Paradise and Onion Rings

Since we won't be riding this weekend, Jerry and I are squeezing in some rides during the week. Yesterday we did Paradise Loop. We rode well and averaged around 12 mph which for us is just fine. We took a short break in downtown Tiburon, but by and large rode the loop straight through. It was only a 22 mile ride, but saddle time is saddle time.
After the ride I went into Sf to do some prep for this weekend. I registered with a wholesale grocer and picked up a few things. Then I went to the SF AIDS Foundation. They are graciously lending me percolators and a cold drink dispenser for the weekend.
The evening was spent with my friend Thom. We went to see Art Spiegelman and Chris Ware talk about their "graphic novels," which, as Chris said, sounds like pornography. I really liked Chris, though he was a little too self-deprecating.
Before hearing them speak, we went to Cafe Rigolo, down the street from the SF JCC and right by Thom's and my former place of work. A little strange to be right there, but worth it for the onion rings. They are thin and crisp and addictive. Those, coupled with a tuna melt through me off any semblance of weight control, but every now and then, you gotta do what you gotta do...

Day on the Ride-- the Reader's Digest Version

Jerry and I had signed up for the 80-mile day on the ride, but considering it was our first time out in three weeks, and he still had quite a cough, we did the abbreviated 40-mile version. Day on the Ride simulates the "real" ride-- rest stops, sweeps, motorcycle crew.

Once again, the Positive Pedalers were the "roadies" for rest stop #1. Hugs and kisses for my friends, and a promise to follow up with Gabo about an idea for a book he has.

We rode strong, despite having been off the tandem for weeks. We were one of the first people back to the City-County Building, where they fed us mounds of spaghetti and Caesar salad. We were hungry, so everything tasted great.

Dinner was popcorn and a soda at the movies. We saw "the Visitor," a wonderful, small film. The main character did quite a bit of changing of his life. Gives me inspiration to do good things.

The Kindness of Strangers

Yesterday, I was headed into town on the ferry-- at least I thought so, but when I got to Larkspur the ferry was sold out. Not sure what I was going to do-- parking in the city is ridiculously expensive-- a woman in a nearby car said "Anyone going to the financial district? I'm driving there." And that was exactly where I was going! I hopped in her car and she took me just blocks away from the Ca Board of Equalization. I walked briskly to that office and a businesslike woman rushed through my application for a sales license. so now, I can buy food for the Jon Pon ride wholesale! Of course, I will have to pay resale tax, but it's still cheaper than buying all that food retail. So that means more wonderful food and perhaps even a little more into my Lifecycle account.

Saturday is Day on the Ride and since Jerry and I have not ridden in three weeks I'm nervous about an 80 mile ride, but after a chat with my Cycle Buddy, Jo, I feel better. She said the 40 mile ride is the same route, so if we need to turn around early, no problem. We may be able to do the longer ride, but knowing we have an alternative put my mind at ease.

milk shakes and staying home

Jerry is sick again, so we're not riding, again, this weekend. I just made him a milkshake, which I'm glad he wants. He had minor surgery on his mouth yesterday, but it seems more like he has the flu. He's sleeping many, many hours and I just hope he feels better soon.

Besides worrying about his health, I'm worrying about our training. This is the second weekend in a row with little or no riding. Or is it the third? Yes, the third. Next weekend is "Day on the Ride," an 80-something mile ride, and I hope we are up for it. The weekend after is the Jon Pon Memorial Ride, and we're cooking and not riding.

We've got quite a bit of catch-up to do. Yikes!

Sore throat, short ride

Jerry and I have been sick most of this week, but we thought we'd attempt a ride. We joined up at Mike's Bikes in Sausalito with a ride that started at Sports Basement, and rode as far as Fairfax, when we decided White's Hill was just not in the cards. We turned around and headed home.
Since our philosophy is == feed a cold== we did just that. We headed to Comfort Food Cafe and had chicken sandwiches, but we did leave most of the fries and we ate fruit. We also went to the Trips for Kids warehouse sale and bought a couple of jerseys. Jerry and I now have several matching sets. It's so cute it could make you puke. I never thought I'd be one of those tandem couples in matching jerseys, but, there you have it.

We signed up for another ride for tomorrow. We'll at least start it, and see how we do.

Tonight is movies and popcorn for dinner.

20 pounds of pasta

In five plastic bags, uncooked, it doesn't really look like all that much. But those 20 pounds of multi-colored twirly pasta will be the basis of a side dish for a dinner three of us are cooking in a couple of weekends. My husband, Jerry, my friend, Carey, and I are cooking dinner and breakfast for the Jonathan Pon Memorial ride-- a two day ride in Marin and Sonoma counties.

We will be feeding 150 very hungry cyclists, so we are planning to cook a lot of food. Dear, wonderful, Leslie, the owner of Johnny and Theresa's Comfort Food Cafe in downtown San Rafael, is letting us use the restaurant's kitchen the evening before to do most of the prep. Without her, the task would have been hellish, but now I think it will actually be fun.

Carey and I met the other day downtown, his most adorable dog, Julio, in tow. Julio looks like a puppy, but he's actually a full-grown min-pin/beagle mix. And he's a charmer. Everyone wanted to stop and pet him, and he ate up every minute of it.

Carey has lots of culinary experience, so he disabused me of some of the cooking notions I had, and together we hammered out a couple of really great menus.

This week there has been little cooking at Chez Carol. I've had a cold or the flu or some such nonsense, and eating has been less than pleasurable. But I'm on the mend so in the next day or two, I'll hit the kitchen with gusto.

Dancing. And eating

This weekend was no riding, but I did do some dancing at the Arcata Folk Festival. We drove up on Friday and arrived in time to do some wine tasting with friends from DC, Len and Lisa. Their participation in the every other year festival is the main reason I go. They are really good friends who I miss a lot.
We went to a wine shop on the square in Arcata and had two "flights" of three wines each. Jerry and I shared two flights and Len and Lisa shared two. One set consisted of inexpensive Italian wines, and honestly, the three of us didn't like any of them. The other three were expensive California wine, and each was better than the one before. They were out of our price range, so it was nice, for not much money, to be able to taste them.

We then went to the dance, most of which was at least for me, not that wonderful because I'm pretty spoiled by really good ethnic music from my time back east. But, one band, Zabava, from the SF area played a wonderful set of Macedonian tunes and I really put my knee to the test. I'm happy to say it held up beautifully. That set, and their set on Saturday night were the highlights of the festival for me.

A dinner was sold at the event Saturday, and I had high expectations. The chef for West Coast Balkan camp was making a chicken and apricot tagine. I'm sad to say that it was pretty tasteless and boring. I think perhaps even some salt could have salvaged it. It was edible, but I really did expect better.

Breakfast today was on the road in Willits at around noon or one. I had a really good scramble with spinach, portobello mushroom, onion, tomatoes and some cheddar. I was pleased they didn't overload it with cheese. I had considered asking them to leave out the cheese, but I had already asked to 86 the green peppers, and didn't want to seem too demanding. But the amount of cheese was perfect. And, they served Thanksgiving Coffee, Mendocino County's finest.

The weekend was punctuated with empty calories from store-bought baked goods. What possessed me to eat them is a mystery.