A bit mottled – that’s the way they are sometimes – click to expand
Now let’s hear from Redd Rivett, who recorded some of these critters just the other day:
“These bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) were on the East side of the Golden Gate Bridge, next to Fort Point, in the cove. We get to see them in the summer and fall, when they come in to Ft Point cove for a while maybe twice a week or so. They live mostly along the outer coast to the south of us, all the way to Monterey Bay. Thanks Bill Keener of Golden Gate Cetacean Research for the info.”
California Streets and Highways Code Section 635(b): State highway routes embracing portions of Routes 280, 82, 238, 101, 5, 72, 12, 37, 121, 87, 162, 185, 92, and 123 and connecting city streets and county roads thereto, and extending in a continuous route from Sonoma southerly to the international border and near the route historically known as El Camino Real shall be known and designated as “El Camino Real.”
So basically, everything that could possibly considered ECR is ECR – that’s what the solons of Sacramento have determined.
See how that works? You want to warn your fellow riders that there are cops handing out speeding tickets on Highway 37 (aka Sears Point Road) up there in the Great White North, so all you have to do is to tap your head in an exaggerated fashion when you see others going the opposite way.
“I hate that this bus ONLY runs on Sundays and certain holidays. I hate that this bus ONLY runs once an hour. I hate that this bus stops running in the evening. However, this is still the bestest MUNI route EVER!!!”
Here it is, in action near the Golden Gate Bridge:
First-time ALC cyclist Greg and a bunch of bikes at the Cow Palace this AM via WeberSF
The bro in this shot from last year (note the fog – it’s a tradition) could be YOU next year! Why not?
From AIDS/LifeCycle
All the deets, below.
Bon Courage, cyclistes!
“AIDS/LifeCycle Begins as 2,400 Hit the Road to Raise Awareness and $10 Million to Fight AIDS. San Francisco-to-Los Angeles bike ride is world’s largest annual HIV/AIDS fundraiser
SAN FRANCISCO and LOS ANGELES, June 6 - A colorful stream of 2,400 bicyclists and volunteer “roadies” from nearly every state and eight countries left San Francisco this morning on the way to Los Angeles as participants in AIDS/LifeCycle, the world’s largest annual HIV/AIDS fundraising event. In its ninth year, the event is expected to raise $10 million to care for those living with HIV/AIDS and to prevent new infections. In the seven days it takes to ride to Los Angeles, more than 1,000 people in the United States and 50,000 people around the world will be infected with HIV.
AIDS/LifeCycle is a fully supported, 545-mile bike ride — not a race — that supports the HIV/AIDS services provided by the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and San Francisco AIDS Foundation. It also raises awareness that HIV/AIDS is a growing scourge that continues to have a devastating impact on our communities, especially here in California. More than 1 in 10 of the nation’s HIV-positive people live in California and California ranks second among the states in cumulative AIDS cases.
“With the ongoing budget crisis and last year’s horrific cuts to HIV-prevention funding, the money raised through AIDS/LifeCycle is more important than ever,” said Lorri L. Jean, CEO of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center. “It’s important for people to realize that the HIV pandemic isn’t over and that there are still many in our community in need of quality medical care. The HIV services supported by AIDS/LifeCycle save lives year-round.”
Participants range in age from 18 to 82 and are at various levels of physical fitness. Whether gay or straight, HIV-positive or HIV-negative, they share a common commitment to ending HIV and caring for those living with the virus. So much so that each cyclist raises at least $3,000 (most raise more than $4,000) to participate in what many consider to be a life-changing experience. Since its inception in 2002, AIDS/LifeCycle has raised more than $60 million to fight AIDS.”
Come on, you can do it. Take a gander at the dollar amount of the fine for abandoning your car on the streets of San Francisco. Let’s agree that dollar amount has two digits, but it is $75? $85? $88? $98? $80? $90?
Can I explain why the owner was given only three days to move in light of the last year’s policy change allowing seven days? No, no I cannot. Click to expand.
