Monday was 'walk to work monday' again and its become one of my favoritest things.  I started off by heading up Corbett and then up the pretty Pemberton Steps.  They completely redid two thirds of the steps a couple of years ago but left the last bit which I think is the prettiest:

 

 

I made my way up to Mountain Spring and I saw this guy on a MOUNTAIN BIKE grunting his way up the hill.  Yikes!  It's gotta be a 20% grade.  He eventually pulled into his driveway and his dog looked at me suspiciously as I passed:

 

 

This is the view from Palo Alto Avenue:

 

 

Nestled in between Laguna Honda Hospital, Juvie, and Twin Peaks is this fantastic mid century neighborhood called Midtown Terrace that I love to walk through.  The views west and south are spectacular when the weather is cooperative.  The houses haven't been massively expanded like other neighborhoods and you really get a feel for the way it looked when it was built.  I don't know that I want to live there because of fog and transportation issues but I love walking through.  This is the view from Panoramic:

 

 

I made my way over to pretty Juanita which is in Miraloma Park.  It's bungalowalicious:

 

 

From there I walked through the Sherwood Forest neighborhood which had massive homes that dwarf the ones down the hill in St Francis Wood.  Then I walked down Yerba Buena and saw this fabulous place surrounded by enormous trees:

 

 

This is the view looking south from Yerba Buena and Monterey:

 

 

This is the Miramar entrance to Westwood Park.  It's a super cute neighborhood and I love this entrance:

 

 

I headed down to Ocean and went to Whole Foods for donuts.  After I got on BART at Balboa park and went to work.  I headed home for lunch and then went to a spin class after work which thoroughly kicked my ass.  After that I went home and had dinner and went to bed.  I was completely beat.

Sunday I led a Different Spokes ride out to Marshall.  We ride there quite a bit but this time we went to Point Reyes Station first and then rode Marshall Wall west to east.  I don't know that it's any harder or easier than going east to west but it was new and we all had a fantastic time.  Then we headed into San Rafael via Novato and had lunch at Chipotle in San Rafael.  It was a fantastic day.  Check out the pics:

 

 

No long rides for me until the end of the month.  Next up: Chileno Valley!

 

Bike Mileage:

Today 107.4 Week to date 184.7 Month to date 184.7 Year to date 5,088.5 To Goal 2,911.5 Over (Under) plan 902.2 YTD Mileage vs Last Year 193.1 Rolling Year 9,983.9 Since Inception 10/1/07 45,556.2

Saturday I woke up and got out of the house crazy early and headed out to Big Basin Redwoods state park to go hiking.  The park is gorgeous with fantastic trees and these waterfalls that must be insane in the rainy season.  I think I ended up hiking about 12 miles and it was super fun.  Here are the pics I took:

 

 

I didn't hang around for the fog to burn off but the view must have been spectacular a little later in the day:

 

 

I got this pic on a ridge as I came out of the park.  The trail looks incredible and you don't have to plunk down $10 to hike there.  Stay tuned.

 

 

I made a wrong turn and ended up in Saratoga which is super cute.  I had lunch and then headed home where another meal awaited.  After I went to bed early.  I was beat.

Friday I came into work down Market and then headed home for lunch.  I went for a nice ride after work.  I headed off Washington to Columbus to Stockton to North Point to Van Ness to Francisco to Gough to Greenwich to Lyon and into the Presidio.  I came out the Presidio gate and took Pacific down along the wall.  There's a bunch of gorgeous homes down there:

 

 

I took Spruce to Jackson to Cherry to Washington to Arguello to Lake to 8th and into Golden Gate Park.  I came out of the park at 9th to Judah to 7th into Laguna Honda to Dewey to Claremont to Portola to Santa Clara to Monterey to Santa Ana to Ocean to Paloma to Moncada.  There are some fabulous homes in Ingleside Terraces:

 

 

This house is across the street from the fabulous one.  I love the California in the 30's vibe that this place is throwing.  It's bungalowilicious:

 

 

I continued on Moncada to Urbano to Corona to Holloway to Harold to Ocean to Phelan to Judson to Gennessee to Hearst to Edna to Monterey to San Jose to Duncan to Valencia to 18th to Douglass to 17th to Ord and home for dinner.  After, I got cleaned up and went to bed.  It was a long day.

