tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566824284133545729.comments2023-10-17T21:23:27.543-07:00About peppephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11930799869228188883noreply@blogger.comBlogger239125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566824284133545729.post-91425561736808040302023-10-17T14:30:07.011-07:002023-10-17T14:30:07.011-07:00Excellent writeup, as always! Glad you enjoyed th...Excellent writeup, as always! Glad you enjoyed the ride and the full festivities. I'd forgotten about your DC crash and Cameron Wurf story! Good for a re-read. Congrats of 17 years of Best Buddies! And thanks for all you do for them!Michele Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16197093132649726656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566824284133545729.post-25349226104379450892023-02-06T12:26:30.737-08:002023-02-06T12:26:30.737-08:00Hi Pat. I stumbled on your blog many years ago wh...Hi Pat. I stumbled on your blog many years ago when I rode in Low Key Hill Climbs. I followed all your posts since then. Mainly, I wanted to keep informed of area routes to explore. You have documented some roads that I wasn’t familiar with so your writing has been a good resource for me.<br /><br />Through that time, you’ve briefly touched on your work life. It was clear how much you loved your work and the company you worked for. So what a shock it was to read this. The way you reported it here was a bit oblique, so I wasn’t sure at first whether I was understanding it correctly. Of course your subsequent posts confirmed that you were part of the layoffs.<br /><br />We all know not to let our work fully define us. Yet, so much time, effort, and emotion is involved in that aspect of our lives that it forms the spine of our existence. Not just the actual work we perform, but the relationships we foster, and even just the way our daily life is scheduled around it. Of course anyone informed of a severance would feel adrift even in the best case (assuming it is a job we enjoyed), even though internally we would know that we are not actually lost. <br /><br />Being myself a senior (both in terms of number of years plying my trade and number of gray hairs) engineer working in the technology industry, I am well aware that my relationship with my employer is not a marriage, with its implied permanence. Every day is a date. Some are good and we are both enthusiastic about the next one. Some, not so much, but with our history with each other, we expect to work it through and have more to come. But at any point we know that each of us may realize that our partner is not the right one for us, an either of us can decide to move on.<br /><br />I could be glib and say I am envious of your freedom to hop on the bike and enjoy the mountain roads at the times when the motor traffic is absent. But that’s insensitive to the fact of the unplanned way you reached that state. Whether you are still feeling stung, or whether you feel over it, I am sorry to hear that the choice to leave your job was not made by you alone.<br /><br />What ever your next adventures are, I hope your path is winding, scenic, and inspirational. I’ll still be here reading about them.Muralihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04907408036149418220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566824284133545729.post-30994229975081775142022-11-03T21:09:23.741-07:002022-11-03T21:09:23.741-07:00Congrats on another Best Buddies ride! Thanks for...Congrats on another Best Buddies ride! Thanks for all you do for BB. And thanks as always for your blog and photos!Michele Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16197093132649726656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566824284133545729.post-88220902914090622372022-10-29T21:42:48.676-07:002022-10-29T21:42:48.676-07:00Pat,
Thank you for all you do for others less fo...Pat, <br /><br />Thank you for all you do for others less fortunate. I admire you and am proud to call you a friend. <br /><br />TayTaylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02746041564504486733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566824284133545729.post-40775386222172075262021-11-28T05:59:19.025-08:002021-11-28T05:59:19.025-08:00Congratulations on another successful ride and fun...Congratulations on another successful ride and fund raising! Thank you for sharing your always entertaining write-up. You earned that escort!Michele Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16197093132649726656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566824284133545729.post-13072383701251310792021-07-20T21:43:45.348-07:002021-07-20T21:43:45.348-07:00Good job! They made the upper road so nice before ...Good job! They made the upper road so nice before opening it all the way. Smooth, wide enough, and No more cattle guard!gpsheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11267179682191443427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566824284133545729.post-73523619250577745572020-10-14T10:46:23.123-07:002020-10-14T10:46:23.123-07:00Nicely done, my friend. Nicely done, my friend. Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02746041564504486733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566824284133545729.post-33612726730895333912020-06-06T19:51:06.991-07:002020-06-06T19:51:06.991-07:00Good stuff. By the way, ferruginous hawks are a ra...Good stuff. By the way, ferruginous hawks are a rare sight. And all of my bird watching adventures, and I've had many, I've only seen one and it was from a long distance away through binoculars.Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02746041564504486733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566824284133545729.post-42518742409433768282019-10-01T22:37:47.414-07:002019-10-01T22:37:47.414-07:00Congrats on your commitment to this cause and your...Congrats on your commitment to this cause and your drive to keep coming back year after year. Looks like a beautiful ride with a well worth historic landmark greeting you in the end.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09591971105743221358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566824284133545729.post-12559786230114228742019-09-17T17:29:09.849-07:002019-09-17T17:29:09.849-07:00We get such a charge out of reliving these tours w...We get such a charge out of reliving these tours with you. It's been a pleasure and an honor to support your efforts all these years -- long may you ride!<br />~C&DCarolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13596755007634301467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566824284133545729.post-26227627355350903182019-09-16T08:23:49.240-07:002019-09-16T08:23:49.240-07:00Great stories. I like your pictorial too. You'...Great stories. I like your pictorial too. You're a wonderful and talented rider and writer!Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02746041564504486733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566824284133545729.post-67145486704287281832018-10-29T18:59:13.978-07:002018-10-29T18:59:13.978-07:00I really enjoyed reading this! Great photos too!