I’m the first one to rain on the parade of plaintiff’s attorneys with ridiculous notions of what constitutes a decent lawsuit, but this one, this one looks good.
This aging, now-woodless Willys Jeep Wagon ur-SUV needs no exemption for excessive weight as it’s not close to the weight limit. (I ought to call it in to Pimp My Ride or something.) Wonder where it is now, wonder if it got towed. [Dude, where's my car? What happened to my woody?]
Anyway, we’ll just have to bide our time to see what occurs with this not-yet-certified class action lawsuit. Writer Joe Eskenazi will keep us posted, I’m sure.
Saw this type of scene a few times before. Maybe some raccoon or pigeon lover with a regular supply of old bagels is trying to a feeding using the railing of the overlook?
Dozens of bagels, ritually arrayed. What does it mean?
Click to expand
I like to think that Lincoln Highway enthusiasts buy bagels at Times Square at the start of their trips and then deposit the bagels in San Francisco as a gift of love.
Napa’s in the Bay Area, right? It’s super close to San Francisco. So let’s take a look and see how the Great Recession of 2007-???? (aka the “late-2000s recession“) is affecting our Neighbor to the North.
Let’s start with the view from the St. Helena Highway, aka Route 29, aka Main Street. (It’s the main drag for the whole entire valley, you know.) Here’s the old Radio Flyer on the train tracks motif:
What happens if you can’t afford the rent and a car? What happens if you, as many in Napa and Sonoma counties have done before you, get a DUI or two and you lose your license to drive? How do you get to work or the store without a car? Let’s take a look:
Napa can’t afford sidewalks? Apparently. Of course, if you’re on a bicycle (not recommended) you would pedal along on the shoulder/breakdown lane, but if you’re on your feet, well, remember all the drunk drivers? I mean, DWI is a Way of Life up there.
I mean, bacon-rich Cincinnati has its local Hog Report so shouldn’t lush-rich Napa have a local DUI Report? Oh wait, it does!
By the way, be sure to “Avoid the 9″ policing agencies that will bust you:
“Napa County Sheriff’s Office, the Napa Police Department, the California Highway Patrol, St. Helena Police Department, Calistoga Police Department, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, Napa Valley College, American Canyon Police Department and Napa County Probation.”
Anywho, walking in Napa is no picnic. Perhaps it makes the most sense to just amble on the old train tracks (which, of course, are the newish home of the despised (and beloved) Napa Valley Wine Train.)
But what about the wineries, how are they doing? Well, the DisneyesqueRobert Mondavi Winery had no waiting for their famous 75-minute Signature Tour and Tasting on a recent balmy October Sunday. (Of course, back in the day, the place was packed to the gills, reservations required.)
And how about Francis Ford Coppola’s Rubicon Estate, where they have mandatory valet service and a red carpet and where they don’t let you in without a $25 cover?
Well here it is, during Sunday primetime, it was totally wide open. A handful of cars in the lot, no valets, no $25 charge, it’s just y’all come down.
Now let’s head up to St. Helena proper, where the millionaires live and you can buy Rolexeses and high end choco all you want? Let’s check out David’s Jewelers, Since 1976:
Dave has sweet window displays (man, that Rolex fish, that’s art ready to hang, baby)…
…but no goods to sell. Uh oh.
There are Halloween decorations but that’s it. It’s closed down, apparently. Oh well.
And let’s not even think about heading Further North to the St. Helena Premium Outlets place. Cue tumbleweeds.
So, what’s worse:
Busy, crowded Napa Valley; or
Ghost town* Napa Valley?
That’s a tough choice for some people. Oh well.
But now’s your chance to get on up there and see what it was like back in the day, before Napa became a major tourist destination. COPIA: The American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts isn’t around anymore, but all the other places will be staffed with folks happy to see you, I’m sure.
I almost wanted to buy something, but then I remembered about the Buy Local Movement. I’m not a local, really, so I probably shouldn’t spend my hard-earned up there.
But you, you’re welcome to visit, especially before things pick up again in the Spring of 2010.