 

Bike Mileage:

Today 26.2 Week to date 77.3 Month to date 77.3 Year to date 4,981.1 To Goal 3,018.9 Over (Under) plan 838.6 YTD Mileage vs Last Year 85.7 Rolling Year 9,876.5 Since Inception 10/1/07 45,448.8

Thursday we got up early and headed out to the East Bay to do some gardening at Mr. Poe's school in Fremont.  Let me tell you that gardening is hard work.  It was pretty hot and we weren't even working for very long but I was totally worn out.  We went for lunch at Mexican place in Fremont that was surprisingly good.  On the way home we stopped by Coyote Hills Regional Park.  It's this beautiful park on the bay that has these gorgeous wetlands that have been laboriously restored and maintained.  Gorgeous:

 

 

There's also a big salt pond that's a remnant of salt production in the bay.  The pool is too salty for anything to grow anywhere near it, but it does support a population of brine shrimp that's then supporting a population of birds:

 

 

Me:

 

 

Hello gorgeous!:

 

 

We headed home and I took Rufus for a long walk.  After I got home I got cleaned up and we had dinner and then we went to bed.  Happy 4th of July!

Tuesday I slept in and came into work down Market.  I headed home the same way and then went and hung out with Mr. Chris instead of riding after work.  I needed a day off.

 

Wednesday I got up and out of the house in time to put a little mileage in before work.  I headed off Corbett to Clayton to Parnassus to Cole to Haight to Stanyan and into Golden Gate Park.  I headed over to Arguello and then headed into the Presidio.  I headed over on Lincoln and stopped a little East of the Golden Gate Bridge and got a pic of the fog starting to burn off of Crissy Field:

 

 

The old Doyle Drive access to the Golden Gate Bridge has now been completely dismantled.  I can't wait until the new span is complete.  It seems like construction has been going on FOREVER:

 

 

 I headed down to Crissy Field and got a pic of the Golden Gate Bridge that's taken shape down there.  I like it but I don't love it.  I think there are too many of them and the overall effect is more oil field than sculpture garden:

 

 

I headed home for lunch and then went for a nice ride after work.  I headed off 2nd to Townsend to 17th to Hampshire to 26th.  This pretty home is on 26th between Hampshire and York.  I imagine it was originally on a much larger piece of land, likely a farm, that was long ago subdivided away. 

 

 

I continued on 26th to Valencia to Tiffany to 29th to San Jose to Monterey into Santa Clara to Portola to Corbett to Ord and home for dinner.  After dinner I tried to stay up late but was unable.

 

Bike Mileage:

Today 30.3 Week to date 45.1 Month to date 45.1 Year to date 4,948.9 To Goal 3,051.1 Over (Under) plan 850.3 YTD Mileage vs Last Year 53.5 Rolling Year 9,844.3 Since Inception 10/1/07 45,416.6

Tuesday I slept in and came into work down Market.  I headed home the same way and then went and hung out with Mr. Chris instead of riding after work.  I needed a day off.

 

Wednesday I got up and out of the house in time to put a little mileage in before work.  I headed off Corbett to Clayton to Parnassus to Cole to Haight to Stanyan and into Golden Gate Park.  I headed over to Arguello and then headed into the Presidio.  I headed over on Lincoln and stopped a little East of the Golden Gate Bridge and got a pic of the fog starting to burn off of Crissy Field:

 

 

The old Doyle Drive access to the Golden Gate Bridge has now been completely dismantled.  I can't wait until the new span is complete.  It seems like construction has been going on FOREVER:

 

 

 I headed down to Crissy Field and got a pic of the Golden Gate Bridge that's taken shape down there.  I like it but I don't love it.  I think there are too many of them and the overall effect is more oil field than sculpture garden:

 

 

I headed home for lunch and then went for a nice ride after work.  I headed off 2nd to Townsend to 17th to Hampshire to 26th.  This pretty home is on 26th between Hampshire and York.  I imagine it was originally on a much larger piece of land, likely a farm, that was long ago subdivided away. 

