Thursday I came down Market into gym then work and had a delightful surprise when I realized that they repaved the slick painted surface in front of Marshall on Market at 5th that I had fallen at two Easters ago.  It's reduced my terror levels on Market by at least 20%!  I headed home for lunch and then went for a nice ride after work.  I headed off 2nd (which is under a LOT of construction right now and is not recommended until they finish) to Townsend.  I took some pics in the Design District which is as time goes by home to less design and more technology:

I took Kansas to 17th to Potrero and stopped to check on the progress of the new building at San Francisco General.  It still seems really, really big and out of scale of everything around it:

I continued on Potrero to 25th to Bryant to Precita.  I stopped to get some pics at beautiful Flynn Elementary.  It's muralicious:

I continued on Precita to Mission to Silver to Alemeny to Geneva to Ocean.  This is the new apartment building at Ocean and Harold.  I like it a lot but I wonder if Whole Foods is the best choice for the tenant.  It seems a little ambitious given the demographics in the neighborhood.  I'll be interested to see how it does:

I took Harold to Holloway to Junipero Serra to Winston to 20th to Ocean to Clearfield into Yorba to Crestlake to Wawona to 33rd to Vicente to 17th to Taravel to Merced to Hernandez to Laguna Honda to Portola to Corbett to Ord and Home for dinner.  After dinner we got cleaned up and then we went to bed.

Bike Mileage:

Today 26.6 Week to date 83.9 Month to date 326.2 Year to date 5,702.6 To Goal 2,297.4 Over (Under) plan 47.8 YTD Mileage vs Last Year 1,068.4 Rolling Year 6,489.8 Since Inception 10/1/07 39,629.5

Wednesday I came down Market into work very early.  Few traffic, pedestrians or bikes and it only took 15 minutes.  I headed over to the gym where I ran into my friend Alic which was a treat.  I headed home for lunch and then went for a nice ride after work.  I took Sutter to Fillmore to Clay to Spruce to Washington where I stopped for a pic of the north bay with the fog rollin' in:

This is one of the superfantastic homes that has this view:

I took Washington to Arguello to Lake.  I don't often feature ugly houses, but this one caught my eye today.  Underneath all of that appalling z-brick has to be a gorgeous home.  Maybe someday we'll get to see it:

I continued on Lake to 27th to Camino Del Mar to 30th to Clement to 34th to Cabrillo to 36th and into Golden Gate Park.  I headed over to Spreckels Lake for a pic:

I took JFK to Bernice Rodgers to MLK to La Playa to Irving to the Great Highway to Taravel to Dewey to Hernandez to Laguna Honda to Portola to Corbett to Ord and home for dinner.  After dinner I got cleaned up and then we went to bed.

Bike Mileage:

Today 25.7 Week to date 57.3 Month to date 299.6 Year to date 5,676.0 To Goal 2,324.0 Over (Under) plan 43.1 YTD Mileage vs Last Year 1,041.8 Rolling Year 6,463.2 Since Inception 10/1/07 39,602.9

Tuesday I went for a nice ride before work--  the first one that I'd done since May which is unimpressive.  I headed out Corbett to Portola to Woodside to Dewey to Taravel and down to the coast.  I came up the Great Highway and stopped for pics by the Cliff House.  The beach was pretty dreary:

Seal rocks:

I headed up to Geary to 34th and up to the Palace of the Legion of Honor:

I got on Camino Del Mar to Lake.  This house has just been redone and looks amazing:

I continued on Lake to Arguello to Clay to Fillmore to Pacific to Taylor.  I stopped at Jackson for pics.  I love this building:

The cable car isn't just for tourists.  Some people take it to work:

I continued on Taylor to California.  I got a nice pic of Grace Cathedral:

This is the Mark Hopkins which is my favoritest hotel in the city.  Swanky:

I went to the gym over lunch and then went for another nice ride after work.  I headed off 2nd to Howard to 11th to Harrison to 24th to Valencia to San Jose to Monterey.  I stopped at the pretty Sunnyside Conservatory for pics.  Love it:

I love the little sculptures they have in the garden:

I continued on Monterrey into Santa Clara.  I stopped for a pic of some of the gorgeous homes in Saint Francis Wood:

I continued on Santa Clara to Portola to Claremont to Dewey to Laguna Honda into 7th to Judah to 9th and into Golden Gate Park.  I stopped for a pic at the Shakespeare Garden:

I headed over to the Music Concourse and got a nice shot of the De Young:

I came out of the park at 8th to Cabrillo to 2nd to Balboa to Arguello to Euclid into Masonic to Presidio to Post to Laguna to Market to 17th to Ord and home for dinner.  We went to bed early.  I was beat.

