Day #44: Someday Sawmill Peak...

On my bike today. I brought Angel along for a longish ride. She is getting quite good at running beside me.

A sunny day---we still have plenty of puddles for Angel to drink from.

Just down the road from the cabin, you can see my goal: Sawmill Peak. 4,000 feet tall--Sawmill Peak stands guard over the Feather River Canyon and the town of Magalia. The utility lines in the foreground are phone lines. We have no electrical service on the Ridge.

A closeup view of Sawmill Peak...

These are logging roads. Huge logging trucks haul their cadavers on this road.

And a small shack. Plush accommodations by Concow standards...

Day #43: The Cove (a must-see documentary!)

My turnaround spot...on the way up Sawmill Peak...

Last night Joni brought home an excellent (but very disturbing) documentary. The Cove is about the dolphin slaughter in Japan, where 23,000 dolphins are murdered every year. For no good reason. The documentary is very graphic--and involved some high tech Trespassing to obtain footage that is very difficult to watch. I highly recommend this movie.

One of the lines in the film is memorable: "You are either an Activist or an Inactivist". True. And after watching the film, here are some easy things that can be done to end this abhorrent slaughter of dolphins.

If the Japanese dolphins are saved and this barbaric practice is ended, we will have the courageous, illegal, direct action of this film crew to thank. And much of the story revolves around their creative hijinks to pull this feat off. They have my admiration!

This movie has been on my mind since seeing it last night. The dramatic footage within this movie is a sentinel event. It is akin to the footage of the journalist being shot in Nicaragua in 1979 which turned public opinion against the Somoza regime and against American intervention in Nicaragua.

Rain today. Sawmill Peak is around six or seven miles away reached by some Jeep roads. My goal is to be able to ride the 2,000 foot ascent on these bumpity logging roads to reach the Fire Lookout at it's summit. From the Lookout, a network of roads descend down the canyon, and then up the other side--to the towns of Magalia and Paradise.

This ride should get me in shape. And when I can ride this thing, I will be ready for the Wildflower 65.

Today I rode up the road until my hands got cold. I didn't wear gloves. I then turned around and rode back to our cabin. This is a good workout...

Days #40, #41 and #42: Home to Concow...

I haven't set my butt down to write for a couple of days. Time to catch up.

On day #40, I drove home in the evening across the Sacramento Valley where elk, eagles, and hawks guided my little car. It is spring in the Valley, which means that large winged creatures are passing through. Spotting an eagle is easy this time of the year.

When I got home, Joni and I took a walk with our new headlamps. Caught up on this and that while walking in the dark.

Day #41 was my lounge around the house day; recovering from work. Just a couple of short neighborhood walks with Angel the dog.

Today (day #42) I tried to train Angel how to run next to me as I rode my bike. Did the long loop with dog in tow. By Angel standards, she did okay; she only stopped to "sniff, drop and roll" once. It is cloudy, but the air temperature is warmer. Not raining today (but threatening to). I saw my first robin a month ago.

As for biking, this is much more aerobic than going out for a gentle daily stroll. Especially with hills in all directions around our little cabin. I look forward to extending my roaming range. Get to know more of this wilderness community.

Joni thought she heard some Trumpeter swans the other day---flying high in the sky overhead. Reminds me of Jack Turner's excellent description of Trumpeters in Teewinot (with thanks to Greentangle for turning me on to this writer). Jack was on top of a mountain with Trumpeters flying overhead. He estimated they were flying at 25,000 feet.

Day #39: Mustard...

I survived my first bike ride last night. I had a great dinner of Crab, a caramel dessert and three glasses of Sauvignon Blanc; had an interesting conversation with another gentleman who rode his bike to the bar--and I then rode home in the dark.

Work today. A draining day. Not all clients on a mental health unit are psychotic. The problems of clients run the gamut: some are depressed; some are in intolerable situations they cannot handle; some are anxious; some are manic; some are psychotic. You have to change gears quickly and use different skills to deal with this eclectic population. You need to have both wisdom and empathy. You have to know when to talk and when to shut up. You need to know when to educate and when to medicate.

