Biking into Marin Headlands

Honey, does this helmet make my face look fat? (whoa, bad angle!)

A beautiful, clear, and therefore cold morning ride across the Golden Gate, up into the Marin Headlands. I never take the views for granted.

The beautiful view from near the top of the Marin Headlands looking south toward the Gate, San Francisco and Oakland (the Oakland-Bay Bridge) and the rest of the East Bay in the distance on the left. With magnificent views like these it's a big incentive to get out there and ride.

Accordion Man

So I'm riding my bike through the Presidio at 7:45am and I see this guy sitting on the lawn next to a driveway playing an accordion. I think I must be still asleep and possibly dreaming, so I turn around and go back to take a picture. As I got closer I saw that my name was emblazoned on the accordion in big metal lettering. Then I knew I was dreaming.

Post-Chalk Hill vineyards

Scenic views of vineyards sans-grapes right after the moderately tough Chalk Hill (which I referred to as whine country, with an "h").

On the road, almost to Chalk Hill :(

Riding thru wine country -- about to be 'whine' country when we hit Chalk Hill -- during 58-mile training ride. Thanks for coming along.

Oakland-Bay Bridge at night

Berkeley

A beautiful Berkeley church on Hearst Avenue.

Touring the Peet's Coffee factory

Founder's Day at Peet's Coffee in Alameda, celebrating Alfred Peet's birthday. Free tours of the factory and lots of free coffee and beans. Smell the strong aroma of those beans while they roast at 350-400 degrees. Mmmm.

Beans cooling - just out of the oven.

Packaging, readying for shipment.

The taste test.

Happy happy Birthday!!

A very fun birthday evening with friends on Thursday, Feb. 28 ... Beer (and maybe a little rum) and ping pong at Finnigan's Wake, a fun Irish bar in Cole Valley (just around the corner from where I used to live).

(John blamed the ball's yellow color for his loss, "Damn this little yellow bastard! )

Then a very tasty seafood birthday dinner (Pacific Catch) near Golden Gate Park with Suzanne and John & Stacy.

Then, on Saturday night, a big birthday party with John (whose birthday is Mar. 6) and 2 other birthday boys - Patrick and Lee.

John Lowry and wife Rita (not pictured) and cute little Thomas.

Marc "Flappy" Thompson, John Angelico, Steve Aitkins.

I should also mention that today is my Dad's birthday. Happy Birthday Dad!