Arlen's Place

After going to a birthday party in Pleasanton yesterday, we stopped by the world famous Arlen Ness factory store. Skyler and Ben enjoyed the custom bikes.

Hot Grips

I am SO GLAD I fixed my hot grips! Even in California the winter nights are cold. The switch is right below my left grip. Right bear, frog left (a classic).

Boys Night Out

Meeting my brother in SF tonight for dinner. Chinatown is pretty (especially after a rain) and the food smells are making me hungry! My parking spot required a little creativity, but it's worked before. After tonight I'm booked with something every night til Christmas.

Your Table is Ready...

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Christmas Tree Shopping

By bicycle: no needles in car, and a Nelson tradition started last year.

Too pooped to party

While I was doing homework with Skyler, Cookie decided to sleep one off. Amazing where a cat can get comfy.

Seal of Approval

Went kayaking w/kids again this a.m., made a new friend! Harbor seals? Followed us from Otis Bridge into estuary, and well back out into bay toward South Shore beach. New portage wheels a great improvement.

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Low Tide, Low Light.

I had planned on taking the kids kayaking, but little did I know it was the lowest of tides. Very glad for new portage wheels! Beautiful sunset, calm & warm, serious potato-butt dragging the bottom of the bay.

Sent using GSM Centro, chewed on by cat.

Just add water

kayaking with the kids this morning at mid-tide, had to push off bottom a few times between Park St. beach and Otis bridge. This captain wasn't so lucky.

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Rockabye

I finally bought a kayak. Last weekend Ben and I paddled from Park St. Beach down to Otis Bridge and back. He and Skyler both like the boat and I think we'll use it most weekends.

Not sent using an iPhone.

It's Official!

Hi All-

This just arrived in the mail yesterday. The only more expensive license plate frame I know of is 11-99. Depends on who you're trying to impress. Ride safe!

Pancakes

The annual Park St. Art & Wine Festival was this past weekend, complete with the Alameda Fire Dept. pancake breakfast fundraiser. The kids had a great time as you can see. Funny how events like the festival tend to drain my wallet...

Pt. Reyes Bicycle Camping

We had a great weekend camping, though exhausting. The bicycle trail in is only about 2.3 miles- the miles are bigger for little wheels! Note the huge load on the bike trailer. We looked like the Clampetts going down the road, but it's a lot easier than hiking in with small children. I'll be finding sand in my shoes for the next month or so.

Sweet Leisure

Power's out in my building. Can't work. Is there any way to take corporate America off the grid?

Contingency

Always have an out. Last Thursday on my way out of the office for the holiday weekend I discovered I had a flat rear tire. A scew had punctured it somwhere on the way to work that morning, apparently. Bummer! I had replaced both tires only a few weeks before, following the big trip. Fortunately I had a plug kit and pump with me, so it only took about 45 minutes for me to plug & inflate it. This photo is the inside of the plug after I had the tire replaced. It looked pretty good & was holding air, but I've had a previous MC throw a plug out after riding on it for a while. There goes a couple hundred $$! At least John Brimberry at OTD Cycles of Oakland cut me a good price and had me in and out promptly. I like this shop!

Kid Camping Yoga

Skyler & Ben strike a pose on the picnic table after we've JUST FINALLY arrived at our campsite around 7:30. Monumental stupidity on our part to leave Alameda @ 5pm. Not my idea. Need I say more?

PeoplePaddle

Getting ready to launch- seems to be a shortage of rental paddles

Fast Company- 30May08

Flashing back to the trip, this is my favorite of the cornering movies. Robo and Speed Chris were really pushing the pace- watch SC's line in the curves! No chicken strips on these tires. Robo later suggested I reinstall my shoulder patches with velcro like the old WWII pilots in case of 'capture'. I might have to think about that.

For those priveleged few with the .avi collection, this is an excerpt of MVI_1624.

Short Ride

Ben got to start the motor today and took a short ride (with me driving of course) down the driveway.

People Paddle for the Planet, part 1

Hi All-

This Sunday Benjamin and I take to the water in Foster City. We are kayaking as part of an eco benefit. Would you be willing to pledge a contribution to the cause? You can contribute here at our personal page:

http://www.regathon.com/cgi-bin/regathon.cgi?action=pp1det&projectid=ppplanet&applicationid=1210458163

The photo is from May 4th, when I took Skyler on a related event. Thanks for your contributions!

World Record Chalk Art

We're at the old Alameda Naval Air Station working as part of the World's Record Largest Chalk Drawing today. Beautiful weather for it, lots of people out, Lucy the rental dog with us.

Riding the Dragon

Hi All-

Here's the 1st of the promised videos. I had to drop the resolution to make it small enough. Original quality is much higher. This is the pilot's view of riding a section of Deal's Gap, aka the Tail of the Dragon. The speeds are pretty conservative because it was Saturday with lots of traffic and enforcement. Enjoy, and I hope you don't get too motion sick watching!

Iron Butt

Owww. Hard to get moving this a.m. Ready to roll, 6:15 AZ time. Last day!

Higher & Dryer

At a rest stop about 50 mi E of Amarillo. Strong wind from south, riding on my left ear all day. Stopped to wet myself (soak my shirt, that is) for natural AC. Bike working well but mileage dropping due to increasing altitude and possibly lower humidity,

Rider of the Storm

currently at breakfast/gas stop 50 mi W of OK City. Wild crosswind today, but temp/humidity is much comfier. Left Ft. Smith today 6 a.m., passed thru OK City @ 9; slowdown there for an overturned cattle truck. They were herding the cattle off the freeway into a makeshift pen. Yesterday too hot & humid all day. Drove thru thunderstorm & what looked suspiciously like a funnel cloud about 40 miles into Arkansas. Glad all that's behind me!
Today trying to hit Winslow AZ to qualify for Iron Butt 1K.

Turnover

Fueling in W Memphis, AR. Odo turned over 50K between Nashville & Memphis. Hot & humid! Some rainy spots.

Homeward Bound

9am local and time to go. We were woken up today by thunder and rain, but it's clearing now and cooler. Nice! hoping to reach between Little Rock and OK City by tonight.

View from today's ride

Just a small sample, videos later, including Deal's Gap.

Back at the Ranch

Riding day 2 is done, and we're all back at the lodge except Matt & Chris who need to fly on business trips Sunday so they split off from us on the road. Great rides today! All are a little tired as the weather was hot. Matt, enjoy Paris! (pic from this a.m.)

Break @ Cherahola Market

Mr. Bear update

Forgot to mention Bear is riding at Benjamin's request, last night on phone Ben told Matt the Bear should ride. Hard to deny a 5 yr. old a simple wish.

Mr. Bear takes a ride

Watch for the top of the fuzzy head in upcoming videos. He's safely seat-belted on top of the tank bag. He doesn't need a helmet; soft head.

Good Eats

A HUGE thanks to Jean Newman (Bob's wife) who came along to cook for us! And she's a nurse besides- which we hope not to need. The food was far more fit for consumption than the mealtime conversation.