January, 2008 Katrina’s Wedding
Fun with Ray
January 24, 2008 – First day of driving wasn’t all that bad. The roads were clear with snow spitting on us until we got about 50 miles from Redding, California. We were stopped and told to put on chains. We did and drove the next 20 miles or so on wet pavement. It was not bad. We stayed the night in Redding. The motel was convenient to the bike trail and a restaurant. I took Bike Friday for a ride. I like their bike trail and the glass bridge they built. I talked to a teacher playing hooky. It was fun to talk to people and find out how they do things and their problems.
After driving through an endless rain storm, we arrived at the Best Western in Concord and then off for another bike ride in the rain.. We went to the wedding rehearsal and then followed Gretchen and Mike through another driving rain storm to the rehearsal dinner. They went the back roads to avoid traffic. Saturday I went for another bike ride (Yes, it was in the rain), and then Ilene and I went to Katrina and Jason’s wedding (the reason we were in California). We met up with Marci and Tim, Sharon and Vellen, Myran and Trina. What is that shiny thing in the sky?
Before the wedding, Jason (groom) gave his grooms’ men a flask. Mike (Gretchen’s husband) filled his with Southern Comfort and they were all passing the flask, including Pastor Kevin. Pastor Bill (82) wouldn’t start the service until he finished his beer. Where is my Bud?
The weather was very nice, actually dry until the end of the reception. There was lots of dancing and food. A good time was had by all.
A thought to remember: “Reading a map on a bike is very hard and men don’t do things like that. I always do dead reckoning.” Yes, I have been misplaced for a few hours. OK, so I had a map and still got lost. I rode off the map then looked at it.
Now we are at Lynn and Lee’s and I am thinking it is time for a canal ride into Concord. They have some great rails to trails and canal rides. Lee took some paper and a pencil and wrote out how to get to the trail that would take me to all the other trails because they all link together. Yes, I have a map from the bike store that will help me find my way; it has all the trails and roads on it too. This will be fun. Lee says, “Do you want me to take you to the trailhead?” (No, I have Bike Friday.)
So off I go down Ygnacio then on to Cowell and then on to Treat. They will connect with the trail and it works, but I made a wrong turn. Well, not really. I didn’t make a turn. It is OK because I will pass over the trail and get on to it by my “dead reckoning;” it works well most of the time. Three hours later I found the trail with the help of some friendly walkers. I was off the map and went to Concord. A very big golf course is there. I had a great time seeing the houses and streets. I did have a lot of fun and did find the trail. Down the Contra Costa Canal trail then the Ygnacio Canal. It is getting late and I asked the lady where does this trail go and she says to just ride on around. Well, I found where the reception was and about umpteen trails so I picked one that looked good and Off I went. I got through and found the Contra Costa Canal Trail and it took me back to Concord where I was lost before and still am. So I get on Farm Bureau Road to Clayton Road. It is getting dark so I call for a ride back to Lee’s. The phone I didn’t charge said beep, Beep, BEEP. Lee picked up and I say, “Pick me up at Clayton and Treat – BEEP – Lee says take a Right on Clayton – BEEP – NO, I say pick me up - BEEP – oh, OK, BEEP – for the last time.
I see the car and I am standing in an open lot and waving, WAVING. He drives by. I am thinking, “What is with this?” I could have touched the car – well ten feet. He must have the wrong street and will be coming back. Here he comes back on the other side of the street so I push the light because he is in the gas station over there. He is off and over to the restaurant and I have the light so off I go and he sees me. Yeah, I am saved! OK, so I am not too smart and ride across 5 lanes in heavy traffic to get rescued. It was OK because it was dark and no one could see me.
We left Concord on Tuesday, January 29th for Lompoc, CA. There was a heavy, heavy rain all the way. We arrived at Ray and Carolyn’s around 4:00 p.m. Carolyn had supper for us and we caught up on our lives and watched TV.
The guys went biking on Wednesday. Met up with Stephanie and Chuck and biked the hills of California and got within about 5 miles of snow. Bike Friday did very, very well, but the guy pushing the pedals was really starting to hurt. The non-existing training in about 30 degree weather was really showing. Carolyn and Ilene went to the Chumash casino to play and have lunch. They paid Ilene about $20.
