there. Chris Weld was ahead of me by 100 yards or so.

Bob providing high grade coffee, yet sorely lacking in Croissants… Ahh, you just cannot get good service anymore, but he was forgiven considering the fact that he is married to the lovely Polly. “Good morning princess!” And graciously she smiled.

At 9:30 am exactly, well, up or down ten minutes, we got on out way. Down Bunker Hill, parallel 280 all the way to Woodside and by way of Olive Hill to Old Woodside road we found ourselves at Alice’s for a pit stop. Mr Weld had this remark, “Alberto you went to the loo at Bob’s and now again here at the loo again, what is it? I had little to say other than “I had always heard it as Lulu”. It has never been one Lu”. (Never mind, if you read this bit, is because you had nothing better to read! - shame on you!)

Soon, we are on highway 35 heading south. A short pit stop at Saratoga Gap for yet another Alberto trip to the loo… Keeping track? I am using my pit stops as a means to keep track and to know which roads we are taking, kinda like pee-marking the area in case I have to come back by myself, some of you cat lovers may know what I mean.

Bear Creek Rd eventually dropped us in Boulder Creek were… Yes, I had to go to the loo. It was locked.

We had a great lunch. Locks and Bagels with cream cheese, egg croissant, a vegetarian looking thing for Markus and Randy…. What did he have? Never mind!

Before going we all went to the loo. Yes! (So did I, for the fourth? Fifth? Time. Who cares!!)

You may have noticed how diligent I have been at correctly identifying the roads. I take pride on that, you see, that now comes to an end… Hence forth, my road skills depart reality and we go … Which way?

Right here, left there and after up-n-down a road in the forest. Dark, huge trees, pine-needles in great quantities and ruts were you dare not fall inside. The county probably does not know this road exist. We came out - not on that side - but rather on this side, or whatever side you you prefer, of the park ranger station at Big Basin Park.

Markus recognized the road, Randy and I could swear we were at the Mexican border.

Randy’s magic

Ten minute break. We took the mandatory picture at the burnt giant tree at the park head quarters. “Randy, come here, the rest of you do not move!”. “Come take the picture”. - “Well, Alberto, I do not have my glasses, I cannot see all that well” - “dah! Stop it, you will do just fine”. And Randy goes ahead taking a masterful picture… The rest of you take a close look at the picture… Closer, closer still, you will see what’s missing. That my reading friends is just perfect!

Back on the road. It was mentioned hot chocolate at Alice’s. Highway 237, up highway 9. Left at 35 until at Alpine, Chris made a stop for “anyone that needs the loo, well here it is”. I needed it, but thought Alice is just a bit further. I can hold it. Fool! double fool!!

Chris asks “is there enough time to go down Alpine?” No one disagreed, and before I knew it the loo was further and further.

Down Alpine road, then with little warning Chris makes a left turn into what looked like someone’s driveway.

Some of you might know this road, as far as I was concerned it was the return road from the Mexican border. I have no idea where we were. Ask Chris.

The beautiful thing though it, got us back from Mexico to Alice’s in no time at all. Hot chocolate, ahh! There are pleasures in life that only come after a bike ride.

At Alice’s the talk was quite interesting until someone said something to which WWWobble had to say… “Well that is so pejorative”. “Huh? Now, I have read this word before, but I have never heard anyone ever use it”. “Well, it is like prejudice” someone said. “Nope, because as far as I know prejudice comes from PRE and JUDGE , so I do not think so”. How do you spell pejorative? Someone said it has an “r” up front etc, etc, etc…. “Dang it! Look it up in your phone!” And I did. After reading the definition to everyone we became far more educated than the way we started the day.

Now, if you think I will tell you what it means… Dream on! However you can count on us using that word. Wanna be left out? Don’t look it up. The rest of us will know what we are talking about.

Randy, Markus and Chris went home, north via highway 35. Bob and I chose highway 84 to 280.

Another beautiful day Among my buddies… No croissants though.