 

 

I continued on 26th to Valencia to Tiffany to 29th to San Jose to Monterey into Santa Clara to Portola to Corbett to Ord and home for dinner.  After dinner I tried to stay up late but was unable.

 

Bike Mileage:

Today 30.3 Week to date 45.1 Month to date 45.1 Year to date 4,948.9 To Goal 3,051.1 Over (Under) plan 850.3 YTD Mileage vs Last Year 53.5 Rolling Year 9,844.3 Since Inception 10/1/07 45,416.6

Monday I was up at 4am.  Of course I was.  I'd gone to bed the night before at 7:15.  I got moving pretty slowly and then walked to work.  My first choice involved me getting on BART at Balboa Park but a new strike put the kibosh on that.  I had a hard time getting excited about any of the choices I had and ended up walking the entirety of Jordan Park and then through Laurel Village and then downtown on California.  I don't spend a whole lot of time on California because its a little scary on a bike and it was very interesting.  The walk to work ended up being about 7 miles.  I headed home lunchtime and then went to a spin class after work that sucked the last drop of energy out of my body.  I headed home on Muni, had dinner and went to bed. 

Buena Vista Park at sunrise:

 

 

This is the recently closed Bridge Theater on Geary:

 

 

This is a new building that's gone up on Geary near Arguello.  I think its assisted living.  It's a beautiful building with exceedingly solid construction.  It looked like they were building a bunker when it went up:

 

 

Some pics from Jordan Park:

 

 

St Gregory the Illuminator:

 

 

I forget where on California I saw this fabulous Victorian:+

 

 

Here's hoping we've got BART running on Monday!

Sunday I got up early and got ready.  It took me a long time to get ready for the parade because I painted myself metallic once again.  It looked fabulous in the sunlight but not so much in shade.  This is the best pic of me taken that day (thanks Bob Katz):

 

I headed down early and hung out with Mr. Chris and David before the parade and then headed over to the meet point.  It was a little crazy:

 

 

Off we go!

 

 

The parade was over pretty fast.  It always is-- it isn't a long route.  Brendan and I went for donuts and then I worked at the Different Spokes booth until 2.  I was so worn out by the time it was over I went home and ate and went to bed at 7:15.  It was a fantastic weekend but it totally kicked my ass.

 

Bike Mileage:

Today 10.6 Week to date 70.9 Month to date 941.4 Year to date 4,903.8 To Goal 3,096.2 Over (Under) plan 870.9 YTD Mileage vs Last Year 8.4 Rolling Year 9,799.2 Since Inception 10/1/07 45,371.5

Saturday I got up incredibly early and started cooking.  I had a very busy day planned and I needed and early start.  I made a banana pudding for the pos ped potluck and some custard for ice cream I was making later that night.  After it was all ready I got cleaned up and we went to the grocery store which was surprisingly empty given that it was pride weekend.  We headed home and then wet over to Crispin's for the potluck.  We couldn't stay long but it was great to see everybody.  I wish I'd taken some pics.  I sent Mr. Poe home and took Muni downtown to collect Quela.  We headed home and hung out until she had to leave for the airport and I had to finish making dinner.  We had a few people over for dinner.  Mr. Poe made steaks on the grill and I cranked out, among other things, this entirely respectable potatoes anna:

 

 

Dinner was really fun and unsurprisingly boozy.  The guests left around 9 and Mr. Poe and I went right to bed.  We were beat.