I just returned from a work trip to Southern California. I got to meet some awesome colleagues I haven’t had the opportunity to work with previously and we got to meet some amazing prospective students!
It’s nice to be home (Figaro especially appreciates it!)
Never. Leave. Again.
I’ll post some foodie pics soon. Figaro is in serious need of some attention, and clearly that is a priority!
Can't you just smell that fresh, clean ocean air?
Beware the Guard Gull!
Hmm ... now here's an idea for Halloween 2015!
I have been trying to get this post done for more than a week. I don’t recall the name of the caterer and I need to find out because everything was so wonderful that I would like to give credit and add some more specifics about the menu. I’ll have to add that later, though, because I promised to post this and I need to do it now. How did life get so busy?
Recently I had the pleasure of joining a 10-year membership anniversary picnic at Gloria Ferrer in Sonoma, California. It was a lovely outing.
Welcome!
Enjoying the beautiful view.
We started with a cheese platter …
Manchego, Brie with Jam, and Proscuitto
And then a light salad with a Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette …
Refreshing!
Both paired beautifully with Royal Cuvee…
Royal Cuvee
For the main course, we enjoyed some beautiful sandwiches …
Chicken Sandwich
Tri Tip Sandwich
Each was paired with an aioli and served with a Bean Salad …
I am not usually a big fan of bean salads. They’re typically too salty, overpoweringly vinegary, and just generally poorly seasoned. This salad, however, was delicately seasoned with fresh rosemary.
We paired the chicken with Chardonnay and the Tri Tip with Pinot Noir.
Gloria Ferrer Carneros Pinot Noir
Gloria Ferrer Carneros Pinot Noir
For dessert … paired with the Blanc de Noirs …
Brownie with White Chocolate & Chocolate Truffle Cork
After enjoying this feast, we were treated to a private tour of the winery.
Special Events Room!
And of course the gardens … you didn’t really expect me to walk past flowers with a camera in my hands and not take photos, did you?
Enjoying the gardens ...
Enjoying the gardens ...
Enjoying the gardens ...
If you have never been to Gloria Ferrer Caves and Vineyards, you should make it a point to visit. It truly was a perfect moment and some very welcome pampering!
The Emigrant Trails Bike Trek is three day cycling event that raises funds to support clean air, healthy lungs and a tobacco-free tomorrow. The ride was in the Lake Tahoe area this year.
Overall, the ride was a great experience. Wonderful, fun-spirited volunteers. Beautiful scenery. Friendly riders. I wish that I could say that Tahoe had friendly drivers, but, alas … I may never cycle in Tahoe again. These were some of the rudest drivers I have ever encountered. My hope is that ETBT will be in a different location next year!
Fresh, hot breakfast each morning.
Each rest stop had a different theme.
Peppers & Onions
+ Chicken =
Chicken Fajitas!
Warm Peach Cobbler with Vanilla Ice Cream
Post-Ride Beers!
There was no shortage of food, that is certain. Rest stops were well stocked and with some of my favorites – lots and lots of bananas, fig bars, and Honey Stinger gels, bars, waffles.
The ride was a weekend of firsts for me.
First time participating in Breathe California of Sacramento’s Emigrant Trails Bike Trek.
Lake Tahoe, Emerald Bay
Camp Richardson, Lake Tahoe
First time having to bail on an organized ride … I rode very well on Friday, however, on Saturday the altitude got the better of me about 9 miles into the ride. I was very disappointed to have to abandon the climbing part of the ride. Luckily, I found a group of other cyclists who decided not to attempt this particular climb and headed back to camp with them. I ended up splitting off from this group with one of the riders. We got lost in Tahoe on our way back to camp. That was an adventure in and of itself! I ended up with almost 35 miles on Saturday, but it wasn’t nearly the ride I had hoped to accomplish.
First time ever having to SAG … Sunday was the short ride, but it had a difficult climb on a single lane, steep, twisty-turny road. I was doing OK on the climb, but then a car wanted to get past me, so I got off my bike. There was no restarting for me on the hill. So I walked. And I walked a little more. I finally got restarted, but only made it maybe 1/4 mile before it just got too steep and I got off my bike again. The SAG crew offered me a ride, and told me the rest of the hill to the rest stop was at least as steep. So, I gave up. First. Time. Ever. SAG.
Sad. Very sad. So very disappointed in myself that two days in a row I did not meet my goal. Even though I made it up more than half of the climb, I did not make it all the way on my own.
It was the altitude. That is my story and I am sticking to it.
First time ever being the last rider to finish. I was so very thankful that my riding partner stuck with me for the entire ride on Sunday.
The wisdom in this is that I knew when to stop on Saturday before ruining not only my own ride, but my riding partner’s ride.
The wisdom in this is that now I know what it is to feel this disappointment. I now know what it is to be on the receiving end of, “Don’t worry! It happens to everyone! Just have fun.”
The wisdom in this is that now I know it is OK to be disappointed and sad and frustrated and upset with yourself for not meeting your goal.
It really is OK. So the next time I encounter a cyclist who is upset about having to SAG, or having to quit, I’ll probably still say, “Hey! It’s OK to SAG!” I will, however, have a lot more empathy when the cyclist looks at me with that pang of disappointment that says, “Yeah, but it doesn’t happen to me.”
Stop and enjoy the view.
Jump in a cold lake to cool your muscles after a big ride.
I just returned from the Breathe California of Sacramento Emigrant Trails Bike Trek. Let’s just say it was a weekend of firsts. Some moments were triumphs; some were not.
I have to get back to the “real world” and head off to work super early this morning, but I hope to be able to post about the trip by the weekend.
Here’s another great ride to check out: Emigrant Trails Bike Trek
It’s coming up soon – the first weekend of September!
I am going to do my best to finish this ride. The altitude and hills combined may be a bit of a challenge.
The American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure has “Red Riders” … their designation for riders who have diabetes. I’m wondering if Breathe California has “Blue Riders” … to designate riders who have asthma or other respiratory challenges? Hmm … then I’d be a Blue Rider!
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Do you ever feel so far behind that it seems you’ll never get caught up? I’m there. Life has been a roller coaster, full of ups, downs, twists and turns lately, but I’ve been getting some cycling in most days before work, weekend rides, and have been able to do a few new rides …
A rare afternoon relaxing in Carmel.
17-Mile Drive, Carmel – beautiful scenery, rolling hills, and fresh, clean ocean air.
Ride Ataxia NorCal – a ride to benefit FARA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to researching a cure for Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), a degenerative neuro-muscular disorder. We rode the 60-mile route from Davis to Vacaville, Winters, and back to Davis. The ride is sponsored by Outback Steak House so the post-ride meal … the ribs, oh the ribs …
Sacramento Delta Area – I’m beginning to explore this area again with a friend.
Cantelow – revisiting a hill I “conquered” several years ago which has defeated me this year until last Saturday. Finally up and over Cantelow again without any walking!
I’ve also gotten a few foodie explorations in, especially in Carmel. One of these days I will blog about the food … especially about La Bicyclette.
One of these days … I will get caught up.
It's another amazing sunflower year in and around Davis. They're just starting to bloom.
La Bicyclette … it was love at first bite.
We need you in Davis, California. We are “Bicycle City,” you know!
Review Coming Soon!
A lovely little ride along the Central Coast from Carmel to Monterey.
More soon … there were some awesome foodie adventures in Carmel.
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