Ray loaned me a Titus street bike Thursday. We went to the beach and to Vandenberg AFB for a fish burger. I am hurting a lot less today. I am thinking my bike Friday is harder to pedal (what I am trying to do is convince the wife I need a new bike because my Klein has 18,000 miles on it). We went up and hit a bucket of balls. Ray kicked my butt. He even got a hole-in-one. The bike riding was starting to show. Went home and had to drink a glass of Fish Eye wine to help the muscles. The weather was absolutely terrible today. It was 60 degrees, sunshine, and only a slight breeze. Where did the rain go? I am from Oregon and will dry out.
Friday Ray and I rode to Home Depot to meet the bike club. Only the hardy showed up because there was a chance of rain. Ed, the “hardy”, and Ray took us over to Mother Hubbard’s in Buellton for breakfast. Carolyn and Ilene joined us for breakfast. Two international bike teams, Toyota United and Health Net, rode by us. They are kind of spoiled here. There was a cloud in the sky and the roads were wet and there was a mild 20 mph wind. We took almost as long to clean up the bikes as to ride them.
We left the next day. Yes, in Redding it was raining very, very hard with snow flakes or what Ilene calls “fat rain.” The road was chains only 10 miles north of town so we stayed the night. There was more rain than before. I don’t like driving at night in a white out.
There was no rain the next day. I went up to the gas station to find someone who had just gone over the road and knew the conditions. There was a guy with a pickup and trailer and said it was real bad and a white out. After talking with him for a little bit, I found out he was talking about the day before. I was thinking, “You dummy! What do I care about the day before?”
Chains required 50 miles north of town. This time there was snow on the road. The cable chains broke so I taped the broken end to the side. After about 35 miles the road was good and the trucks were taking their chains off. I did too. The next pass chains were required for another 35 miles. What fun! They broke again. All the breaks were on one side. Truckers were taking off their chains and I was happy to do that too. No more chains the rest of the trip.
We arrived home in time to see the last half of the Super Bowl game. I did learn one thing – Don’t drive to California in the winter if you want an easy drive. I flew the next time (two weeks later) to see the International Bike races with Jerry and Ray.
What is boring like?
Fun with Ray
January 24, 2008 – First day of driving wasn’t all that bad. The roads were clear with snow spitting on us until we got about 50 miles from Redding, California. We were stopped and told to put on chains. We did and drove the next 20 miles or so on wet pavement. It was not bad. We stayed the night in Redding. The motel was convenient to the bike trail and a restaurant. I took Bike Friday for a ride. I like their bike trail and the glass bridge they built. I talked to a teacher playing hooky. It was fun to talk to people and find out how they do things and their problems.
After driving through an endless rain storm, we arrived at the Best Western in Concord and then off for another bike ride in the rain.. We went to the wedding rehearsal and then followed Gretchen and Mike through another driving rain storm to the rehearsal dinner. They went the back roads to avoid traffic. Saturday I went for another bike ride (Yes, it was in the rain), and then Ilene and I went to Katrina and Jason’s wedding (the reason we were in California). We met up with Marci and Tim, Sharon and Vellen, Myran and Trina. What is that shiny thing in the sky?
Before the wedding, Jason (groom) gave his grooms’ men a flask. Mike (Gretchen’s husband) filled his with Southern Comfort and they were all passing the flask, including Pastor Kevin. Pastor Bill (82) wouldn’t start the service until he finished his beer. Where is my Bud?
The weather was very nice, actually dry until the end of the reception. There was lots of dancing and food. A good time was had by all.
A thought to remember: “Reading a map on a bike is very hard and men don’t do things like that. I always do dead reckoning.” Yes, I have been misplaced for a few hours. OK, so I had a map and still got lost. I rode off the map then looked at it.
Now we are at Lynn and Lee’s and I am thinking it is time for a canal ride into Concord. They have some great rails to trails and canal rides. Lee took some paper and a pencil and wrote out how to get to the trail that would take me to all the other trails because they all link together. Yes, I have a map from the bike store that will help me find my way; it has all the trails and roads on it too. This will be fun. Lee says, “Do you want me to take you to the trailhead?” (No, I have Bike Friday.)
