Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Whose children are these anyway?

Sunday evening we went down to the river. It was rather late in the day, but someone craved a swim. That someone was not me.
She convinced her brother it was a good idea.
For a moment, Shadow wanted to join in, but then she decided it was too cold for her. I stayed out, since someone had to hold the leash.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Out and about with my phone

For those of you who like to see where I have been, at least I take my phone with me wherever I go. My camera seems to have been left home a lot lately, so here are some samples that I could have sent you by text message if I had been so inclined. A couple of days ago, I was passing the upriver dam which is not as exciting as it was a while ago.Neither is mile 20 on the trail. Even the benches are high and dry now.Just in case you thought it was just a trail I ride on, these signs attest to the fact that it is a freeway as well, at least it is where they want cyclists to go instead of riding on I90 or SR290, complete with the silhouette of Mr. Washington.When my boy goes to swim lessons, my dog and I wander around in the park above the pool.We smell the flowers.We enjoy the view. The pool is down there below where the hill drops off, so you can't see it. Off to the left in the distance is where the kids ski though.We enjoyed picking cherries in our own backyard right until the worms showed up. There has been much discussion about how to get rid of them, but they seem to be a permanent part of the scenery, so we are done picking for now.
This guy seems to be a long way from home, but his license plate says he lives around here.I try to stay away from politics, but sometimes a statement is so outrageous, it is hard to let it pass by. What exactly is this guy saying about everyone else in the race? Or himself?

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

More of my summer vacation

I stopped by to see this guy on my way home from the bay area. There sure was a lot of sweet stuff in the building behind him. I brought home some samples, but they are all gone now. Another day, another state.
Getting back in the Fit after a pit stop in the Golden State.
When you hand a teenager a camera, she takes her own portrait.
Any part will do. These are her favorite shoes that she left at the photographer's by her aunt's house. Fortunately for her, they found them and her kind aunt Kangamoo mailed them to her at camp.
This is the view across the river where we waited to see the fireworks. It is also houses the local Morgan Stanley office. I need to make an appointment for late on the 4th next year.A boy in his new shirt waiting for the show to begin. This is what happens when he moves when I take a long exposure. Of course it was on purpose. He was playing with the camera while we waited.Pretty things in the sky behind the tree. A good time was had by all.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Politics are interesting

I am not sure what his intent is. Best I can tell, he is aiming to keep out the riff raff from Nevada (the closest border to this sign) and Oregon (second closest border) and Arizona. Those folks from Washington had better leave the Golden State too, on his watch. So I left. The rest of y'all who were not born there need to get out too, even if you are more than half the population.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Morning ride

I have wanted to ride my bike over the Dumbarton bridge for a long time, but it was too far from our place in the east bay, and I never had a chance to do it from the Peninsula. There is a nice bike trail to the bridge, although it is a little close to the cars that are going so fast. It is even more exciting on the return trip, looking the drivers in the eye. This sign is protected better than the bikes are. All drivers need to read the message, not just the ones who go by here. Of course, I was riding one handed while I used the camera. There is no helping some people. I do use my bluetooth hands free device when I drive. When I am riding my bike, I use the phone. I was even reading text messages the other day while I rode. Bad me. I did stop to send a reply, multitasking only goes so far.
I feel safer behind this wall, but not much. If someone decided to have an accident, I am afraid the wall would only slow them down on their path toward the edge and the drop over the abyss into the mud below. Fortunately, everyone stayed on the road today.
Over the hump on the way out.One year, returning from a cruise up the bay, someone knocked a PFD overboard as we came to this bridge. Of course, we sailed in circles trying to get it back, as the bridge operator watched. I do not think we held up any trains. They had stopped using this line a while before that. Now it is permanantly fixed open. There are still crossing gates a mile up the line though.A new function for an old friend, checking how much salt makes it this far south.The new channel, without the drawbridge. One October, I remember sailing south from Redwood City and attempting to get the attention of the bridge operator, without luck. After several hails on the radio and loud noises from the horn, we called the coast guard. They called the guy on the phone, and we watched him get up from the ball game to open the bridge.I remember driving on this when it was a bridge. The white boxes on the left (south) side of the bridge are sheltered benches for fishermen. Whoever put them up knows which way the wind blows here.Morning reflections on a salt dewatering pond.More morning reflections.A couple of days ago, I was riding down by those white things in the distance on the right. There are lots of good places to ride around here.On the way home, as I cross the summit.
It is not easy telling everyone where to go. Everyone has a place, except for cars. I am not sure which way the guy I saw pushing his child in a jogger stroller while roller skating falls in the grand scheme of things here.A city that appreciates bicycles.