Vine Hill Non-Stop

2182.6; 34.3

Almost the same loop as Monday, but on a whim more or less, I took Vine Hill Rd. instead of Laguna Rd. I managed to do that full section of Vine Hill without stopping, so I guess I've progressed! It added only a mile to the loop, but added a pretty major elevation gain too. I think I'm good for Petaluma Friday.

West County Trail near O'Reilly: woman reins in her kid as I approach and then for some reason lets go of him and of course he toddles right out into the path and I literally had to lock it up to not hit him. I like kids, but the parents really piss me off sometimes. I try to be polite on the byways, though, and generally do very well. At worst, I'll just say nothing and move on.

Trenton-Healdsburg Rd: Pickup truck couldn't wait to pass me safely, so barreled by right next to me. No shoulder there, not much to be done for it. Shortly after, teens in a sedan yelled something as they passed me; startled me, but no harm done.

Talked with a guy who may or may not have had a mental disability of some kind, on the Greenway near Santa Rosa. He'd just bought a mountain bike and the high gear wasn't working well. I offered my multi-tool, which he didn't accept, so just sat and chatted while I ate my Clif bar.

Then, on the Rodota trail near Sebastopol, homeless guy oddly veered his shopping cart right in front of me and again I had to slam on the brakes. WTF? The guy is always out there, usually oblivious, though he once said hi to me. Who but the republicans and neocons do we have to thank for this kind of person being left to wander the landscape unassisted?