genejockey 

Not me. The air. I noticed on my ride today that the sunlight was a little dimmer, and redder than one would normally expect. And there was a faint (maybe not so faint) smell of smoke in the air. Over by Crystal Springs Lake, you could REALLY see it, almost obscuring distant hills. I hope whatever fire(s) the smoke is from are contained, and the loss of property, or god forbid, of life, is minimal!

I'm not sure whether it was healthy to ride or not, but other than the smoke, it was freakin' awesome!

uspspro

I smelled it from my house in San Mateo this morning at around 6 AM. Not when I left to ride to the train @ 7:40 though.

DiabloScott

Sky's really ugly around here. Smell's not so bad but you can taste the smoke on your lips.

Bryan C. 

I've stayed off the bike since the smoke showed up on Sunday. Working in Walnut Creek today, you can hardley even see Mt Diablo. Went out to San Francisco last night for dinner and got some fresh air. I hate this stuff, wish it would just blow away.

johnny99

My local fire department called me over the weekend and said to stay indoors if I could smell smoke in the air. If the smoke is bad enough to smell it, then it is not very healthy for your lungs. Hopefully, your house has air filters to remove the worst stuff.

overthere

I'm staying inside. Went out to run errands and my lungs hurt. Got the following:


Smoke-Related Health Statement


Sacramento, CA 6/23/08 – Smoke continues to impact the Sacramento region due to fires burning throughout Northern California.

The Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District Quality Management District in consultation with Sacramento County Health Officer Glennah Trochet, M.D., is advising residents to take precautions and consider restricting outside activities.

If you smell or see smoke, individuals should consider taking the following actions:

Everyone should avoid outdoor activities if you can see or smell smoke, even if you're healthy

Children, the elderly and people with respiratory or heart conditions should be particularly careful to avoid exposure

Stay indoors with doors and windows closed as much as possible.

Asthmatics should follow their asthma management plan

Contact your doctor if you have symptoms of cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms you believe to be caused by smoke

Those with heart disease should especially limit their smoke exposure since PM can cause heart attacks

"Smoke can affect anyone, but it's especially harmful to people who have existing breathing problems, like seniors or anyone suffering from asthma or emphysema," said Glennah Trochet M.D., Sacramento County Health Officer. "The fine particles in smoke can obstruct the airways, making it harder to breathe and reducing oxygen intake," she said.

To monitor current air quality conditions, please visit

www.SpareTheAir.com

redspoke

You guys should see the valley... Uck! Looking out of my office window I see UC Davis Med Center 2 miles away, but it is obscured by haze quite a bit. Beyond that landmark I see nuthin' but brown choke. Ain't no sunshine... Again, uck!

uspspro

Man, I just went out fro lunch at work here in San Jose. You can really smell/see the smoke-filled air.

mayukawa

I only see and smell smoke while passing Brisbane...didn't notice anything when I got to San Mateo.

dachshund

Yes, it's really awful around Concord. It's even worse than yesterday. I could smell it in the building when I got to work. That's inside our office building. :-(

It seemed hotter than I expected it to be at noon. I wonder if the haze is holding the heat in.

joe@vwvortex

I'm in Fairfield at work - near the fire at the Napa/Solano border. You can't see anything around her. Worst it's ever been in the 19 years i've been here.

BenRidin

Just pretend you're on a training ride for the Olympics in Beijing!

genejockey 

More like the same thing that's holding the haze down at ground level is making it hotter, I suspect.

Somebody needs to turn on those giant fans on the Altamont Pass!

genejockey 

My Dad grew up in Pittsburgh during the peak of the pollution, and he'd tell stories of days so smokey that he had to walk along the streetcar tracks, waving a white hanky so his friend driving a car behind him could see it.

spingineer

I guess that means I should hold my breath, all the way back from Sunnyvale on my commute home?

spingineer

You're actually more right than you think.

rumbutter

I cant even see the hills out of my office window in San Jose. Commuting on my bike has been an unpleasant affair too. This air totally sucks for Asthma sufferers. I havent been bothered by Asthma for about 8 years but I have been wheezy since the weekend.

Just got the following warning from the climb to Kaiser organizer:

"AIR QUALITY may be unhealthy for sensitive groups due to recent fires."

I guess I am a sensitive group so I hope the air clears a bit by the weekend

bigtruck

Article in todays Chronicle about it

https://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...&sn=005&sc=297

reidconti

Man it's nasty. Glad I don't have asthma. I gotta get some riding in, I can't wait weeks for this crap to go away. I've never seen a fire season so bad in 6 years here.

... off to hit the hills anyway, I guess. If it starts hurting I can always go home.

rydaddy

It makes for an impressive sunrise/sunset.

Ty.S

I got some pictures today from my ride in Woodside, really incredible. I'll get those posted up here in a bit.

genejockey 

New fire burning up on Mt San Bruno right now. It looks to be in roughly the same area as the one last week.

spingineer

... and they think this will clean the air by the time the Olympics come around ... who are they kidding?

spingineer

So what are we saying ... too dangerous to ride out there? I did a 10 mile ride home from work, and it didn't feel bad. I could smell something different in the air, but after 2 minutes, didn't feel anything out of the ordinary. Debating on whether or not to drive tomorrow (prefer riding though).

genejockey 

I think it's a question of how bad it is, and how susceptible you are. If it smells distinctly smokey, you can't see the house across the street, and you're asthmatic, then discretion is the better part of valor.