Bike Mileage:

Today 31.6 Week to date 31.6 Month to date 273.9 Year to date 5,650.3 To Goal 2,349.7 Over (Under) plan 39.3 YTD Mileage vs Last Year 1,016.1 Rolling Year 6,437.5 Since Inception 10/1/07 39,577.2

Sunday I lead a ride out to Novato with my friend James who I hadn't seen in a couple of months.  The weather was perfect and we had a great time.  It was the first long ride I'd been on since July and I could definitely feel that but I was pretty pleased with my performance.  Here's a couple of pics from cheese factory:

James:

From cheese factory we headed over to pretty Stafford Lake:

Then we went and had lunch at Chipotle in Northgate mall and then made our way home.  Here's James in Fort Baker:

I headed home for dinner.  I was beat.

Bike Mileage:

Today 84.4 Week to date 242.3 Month to date 242.3 Year to date 5,618.7 To Goal 2,381.3 Over (Under) plan 51.6 YTD Mileage vs Last Year 1,016.7 Rolling Year 6,486.7 Since Inception 10/1/07 39,545.6

Saturday was the monthly jersey ride for Different Spokes.  We had a great turnout and I saw a couple of people I hadn't seen in months which was wonderful.  Here's everybody regrouping at the bridge:

I hadn't seen Roger in a long time and it was a total treat to hang out with him:

I hadn't seen Brian in forever either.  Delighted!

There was some cool sailing event going on around Tiburon.  Pretty boats:

Some of us headed over to Angel Island after Tiburon but the rest of us did Paradise and then over to Cafe Del Soul in Mill Valley for lunch.  I got a pic of the group at the bridge on the way home:

I headed home and started getting ready for dinner.  We had John Young and Ben and Courtney over for dinner and we made Cioppino for them.   It's a complicated dish.  Although I guess you could make it all in one pot, we cooked off some of the fish separately so we could get it to brown and then added back in at the end:

Clams, Mussels and Shrimp:

The finished product.  Mr. Poe mixed pasta into it before serving.  Pasta isn't in tradional cioppino but for the life of us we couldn't figure out why.  I think next time we'll serve the pasta separately because I think it made the presentation a little less spectacular.  It still looked pretty amazing:

Ben and Courtney:

After dinner we went to bed.  We were beat.

Bike Mileage:

Today 47.8 Week to date 157.9 Month to date 157.9 Year to date 5,534.3 To Goal 2,465.7 Over (Under) plan (10.9) YTD Mileage vs Last Year 980.9 Rolling Year 6,402.3 Since Inception 10/1/07 39,461.2

Friday I came into work Market to Laguna to Post to Kearny to Clay to Sansome.  I headed home for lunch and got a pic of Mimi and Ashley Jr. lurking about the kitchen:

Me:

After work I headed off Columbus to Stockton.  I stopped for a pic of St. Peter and Paul's:

I took Stockton to North Point to Van Ness to Francisco to Chestnut to Lyon to Lombard and into the Presidio.  I headed over to the parade grounds and stopped for a pic.  The grass is recent--  it used to be a parking lot and it's so very luxurious.  We don't have vast expanses of grass northern California because water's such a big deal that there's something almost pornographic about it:

The Golden Gate Bridge rising behind Doyle Drive:

I headed over to Lincln and stopped a little west of the Golden Gate Bridge for pics.  Perfect:

Land's end:

I got on Camino Del Mar to 25th to Lake to Arguello to Clay to Steiner and stopped for some pics of pretty St. Ignatius:

I continued on Steiner to Post to Laguna to Market to 17th to Ord and home for dinner. 

Bike Mileage:

Today 24.5 Week to date 110.1 Month to date 110.1 Year to date 5,486.5 To Goal 2,513.5 Over (Under) plan (36.8) YTD Mileage vs Last Year 933.1 Rolling Year 6,375.5 Since Inception 10/1/07 39,413.4

Wednesday I came into work down Market mid day.  I wanted to go riding after work but there was a fair chance of thunderstorms so I went and hung out with Mr. Chris and David instead and then headed home Howard to 11th to Folsom to 15th to Market to 17th to Ord. 

