Glass Blowing

While staying at Fort Bragg, we visited a glass blowing studio. It was fun to watch them make glass pumpkins.

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Lodge at Noyo River

Drove up to Fort Bragg Friday evening. Stayed at the Lodge at Noyo River with Mom and Dad.

Cycle: Western Wheeler Ride to Tiburon

Chad and I did the Western Wheeler "C" ride from San Francisco to Tiburon. It was a spectacular fall day. We started at the Golden Gate Bridge because there was a big golf tournament at Harding Park the usual Western Wheeler start location. As we were waiting on the folks who rode the train to San Francisco, one of the old Liberty Ships sail out under the Golden Gate Bridge.
Once we climbed to the top of Conzelman we could see a whole line of ships sailing into the Bay for Fleet Week. We rode down by Horseshoe Cove and then had lunch in Tiburon. On the way back we got to see part of the air show. All in all a fun day.

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Paddle: Limatour to Alamere Falls

Great open coast paddle initiated by our fearless president Fred. On a foggy Saturday morning we gathered on the shores of Drakes Bay. Launch was delayed a bit and rather sporadic when it occurred. We paddled south to Point Resistance. Along the way we saw much evidence of geological weathering along the coast. At Point Resistance there were several arches, caves and blow holes to check out. We goofed around and waited for the others. We continued south to Millers Point for lunch . There was a large group of seals hanging at the point. Everyone was following me to find a decent landing. I selected what looked like a nice sandy beach the surf was dumping but very small. I pulled in close to shore and rode wave in only to realize at the last moment the beach was all gravel as soon as the last wave sucked out. My bow landed hard on the rocks and I broach to the right. I braced nicely and popped back up more by luck than skill. Of course everyone was hungry and followed me in. Once safely on the beach, Joan let me know we should have landed further north. After munching down shared veggies, cookies and chocolate half the group headed back while the other half continued south. On reflection, it probably would have been easier for everyone to launch by pushing their boats out past the small surf and flopping in, well that's why we write journals. The fog which had been clearing seemed to close down on us. We paddled hard for about 45 minutes and the falls appeared from the fog. After we snapped a few photos we headed for home. We chucked home at a decent pace. I crashed hard on a simple surf landing (took a chunk out of my helmet) need more practice. I was going to do a roll for Dan Mauk who taught me how but it was too shallow.

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Cycling: Lance Armstrong Foundation Ride

My cousin Kelly invited me up to Portland for the inagural Lance Armstrong Foundation ride. We got up early Sunday morning and made our way out to the Nike Campus in Beaverton. The start was a chilly, chilly fall morning but the sun soon came out and warmed our bones. We decided to do the 40 mile course which was very flat. There were rest stops every 10-miles and I must have eaten a pound of gummy bears between all the stops.

Kelly did a great setting a steady tempo over the whole course. At the end of the ride we went back to Kelly's for blackberry pie baked special for me by Georgia Kessi. Next year we have to do the 70 mile course.

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Paddle: Horseshoe Cove to Sausalito Pt

Mitch phoned Monday afternoon and wanted to go play off the south tower of the Golden Gate Bridge in the 5 knot ebb. I met up with him and another guide but was feeling a bit burned after the ride yesterday so decided not to chance a Gate crossing. Instead I took an easy paddle down to Spinaker Restaurant in Sausalito and then paddled back. The water off Yellow Bluff was really churning with a stiff wind in through the Gate and a big ebb.

Cycle: Surf City Century

Amy and I drove down to Aptos in the new Xterra. The ride was very nice and we took it at an easy pace. Fall was definitely in the air with a chilly start and fog that hung on until 10:00.

Ride Stats
time 4:14
avg HR 145
distance 61 miles
ascent 3020

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