So off I go down Ygnacio then on to Cowell and then on to Treat. They will connect with the trail and it works, but I made a wrong turn. Well, not really. I didn’t make a turn. It is OK because I will pass over the trail and get on to it by my “dead reckoning;” it works well most of the time. Three hours later I found the trail with the help of some friendly walkers. I was off the map and went to Concord. A very big golf course is there. I had a great time seeing the houses and streets. I did have a lot of fun and did find the trail. Down the Contra Costa Canal trail then the Ygnacio Canal. It is getting late and I asked the lady where does this trail go and she says to just ride on around. Well, I found where the reception was and about umpteen trails so I picked one that looked good and Off I went. I got through and found the Contra Costa Canal Trail and it took me back to Concord where I was lost before and still am. So I get on Farm Bureau Road to Clayton Road. It is getting dark so I call for a ride back to Lee’s. The phone I didn’t charge said beep, Beep, BEEP. Lee picked up and I say, “Pick me up at Clayton and Treat – BEEP – Lee says take a Right on Clayton – BEEP – NO, I say pick me up - BEEP – oh, OK, BEEP – for the last time.
I see the car and I am standing in an open lot and waving, WAVING. He drives by. I am thinking, “What is with this?” I could have touched the car – well ten feet. He must have the wrong street and will be coming back. Here he comes back on the other side of the street so I push the light because he is in the gas station over there. He is off and over to the restaurant and I have the light so off I go and he sees me. Yeah, I am saved! OK, so I am not too smart and ride across 5 lanes in heavy traffic to get rescued. It was OK because it was dark and no one could see me.
We left Concord on Tuesday, January 29th for Lompoc, CA. There was a heavy, heavy rain all the way. We arrived at Ray and Carolyn’s around 4:00 p.m. Carolyn had supper for us and we caught up on our lives and watched TV.
The guys went biking on Wednesday. Met up with Stephanie and Chuck and biked the hills of California and got within about 5 miles of snow. Bike Friday did very, very well, but the guy pushing the pedals was really starting to hurt. The non-existing training in about 30 degree weather was really showing. Carolyn and Ilene went to the Chumash casino to play and have lunch. They paid Ilene about $20.
Ray loaned me a Titus street bike Thursday. We went to the beach and to Vandenberg AFB for a fish burger. I am hurting a lot less today. I am thinking my bike Friday is harder to pedal (what I am trying to do is convince the wife I need a new bike because my Klein has 18,000 miles on it). We went up and hit a bucket of balls. Ray kicked my butt. He even got a hole-in-one. The bike riding was starting to show. Went home and had to drink a glass of Fish Eye wine to help the muscles. The weather was absolutely terrible today. It was 60 degrees, sunshine, and only a slight breeze. Where did the rain go? I am from Oregon and will dry out.
Friday Ray and I rode to Home Depot to meet the bike club. Only the hardy showed up because there was a chance of rain. Ed, the “hardy”, and Ray took us over to Mother Hubbard’s in Buellton for breakfast. Carolyn and Ilene joined us for breakfast. Two international bike teams, Toyota United and Health Net, rode by us. They are kind of spoiled here. There was a cloud in the sky and the roads were wet and there was a mild 20 mph wind. We took almost as long to clean up the bikes as to ride them.
We left the next day. Yes, in Redding it was raining very, very hard with snow flakes or what Ilene calls “fat rain.” The road was chains only 10 miles north of town so we stayed the night. There was more rain than before. I don’t like driving at night in a white out.
There was no rain the next day. I went up to the gas station to find someone who had just gone over the road and knew the conditions. There was a guy with a pickup and trailer and said it was real bad and a white out. After talking with him for a little bit, I found out he was talking about the day before. I was thinking, “You dummy! What do I care about the day before?”
Chains required 50 miles north of town. This time there was snow on the road. The cable chains broke so I taped the broken end to the side. After about 35 miles the road was good and the trucks were taking their chains off. I did too. The next pass chains were required for another 35 miles. What fun! They broke again. All the breaks were on one side. Truckers were taking off their chains and I was happy to do that too. No more chains the rest of the trip.
We arrived home in time to see the last half of the Super Bowl game. I did learn one thing – Don’t drive to California in the winter if you want an easy drive. I flew the next time (two weeks later) to see the International Bike races with Jerry and Ray.
What is boring like?
posted by Byran on the side at 11:31 AM
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