That's partly why I enjoy it: it is always varied and interesting.

I am convinced that not one of us is immune from ending up on a Mental Health unit. That is why we need them---cause anyone of us could end up there. If you don't think you would ever end up on one---just have someone sleep deprive you for three or four days. Get no sleep and watch yourself slide into psychosis.

The rain returned just as I got off work. Down to my favorite vineyard for a restorative walk. I wish I would have remembered my camera, because I have never seen the Mustard as tall as it is this spring. Beautiful!

Day #38: On my Bike...

A new phase.

After work I got on my Bianchi hybrid bicycle and headed down the hill from the hospital. It has been a few years since I used to commute to work on this thing. The bike seems to be working fine; it was tuned up well by the Oroville bike people.

In fact, it seems much too fast. Ian is right: biking is fast! The world spins by quicker than what I can process in my brain. I feel exposed. Vulnerable. I gingerly apply the brakes down the hill. These are new tires and I'm not used to them yet. Go slow Allan.

Traffic in the Napa Valley is busy today. And I am a wee, little bike sharing Highway 29 with people who have been wine tasting all afternoon---and are now on their way in their Lexxus, BMW's and Jaguars (all with much too much horsepower) to watch the Super Bowl. Chances are I'm the only person on the road who isn't liquored up. (I will remedy this soon.)

I arrive at the Library a bit sweaty, safe and happy.

Can a walking blog include bike trips? Yes! This blog is about getting outside under your own human power. Crawl, walk, use a wheelchair, ride a bike--it is all the same. Just get outside!

And so now I will get back on my bike, ride a few miles out of town to the Silverado Brewery, order some fresh rock salt broiled Dungeness crab and a beer (organic micro brew) and watch the end of the Super Bowl. Then back on the bike and up the hill to the hospital and the Monastic Dorm.

A new phase has begun! Now we start to train for the Wildflower 65!

Day #37: The Recall...

I brought my bike along to the Napa Valley for this week of work. My work comrade and friend, R.O. talked me out of riding my bike today. "Don't get your bike wet for your first ride", he said. "Ride it tomorrow when there isn't supposed to be any rain".

OK.

So after work, I took yet another stroll around St. Helena...and another quick walk through a vineyard. Stopped off at a grocery store to buy some soup and a bottle of wine for dinner.

This town is in the midst of an election campaign. Signs advertising "Yes" on Recall and "No" on Recall compete in next-door neighbor's front yards. The Recall is about throwing out four members of the current school board. Supporters of the Recall want to replace these board members with four new ones. Why do they want to replace the School Board? It seems that the new Superintendent of the school is seen as a sycophant of a prior Superintendent. There are other issues too---but in reading through the arguments for the Recall, it just seems like some folks have way too much free time on their hands. At least they aren't arguing over some Neanderthal issue such as teaching Evolution in schools. (I wonder if the increase in Homeschooling by Christian Conservatives has led to the demise of this issue?). Anyway, this Recall vote just looks like plain old Vengeance. An ax being ground.

The St. Helena School District has lots of money. Property taxes on these multi-million dollar properties means that St. Helena has lots of cash to spend on their public school system. Some families in other towns fake their addresses so that their kids can go to the schools in this wealthy community.

Democracy in action. I wonder how it will all play out?

Day #36: Forgetting...

I forgot to bring my camera to the Napa Valley.

And having only worked one day this year thus far, I had to try and remember how to be a Psych Nurse. Funny how quickly we lose skills when they aren't used. I also noticed that it has been around a month since I've actually talked with a psychotic person. I think most of us probably go through life and never really talk to someone who is not connected to reality. Today, I noticed just how strange this profession that I work in truly is; it all seemed odd. When you work in this gig a whole lot, psychotic behaviors and conversations start feeling normal. It is only when you step away that you notice just how bizarre this field can be.

