Deep Frei

252.2 miles on the OD - 22.8 miles. Have I mentioned that I had some 2500 miles (from ~2000-2006) on the odometer before the battery died and it zeroed out? OK, just checking.

Tried to extend the Sonoma County Bike Path Tour today, to encompass over 20 miles. I won't do this route again! Everything was okay till I got to Frei Rd, which is a bit of an uphill grind, with NO shoulder, several blind curves, and relatively light traffic but going about 40 mph.

In some cases, heavy traffic is almost better. If there's a constant line of cars, it's a pretty good bet that if one sees you they'll all see you.

Otherwise, great ride, with an earlier enough start to beat the worst of the heat and the afternoon wind.

From Sebastopol: east on Joe Rodota trail to the Greenway; west on the Greenway to Willowside Rd.; north on Willowside to Guerneville Rd.; SW on Frei, which crosses 116/Gravenstein to become Graton Rd.; catch the West County bike path there going south back into Sebastopol.

Looking at "hybrid" bikes for the road. 99% of my riding has been on pavement, and I think I can do better with more road-wise gearing, tires, etc. Having lost my job, should I drop $500, 800 on a bicycle? It's quite possible (it's my fervent hope!) that would become my commute bike., so there's SOME justification for it.

The girls at the coffee cart at Andy's seemed to think I was a "bike man" who had ridden from Maryland. I told them I left Maryland in 1974; "there have been a few stops."

Last night, Nina Gerber (http://www.ninagerber.com/) played at the French Garden restaurant in Sebastopol. Totally confirmed my assessment from hearing her on CD (I bought her "Sweet Dreams" lullabyes CD four times and gave it away three times) that she is an AMAZING guitarist, a local, should-be National, treasure.

The less said about the rest of the experience, the better--though you might find my account amusing, it would be quite negative. But I feel a profound urge to write a lilting melody about giving up in the face of adversity, just lying down and waiting for angels to bail me out, and if I can mention fire, birds, and weather in the same line, I think that'll be the chorus. Ahem: "hand me the capo, dear, I feel a Song coming on!"