...I really enjoyed reading this! Great photos too!<br /><br />Congratulations on the ride and on donations you raised!<br /><br />Well done!Michele Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16197093132649726656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566824284133545729.post-44430042661232120312017-12-31T11:04:07.967-08:002017-12-31T11:04:07.967-08:00Montara mountain is also a great place to bike. I...Montara mountain is also a great place to bike. I've done it Southbound from the end of Higgens Way, up and over, and down to highway 1 on my roadbike. Once upon a time it was a/the paved road (1920s?) before the highway existed.gpsheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11267179682191443427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566824284133545729.post-73310154242441344912017-07-28T09:29:10.300-07:002017-07-28T09:29:10.300-07:00sounds absolutely awful. just awful.sounds absolutely awful. just awful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566824284133545729.post-8160283636307144122017-07-17T09:39:18.442-07:002017-07-17T09:39:18.442-07:00LOL about the over-design of the new bridges up th...LOL about the over-design of the new bridges up there. All we could figure was that Caltrans only knew how to build one kind of bridge. Either that or they're preparing for a sneak attack tank invasion of Montebello Open Space Preserve.gpsheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11267179682191443427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566824284133545729.post-11978878831657902152017-07-08T20:39:34.005-07:002017-07-08T20:39:34.005-07:00Thanks for the hill reminder. I've been meanin...Thanks for the hill reminder. I've been meaning to find my way up Reynolds sometime...gpsheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11267179682191443427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566824284133545729.post-86211846393129986812017-07-04T22:04:55.483-07:002017-07-04T22:04:55.483-07:00I had similar thoughts about the stone steps at th...I had similar thoughts about the stone steps at the Mayan ruins in Belize this spring. They made me a bit nervous, as a fall would quite possibly be fatal. I wish I'd worn my cycling helmet, which I had along for other reasons!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566824284133545729.post-1250655133351962352017-07-03T21:36:59.777-07:002017-07-03T21:36:59.777-07:00I gave a talk (actually two) at a conference in Ed...I gave a talk (actually two) at a conference in Edinburgh in October 2015, and stayed after to travel a bit with my Dad and brother, who flew over to meet me. We followed much the same path as you, on a stormy day with beautiful thunderheads in the sky, but thankfully little actual rain. Thanks for bringing those memories back so vividly.<br /><br />I'm currently applying for a conference in Sydney in January . . .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566824284133545729.post-35471395034173550022017-06-26T23:11:40.772-07:002017-06-26T23:11:40.772-07:00I've got a board I'm planning to run over ...I've got a board I'm planning to run over with a truck. Since I have trucks, I'm not joking.<br /><br />You'd love this:<br />https://www.amazon.com/Full-Tilt-Ireland-India-Bicycle/dp/1906011419/<br /><br />Yep, she rode from Ireland to India in the early '60's, and her story is a ripping read.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566824284133545729.post-42547677202795205432017-06-26T07:53:43.866-07:002017-06-26T07:53:43.866-07:00Brass plate reads: Amazon Kindle, Shot by Shaun By...Brass plate reads: Amazon Kindle, Shot by Shaun Bythell, 22nd August 2014, Near Newton Stewart.pephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11930799869228188883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566824284133545729.post-1825032150112023082017-06-25T23:50:27.014-07:002017-06-25T23:50:27.014-07:00What does the caption below the Kindle read? Some...What does the caption below the Kindle read? Some of my favorite cycling books are by Irishwoman Dervla Murphy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566824284133545729.post-5019723155975090052017-06-07T23:51:01.539-07:002017-06-07T23:51:01.539-07:00Once during the winter of 2015-2016, I'd been ...Once during the winter of 2015-2016, I'd been cycling-deprived for long enough that I decided to head out on a Saturday afternoon despite threatening skies. I climbed Page Mill in only a slight drizzle, but the skies really opened as I headed towards Skylonda on Skyline. I fish-tailed a couple of times on the descent, and was thoroughly nerouvous. A break at the mini-mart was clearly in order. Despite the usual crowds, only one other cyclist was present to yak with over a hot drink. "I guess we're the only nuts," I commented. "What do you mean? It's fine cycling weather by Irish standards," he replied with a thick accent.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566824284133545729.post-66873895094815680582017-06-04T22:08:10.297-07:002017-06-04T22:08:10.297-07:00While traveling in Edinburgh in 2015, I was amazed...While traveling in Edinburgh in 2015, I was amazed by the well-preserved antiquities. Scotland has not suffered a land war for over 1000 years: smart people!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566824284133545729.post-48442188484551100922016-11-05T18:35:29.324-07:002016-11-05T18:35:29.324-07:00Just wanted to thank you for your blog. I just fou...Just wanted to thank you for your blog. I just found it and reading your past posts I was able to discover new ideas for future rides, and profile + descriptions make it easy to know what to expect. Thanks again and ride safe!Thankful riderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15742445807835113691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4566824284133545729.post-75709716396158149272016-09-15T22:27:31.440-07:002016-09-15T22:27:31.440-07:00Very jealous. Glad you didn't get sunburned th...Very jealous. Glad you didn't get sunburned through the fog!<br /><br />Off to read the Yellowstone post...Denis Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12930427316027351169noreply@blogger.com