It was supposed to be a beautiful day on Saturday, and I knew it would be, if only I could make it through the fog and up to Skyline where I was meeting Alix to see her "new" 2005 Ninja 250, which had been lovingly souped-up for racing by its previous owner.
The fog was so thick in San Francisco that pedestrians I passed on Sunset Blvd. were huddled under umbrellas as they waited for the bus. Water was dripping off my helmet, which I wore visor up so I could see out. I did not feel safe at freeway speeds on the slick roads and without a visor, so I slowly made my way down Mission Street through Daly City, which becomes El Camino. Eventually (in Millbrae) the sun burned through the fog and started to dry out my leather jacket. The ride through the Redwoods was great once I turned off 35, which was already backing up with traffic heading for the pumpkin patches in Halfmoon Bay
Visiting Alice's Restaurant, the biker hangout on Skyline Boulevard, was quite an experience with Alix because she likes to stir things up. Never mind that the regulars who frequent the parking lot across from Alice's were decked out in full leather regalia and had elaborately decorated Harleys with 5X the horsepower. She would say, "How do you like my bike?" and you could see them momentarily at a loss for words before quickly warming to her obvious enthusiasm for her new sport.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Goodbye Dali
It was time for my 4,000 mile motorcycle service, so I used the occasion to have my brake lever replaced. After gently dropping the bike twice (during what has literally been the bike's break-in period), the lever had become so curved it was difficult to reach. Don, a glass-half-full kind of guy, described it as something out of Dali. My new brake lever is less artistic, but more functional, and I took two city rides yesterday to celebrate the easy riding -- one of the rides was around Lake Merced where Ty will be competing today in his third cross-country meet.
Noticing all the barriers blocking streets in our neighborhood, I realized that the Nike Women's Marathon/Half Marathon would be passing nearby so I walked out early on Sunday morning hoping to see Amber in her first race since Cole and Wilson were born in mid July(?!?). There she was among the elite runners (about 8 miles into the race at 8 AM), looking fit and joyful as she chugged up the hill through Seacliff on her way to Ocean Beach.
Noticing all the barriers blocking streets in our neighborhood, I realized that the Nike Women's Marathon/Half Marathon would be passing nearby so I walked out early on Sunday morning hoping to see Amber in her first race since Cole and Wilson were born in mid July(?!?). There she was among the elite runners (about 8 miles into the race at 8 AM), looking fit and joyful as she chugged up the hill through Seacliff on her way to Ocean Beach.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Alice's Restaurant
The "Safety First" Biker Gang (Don and I) rode to lunch at the famous biker hangout in the Redwoods made famous by the Arlo Guthrie song from the 60s "You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant..."
After a very blustery Saturday night, the weather was crisp and clear on Sunday morning as we set out on our adventure. The journey took us along the beach, through Daly City and Pacifica, along the reservoir and golf course in Hillsborough (my usual work route), but then into the redwoods after a brief stint on 92 toward Halfmoon Bay. This popular biker route was remarkably clear during our ride -- possibly because there was a 49er football game that afternoon -- so the only real challenge was avoiding tree branches that had fallen during the windy night.
We pulled into the biker lot at noon and walked across to the restaurant in our biker "armor." It's nice to go to a restaurant where almost everyone is wearing variations on the same fashion theme and sharing the picnic benches with their helmets. This is actually a family friendly biker joint that doesn't take itself too seriously -- menu items include things like Redneck Benedict and hamburgers named after different bike manufacturers. Don was disappointed that they didn't have an Aprilia burger. I later heard from Henry that Harleys park in front of the restaurant and "other" bikes park across the street. We were in compliance, but only because the Harley side was on an incline that didn't look suitable for parking.
This was our longest trip so far -- 80 miles round trip for me, which is exactly my work commute. I got back to SF in time to catch a few acts at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass event -- a huge concert in Golden Gate Park that is put on for free every year by banjo loving billionaire Warren Hellman. I also got to hear a few sets on Saturday because Ty's soccer game was in the polo field near one of the concert stages.
After a very blustery Saturday night, the weather was crisp and clear on Sunday morning as we set out on our adventure. The journey took us along the beach, through Daly City and Pacifica, along the reservoir and golf course in Hillsborough (my usual work route), but then into the redwoods after a brief stint on 92 toward Halfmoon Bay. This popular biker route was remarkably clear during our ride -- possibly because there was a 49er football game that afternoon -- so the only real challenge was avoiding tree branches that had fallen during the windy night.
We pulled into the biker lot at noon and walked across to the restaurant in our biker "armor." It's nice to go to a restaurant where almost everyone is wearing variations on the same fashion theme and sharing the picnic benches with their helmets. This is actually a family friendly biker joint that doesn't take itself too seriously -- menu items include things like Redneck Benedict and hamburgers named after different bike manufacturers. Don was disappointed that they didn't have an Aprilia burger. I later heard from Henry that Harleys park in front of the restaurant and "other" bikes park across the street. We were in compliance, but only because the Harley side was on an incline that didn't look suitable for parking.
This was our longest trip so far -- 80 miles round trip for me, which is exactly my work commute. I got back to SF in time to catch a few acts at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass event -- a huge concert in Golden Gate Park that is put on for free every year by banjo loving billionaire Warren Hellman. I also got to hear a few sets on Saturday because Ty's soccer game was in the polo field near one of the concert stages.
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