Thursday I came into the office Market to Laguna to McAllister to Polk to California.  I stopped at the top of Nob Hill for a couple of pics.  This is pretty Huntington Park:

The Fairmont hotel:

After work I went for a ride.  The first after work ride of more than 10 miles I'd done since before the family reunion in July.  Argh.  I headed off Sutter to Fillmore to Clay to Spruce to Washington where I stopped for a pic of my favorite view of the north bay:

I took Washington to Arguello to Lake.  This preety house is between 22nd and 23rd.  Mr. Poe isn't wild about the color, which is a fair criticism, but I love the gorgeous deco maya revival detail and the pretty princess tree in the front yard:

I continued on Lake.  This fabulous house in Sea Cliff has recently been redone and is super fantastic.  I love everything about it:

I continued on Lake to Camino Del Mar and into Lincoln Park where I stopped for some pics of the Golden Gate Bridge:

This is the presidio from the same vantage point.  There are many more structures there than you think that there are:

I headed up to the Palace of the Legion of Honor which looked fantastic as usual.  They've got a Man Ray exhibit on now so visiting there is now on my list:

I headed down to 34th to Balboa and out to the beach.  It was perfect:

I took the Great Highway to JFK and headed into Golden Gate Park.  I headed over to the Music Concourse and got a nice pic of the De Young:

Sutro Tower:

I took MLK to 9th to Judah to 7th into Laguna Honda to Portola to Corbett to Ord and home for dinner.  After dinner we took the dogs out and then headed home to get ready for work. 

I joined 24 hour fitness today.  I went there like a decade ago but I stopped going because I prefer to work out outside but as I get older my desire to work out when it's cold and wet has waned and I'm thinking it might be a good time to revisit the gym.  They had a great deal on facebook that was month to month and I figured that if I went and I hated it then at least I didn't have a contract and it's only $40 a month (with towel service!) so I'm not gonna get cheaper than that.  Developing.

Bike Mileage:

Today 28.0 Week to date 85.6 Month to date 85.6 Year to date 5,462.0 To Goal 2,538.0 Over (Under) plan (39.4) YTD Mileage vs Last Year 929.6 Rolling Year 6,381.0 Since Inception 10/1/07 39,388.9

Tuesday I worked from home.  I was waiting on a contractor who came and couldn't fix our broken door but at least he didn't charge us for the visit so I'm not complaining.  Here's Ashley Junior lounging in his new favorite thing.  Bill and JR and family gave me a Hello Kitty throw for my birthday and Ashley loves it-  it's soft and cuddly and warm.  I'm trying to use it sparingly because Rufus has a tendency to eat things.  So cute:

Friday was Mr. Poe's birthday and that's taken up a lot of time.  Mr. Poe celebrates his birthday for many weeks both before and after and it's a pretty huge affair.  He's looking to cancel Halloween so he can drag it out until Thanksgiving.  Stay tuned.

Monday I led a Different Spokes ride out to Tiburon.  I'd been contacted by some guys from Sydney who were going to be in town and wanted to ride so I put a ride on the calendar for them and we all had a lot of fun.  The weather was crazy foggy at the bridge but we had nice weather in Marin and it was nice riding.  I've been so lazy on my bike for the last couple of months and it's gotta stop because I'm getting seriously out of shape.  Ah well, I like a challenge.  Here's Nancy in Tiburon:

We saw these pieces of shit passing out leaflets in Tiburon.  At first I thought they were republicans but it turns out that they were democrats.  Democrats who put Hitler mustaches on Obama's face and insist he's gonna start world war 3.  The fuck???  They were telling us how we need to impeach Obama and make Hillary Clinton president and I found that hilarious because I don't think she'd run her presidency materially differently from Obama given the same conditions.  Obnoxious, unfair and inflammatory.  If they were republicans I wouldn't like it but I'd understand.  What these assholes are doing defies logic.  Although I totally agree that the weakening of the Glass Steagall Act in the 90's was a big mistake and it needs to be restored:

We rode Paradise loop and headed towards the bridge.  We went through Fort Baker and enjoyed the jaw dropping view of the bridge.  Here are Nancy, Rob and Bruce enjoying it:

I took Bruce and Rob over to their hotel and then hung out with Miss Smith for a while and then went home for dinner.  We had Big Lantern delivered and I had Hong Kong noodle which I liked but didn't love.  I got cleaned up and watched TV.  I had a hard time getting to sleep.

Bike Mileage:

Today 49.7 Week to date 49.7 Month to date 49.7 Year to date 5,426.1 To Goal 2,573.9 Over (Under) plan (9.5) YTD Mileage vs Last Year 978.0 Rolling Year 6,399.4 Since Inception 10/1/07 39,353.0

Sunday I threw myself a Hello Kitty themed birthday party and sadly I was too busy to take any pics.  We did quite a bit of cooking--  I managed a pretty ambitious French menu.  I made cassoulet, choux fleur a la lyonnaise, vol au vents filled with champignon a la madame poe and a whole bunch of appetizers desserts.  I was pretty pleased with myself because everything turned out.  We had a nice crowd that showed up and I think everybody had a good time.  Here's some pics of me towards the end of the party:

The last of the guests left sixish and Mr. Poe and I cleaned up with bedtime.  OK it was mostly Mr. Poe.  But I'd been on my feet cooking since 6:30 that morning so don't judge me.