So I found myself a bit tired after work. First off, I've been sleeping in--so getting up before sunrise was difficult. Secondly, being on my feet most of the day was a bit tough on my sore toes.

So down to St. Helena after work to walk in my favorite vineyard. The mustard is nearly waist high in the Napa Valley. It is raining, but it is a warm rain. Aromatic.

Day #35: With Thanks to Emerson....

Did the Short Loop with Angel this morning. While it is still cloudy with a hint of rain in the air, the temperature is warmer. Dare I say that Spring is in the air?

I finished Susan Cheever's American Bloomsbury last night. This book describes Concord, Massachusetts from 1840 to 1880. She attempts to describe what a dynamic town this was during this period, --which hailed Ralph Waldo Emerson, Margaret Fuller, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry David Thoreau.

But special credit goes to Ralph Waldo Emerson who inherited money from the death of his first wife, and then wisely used the money to create an informal Artist's Community leading to some of the best literature ever created. All of the writers mentioned above benefited from Ralph Waldo's money. And support. In a sense, the modern environmental movement, feminism (from Margaret Fuller) and the creation of the "memoir" were made possible by Emerson's sharing of wealth.

Think about it: The Scarlet Letter, Little Women and Walden all came about because of friendship with Emerson. I think Emerson made a wise investment.

Time to drive to the Napa Valley for a week...

Days #33 and #34: Back on the Trail; Concow and Concord

My toes are better. Time to get into gear.

Angel and I walked the Long Loop today. First time I've walked it since returning from Costa Rica. Lots of trees are down from the high winds we had last week. And a new parcel is for sale. This is the parcel that (once upon a time) had the original farm house on it. The house was torn down a couple of years ago--as it had become a flop house for Bikers and Methheads. Now, just the property is for sale.

Actually two parcels are for sale on this Ridge that I have come to love. Makes me anxious as to who will buy it. This isn't a tight knit "off grid" community; most folks are escapists and a tad on the paranoid side. Yet, most are benign enough.

In a way, I wish Concow would become more like Concord. In the 1840's, Concord Massachusetts could boast that Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, H.D. Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Margaret Fuller lived there. All of these literary greats lived within spitting distance of each other. They took walks together. Borrowed each others books. Helped each other with their gardens. The only one who had any sort of recognition at the time was Emerson.

Concow could stand an infusion of "off grid" Artists Wannabees like Emerson or Thoreau.

All good things come to an end. I have only worked one day this year thus far. I've had thirty three days off. Tomorrow I return to the Napa Valley to earn my keep. My goal this year is to work to live; not live to work.

Days #30, #31 and #32: John Barleycorn...

The computer is still in the shop.

Outdoor activities have been limited to walks with the dog and a little work on the house. This vacation has been good for me. Spending large amounts of time away from paid labor makes a person appreciate just how much working for pay takes out of a person. Now, after only working one day in the last thirty days, I'm starting to feel like myself again.

And I've been reading. A lot. I finished "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer. Climbers seem to know how to write books. This is a tragic adventure story about the 1996 expedition to Everest that ended in half a dozen deaths. Climbers still march past the bodies that are forever entombed on Everest's slopes.

And last night I finished Jack London's "John Barleycorn". Written in 1913, essentially this book is about Jack London's alcohol use (and abuse). Jack London died from alcoholism three years later. "John Barleycorn" is London's word for alcohol. London admits he voted for women's suffrage because he thought once women had the vote, they would vote for Prohibition. As long as alcohol was legal, Jack London said he would always drink. London helped Prohibition's cause by writing this alcoholic memoir. It fueled the movement. Ironic that Jack London never liked the taste of spirits. He considered himself a social drinker--although towards the end of his alcoholic dance he needed alcohol from morning til night. A good read.

And I brought my bike into the shop to be serviced. Soon we shall start training for the Wildflower 100. But I haven't decided whether I'll do the "Mildflower 65".