Bernal or Bust

Three. [The number of vehicles whose drivers discovered that they must, in fact, turn back at the IBM gate at the top of Bernal Road.]

There are a couple of challenging rides coming up on my calendar, and although I've upped my weekly mileage by hopping on my bike at the end of my workday, I haven't done much climbing. Nor have I been spending time on my road bike.

I got a late start and headed for the first climb (Shannon) instead of my comfortable (flat) after-work route. I will make it up Bernal somehow, I told myself. I must not surrender.

The promise of another warm day likely discouraged the mountain bikers; I had the little picnic table at the turnaround spot to myself. Eyeing litter as I enjoyed my snack, I followed up by collecting it and depositing it in the trash can that is right there. Including one forlorn, inside-out sock (found a pick-up stick to handle that).

A pair of women jogged all the way up (and, back down). As for me, I had one more hill to climb. [Or not.] But of course, I did; for a total of about 28 miles and probably 1,500 feet of climbing.

That photo at the top? The leaves dangling down in the center are pointing right at next Saturday's destination, across the valley: Lick Observatory.

California Community Climate Action Day

When my team at work proposed that we find something fun to do together, I put forth my usual suggestion: a volunteer project. And then I started looking.

Preferably outdoors (especially these days). We all spend enough time sitting at desks.

Of the two gardening opportunities I found, my colleagues favored San Jose's Japanese Friendship Garden. It was a perfect project, though with little lead time for recruiting: it was part of an upcoming California Community Climate Action Day.

The morning started with speeches at Emma Prusch Farm, a rural oasis within sight of towering freeway flyovers.

We discovered that peacocks can fly pretty high (if they must).

A couple of confused chicks managed to avoid being trodden underfoot by distracted city folk.

This gig turned out to be a pretty amazing deal: snacks (free), t-shirts (free), a burrito lunch (free) with entertainment by a solar-powered DJ. To top it off, we were gifted fresh produce from Veggielution's farm stand.

All in return for a few sweaty hours shoveling and spreading mulch, digging, planting, and picking up litter. [Balloon shards, bottle caps, cigarette butts, and at least one discarded face mask.] Thankfully, mostly in the shade (on a hot day).

No-cost team building. For a worthy cause.

Rancho Cañada del Oro

I'd registered and planned to ride the Tour de Menlo today, but lost my enthusiasm for the event after last-minute adjustments to the route (poor planning on their part). I opted, instead, to join a friend who invited me to tag along on a hike she'd organized for some coworkers.

The main parking lot at Rancho Cañada del Oro had filled up, diverting a few of us to an upper (overflow) parking lot.

We warmed up with a stroll on the Llagas Creek Loop Trail; there were signs for an organized run on the trails today, but even the stragglers must have finished before we got going.

We continued by following the Mayfair Ranch Trail (mostly uphill) to the Longwall Canyon Trail (mostly downhill).

The Open Space Authority doesn't seem to share anything about the history of this place, but I did find a source that reported it was once the site of a walnut orchard. I didn't notice any remnants of that, but it's likely they'd been cultivated in a flatter section of the preserve.

Six miles of hilly terrain exercised some under-utilized muscles, and collegial conversation broadened some horizons, too.

Black and White

There are a few ambitious events coming up on my calendar, motivating me to undertake some longer rides. The weather's warming up, so I planned to get an early start and head for the shoreline of San Francisco Bay.

I failed at the “early start” bit. I did make it to the Bay, where it wasn't hard to find a bench to enjoy my sandwich. (They were all unoccupied.)

One of these things is not like the others ... There is a little surprise in this photo of white pelicans—and it's not their black-fringed wings. Paddling along with this little flock was a lone, black cormarant. Hard to see at this resolution and against the deep blue water—in front of the second pelican from the left. They all seemed content with this status quo.

There weren't many birds to see today; the egrets have flown their nests, but I did see at least one juvenile hunting in the shallows, paired with an adult.

I basked in the breeze that was chopping up the water, cooling me nicely; at the same time, knowing that the longer I lingered, the hotter my trip home would be.

The route I chose (to be more direct, and to avoid heavy traffic heading for the coast) turned out to be well-shaded. [Bonus!] With a slight breeze, it wasn't miserably hot. Maybe, even, comfortable.

During the week, I'd happily discovered that I could return to my regular after-work route. [Two weeks prior, roadwork had ground the pavement down to a base layer and I found myself choking on dust churned up by passing vehicles.] With those three trips and today's 49+ miles, I closed out the week with 110 miles and 2,060 feet of climbing. Now, to keep that up ...

Next week's forecast is not encouraging (multiple days where much of the Bay Area will top 100°F).