taxi777

March 25th We took off from San Rafael Civic Ctr. 6 mins after 9am. Of course we both looked stunning in our hot outfits. No clashing full posing bike models. I had met a couple of pretty chickys thinking they were a part of my intense recruiting efforts this week. No indeed! They were just a couple of rogue beauties off to ride China Camp. Unable to convince them to ride with us, I pulled back on the reigns of my black stallion wished the little ladies a fine ado and gallop back to my deputy in waiting.


Just and amazing day. Nice and cool, sunny. Wee bit of a headwind but, we knew it would be great on the way back. Coming up to the first climb, I looked over and just caught a name on a street sign. I couldn’t believe my eyes. It’s that old synchronicity again. When the Universe whispers in your ear you must heed it’s call!
Huckelberry Rd.






Fantastic ride through Lucas Valley. Quick stop in Nicassio and down the road we talked about the usual profoundness of life which has become a regular topic on these long rides with Curtis. I like to think that if there was a previous life like some religions would make us believe… I could see Curtis and I as a couple of old Trappers making our way across Northern California, trading with the Miwok Indians and deliberating on some of the same profound topics concerning our lives that we experience here and now.
Cow Babies:



As we ascend towards the Cheese Factory (California’s oldest) the thought comes into my head that I’ve forgot about meeting Greg (Constant Rider) back at Nicassio, and he hasn’t called me so I guess a no show. Too bad, I had really been glad to see him back at the Polo fields a week ago when I tried to throw a small memorial together for Matt/Kristy, but my timing was all wrong. As we pulled into the lot I saw a hand waving and knew he had beat us here. Excellent! We hung out and chatted, and Greg was ready to go. Greg has a character like the layers of an onion. Unassuming but, when you start digging and pulling back those layers you reveal a very rich deep history, peppered with lots of Introspective ideas and creative talent. I was excited to hear that he is a professional freelance writer and had actually gone to college back in my old Beantown! As we ascend Wilson hill all chatter stops. As we reach the summit we see an odd sight of a taxi cab dropping a fare in the middle of nowhere. I'm listening Universe.
We make a swift descent down catching a nice 45 mph. I kept slowing everyone down to take pictures. I couldn’t help myself, too much to see. I did finally drop my camera. It was fine and I’m glad I did it and got it over with.




Into Petaluma center and Tagliaferri's Deli. Great Sandwich’s. The owner was a really cool guy. A cycling guy himself. A nice big poster of Alberto Contador on the wall. My kind of place. BRACE YOURSELVES! He has it from the horses mouth that Levi and Alberto may jump to QuickStep for the T.D.F!!! and he had the best Cannoli
In the world! Curtis bought me lunch! What a guy…




And so we go into a headwind and a couple of tough climbs and intense scenery. One more stop at the Cheese Factory. On the descent down to Nicassio Greg said how odd it is when your going 40 the cars behind you have to pass dangerously close so they can go 45 ahead of you. He bet if you had a bike that had a secret motor and could go any speed, that the cars would still try to get ahead of you because your on a bike. I’m totally convinced that would be true.

We parted ways with Greg, as he went back to the city on his bike and turned down a ride with me… Hardcore! Hope to ride soon with him again. Great guy. Curtis and I did a nice climb back through Lucas Valley. My cell phone kept ringing trying to bring me back to reality. Uhgg! Super quick ride with the tailwind back to the cars. It really seemed like a short very easy ride?
I think the base mile I’ve accumulated have really begun to make a difference. Of course time always passes by really fast when I’m yakking with Curtis. That’s a good thing and a bad thing. I still want to keep riding. Looking forward to riding with the rest of the gang soon. I here the murmurs of a northbay/marin ride soon… maybe next weekend we’ll do Tam? I’ll shout it out this weekend.
Fini……Pete

msincredible

Nice report Pete, you guys are looking good!

cccorlew

Pete makes that ride sound so good I feel like I was there!

Here's a bonus photo

alainp

Your reports, as well as your rides, are so "epic". Thank s for sharing.

mtnwalker

Looks like you guys had a lot of fun. The pics look great.

x136 

This looks like a poster for some dramatic movie, possibly involving alien conspiracies.

[movie announcer voice guy]

Pete.
Curtis.
A few cows.

Huckleberry Road...

taxi777

"If only these cows could talk".........Rod Serling

cccorlew

Here's a google earth shot

taxi777

Hey Curtis, Google earth file was really cool! I need to sit down and figure out how to really use it. But man the technology is just getting amazing. I wish I could live another hundred years to see where it goes!.....Damn mortality sucks!

cccorlew

BlastRadius

Simply beautiful.

taxi777

That is Friggin cool!!!!!!!!!!!

SesameCrunch

Looks like fun, guys!

DiabloScott

Nice report. Curtis's maps are the coolest.

I was thinking that might happen - but I was NOT thinking QuickStep... they generally don't seem too interested in GC and go with teams to support Boonen and Bettini for stage wins.

taxi777

It's like a Soap Opera...But sure is interesting!

tprevost

I'm sure I should be able to figure this out.... mileage and elevation gain?

ConstantRider

When I got home I realized I made a tactical error -- I should have gotten a cannoli to go. That thing was good. Nice riding with you, Curtis and Pete.

cccorlew

The garmin reports 62.8 miles, 3747 total climb.

cccorlew

DiabloScott

Cool! Is there an ad for Sea Monkeys in there? How about X-Ray specs?

sweetnsourbkr

Great ride and great parodies! You guys are the best! Sorry I missed it, but we couldn't afford the entire day. Hope to see Pete tomorrow.

taxi777

Curtis that is just over the top COOL!!! I see my next Album cover in the making!