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Bill Bikes My bicycling expeditions and jaunts |
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Marin, March 2018
Hamilton - Civic Center - China Camp - San Rafael: A Photographic Log
29 March 2018, 33 miles
Cycle Life Challenge 2018: Ride 6
The Cycle Life Challenge, now in its third year, is a virtual "global fest" of riders who follow a few simple rules, which can be boiled down to this: (1) Ride your bike. (2) Spend a modest sum before, during, or after in connection with your ride. (3) Post a bit about the ride along with photographic evidence of your purchase. (4) Repeat for a total of seven rides between 9 March and 30 April (for 2018). We missed a series of big storms around here while we were wandering through the desert. We returned to unseasonably warm weather, quite pleasant for bicycling. With not much else on the agenda today, I decided to take the SMART train down to Marin county and pedal around some fairly familiar locales, stitching together parts of a solo ride around Hamilton Field, a ride near the Civic Center with Bud, and a ride through China Camp with Jeff. I almost continued through the Larkspur Tunnel to include part of a ride I did with Mary, but I was afraid I wouldn't finish in time to catch the northbound train I wanted. If I missed that train, I'd be late getting home for the first pitch of the Giants-Dodgers game opening the 2018 baseball season.
Everything worked out fine with off-pavement riding on the San Francisco Bay Trail, an unexpected farmers' market at the Marin Civic Center, quiet riding through China Camp State Park, and a short stretch of urban assault riding into downtown San Rafael. Got home just in time for first pitch. Giants beat the Dodgers.
PS: I continue to struggle with a malfunctioning camera, so almost all of these are iPhone shots.
Charles Schulz lived and died in Santa Rosa, and the place is littered with figures from his Peanuts comic strip.
The old Santa Rosa train station is now the visitor center.
There's no actual train station these days, just a platform for the SMART train.
I'm catching the southbound at 10:00.
Usually it's necessary to hang bikes on hooks on the train, but this car was empty enough that the conductor recommended I use the bungees.
During rush hour these flip-up seats are filled with commuters.
A secret passageway for Kathleen.
After getting off the train at the old Hamilton Field station, I scouted around a residential neighborhood. As Google Maps indicated, I found a hidden entrance to the Bay Trail, tucked away between two houses in a cul de sac.
The secret entrance gave me access to the northern end of this segment of the Bay Trail.
Some day, so it is promised, I'll be able to circumnavigate San Francisco Bay on this trail. Maybe if I live to be 120.
Riding south on the Bay Trail through the old airbase, the old runways are on the left and nowadays inundated by the Bay. On the right is the old control tower, shown here.
Sign for the Bay Trail. Not the first time I've photographed it.
Following the trail around the edge of the Bay.
In the background is Mount Burdell, one of the three peaks riders can triangulate on around here. We'll see it again soon.
Trail surface, part one. The Ogre loves this stuff.
Mount Diablo on the horizon.
Trail surface, part two. Steady on.
Trail surface, part three. Getting rougher with many hidden bumps and holes.
Mount Tamalpais on the right.
Fields along the Bay Trail.
Old Grumble-Face indulges in sandwich and caffeine on a bench along the trail.
Note fancy new riding knickers. Ignore power lines in the background.
Mount Diablo across the Bay and far off in the distance.
The waterbirds that would have been in the foreground all skedaddled before I could snap the shot.
Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District sewage treatment plant.
I think Kathleen has written about how much she loves these places.
Lake and fountains by the Marin Civic Center. A big farmers' market on the other side of the lake today.
I wandered through the market for awhile, seeking the perfect gift for my ace support crew.
Into the state park.
From China Camp, looking east across the Bay.
From China Camp, looking north toward Mount Burdell.
On the water, that might be Cap'n Will and part of his ocean-going fleet.
That's the Richmond - San Rafael Bridge. Despite many delays, with any luck it will finally have a bike lane later this year. Or at least by the time I'm 120.
See also: My article about cycling across San Francisco Bay bridges.
After jousting with traffic on the final approach to downtown San Rafael, my reflection and I arrive at the SMART train station.
Northbound train.
Who dat?
The Ogre, suspended in the air for the 60-minute ride north to Santa Rosa.
Proof of purchase, part one: My electronic train ticket.
Proof of purchase, part two: I bought this tea towel (not sure what that is) at the farmers' market for my ace support crew, who loves to knit.
This is as accurate as Google Maps would allow.
Summary
Date: 29 March 2018
Time: 9:00 - 4:00 (including train rides)
Weather: 60-80° F, sunny
Route: Pedal to downtown train station. Train to Hamilton. Pedal Bay Trail, Civic Center, China Camp, San Rafael. Train to Santa Rosa. Pedal home.
Distance: 33 miles
Bike: Surly Ogre
Riders: Solo
Comments? Questions? Suggestions? I'd like to hear from you.
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