Richard's Travelblog

Cafe Brio - Best Dinning Experience in Victoria

2011-08-29T15:32:00.000-07:00

From our inital greeting by the owner, Greg Hays to the aperizers, wine selection, main course and finally the cheese plate our experience was a culinary treat that stands as our best dinning experience in Victoria.

Off the beaten path, a 15 minute walk from the town center, Cafe Brio is a rustic Italian oasis sandwiched tightly between non nondescript buildings. The front patio encased in creeping vines beckons you in. In our conversation with Greg we learned the restaurant was built to his and co-owner Silvia Marcolini's design some 20 years ago during the biggest snow Victoria has ever seen.

Its high ceiling, earth tones and subtle lighting transport you immediately back to an Italian tratoria. The atmosphere is "vivacious" reflective of its name "Brio" and its owners. Chef Luarie Munn has created a superb menu of fresh ingredients from local farms sure to please knowledgeable foodies.

Many of the servers have worked at Cafe Brio for over a decade and are very knowledgable of the food and wine parings. Our server suggested a Querciabella Chianti which proved to be an excellent choice. Both Greg and Silvia visit Italy yearly to bring back new ideas and interesting wines.

We started with 2 stuffed olives followed by an antipasta selection that include a fantastic Boudin Noir blood sausage and a chicken liver parfait pate both homemade. We then both had the pasta Bolognese which was perfectly cooked al dante. We finshed with a cheese tray of Farm House Cheddar and La Baquette de Kerneval (french cow).

All in all a fantastic expereince and a "must visit" if you're in Victoria.

Maine Lobster in California

2011-08-07T23:01:00.000-07:00

Today we enjoyed a real Maine Lobster roll in Redwood City.

The Old Port Lobster Shack will take you back to Maine without the 5 hour flight. From the ambiance to the table decor it's all there. The only thing missing is a view of the ocean.

"Escape to a little piece of Maine at our casual New England style restaurant where you can enjoy traditional New England seafood favorites right here in the San Francisco Bay Area in a fun, family-oriented environment with a wicked friendly staff.'

We had the traditional Maine Lobster roll and is was the real deal and the fries we really good. I can recommend it highly.

The Maine Lobster Roll

Steamers Grillhouse

2011-07-02T10:10:00.000-07:00

We've been enjoying Steamers for what seems like forever yet I've never really taken the time to explain why we like it so much. First and foremost its the food. If you're in the mood for fish this should definitely be on your short list. They feature daily fresh specials that have never in all my experience disappointed. Second it's the ambiance which is friendly and vibrant. The Martini's are the best and the bar is inviting. It's a great place to meet friends after work and stay for dinner. They also offer outdoor dinning which in the warm summer nights is a good choice and is more intimate than the people show you'll find at Santana Row. All in all a great place to hang out and enjoy a evening with friends or meet new ones.

Arcadia New Years Eve Dinner

2011-01-02T12:04:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed an excellent New Year's Eve dinner at Arcadia in San Jose (Marriott). The four course fixed price menu with wine parings. The food was exceptional and the wine pairings very appropriate.

I especially liked the the Maine Lobster Pot Pie matched with a Moshin Pinot Noir 2008 from Sonoma. Also the Short Rib Rossini with Foie Gras was exceptional.

The only downside to a great meal was the absolutely egregious disco crap music that started at 9:30 and became progressively louder as the evening progressed. By midnight it was so loud no conversation was possible. The head waiter explained this was a New Years experiment - my comment - I don't think it worked. It would have been much better to have a live band playing well known covers to welcome in the New Year.

A Record Breaking Alpine Expedition in 1967

2010-07-26T14:39:00.000-07:00

In the summer of 1967 while attending Aiglon College, an English boarding school in Switzerland, Todd Barbey, John Moodie, Paul Rudé, and I set out on an Alpine challenge. Verbier to the Bella Tola, a 70 mile trek in 4 days which at the time was a school record. Day 3 was by far the longest covering 31 miles from the Cabin Dix to Anniviers. Using Google maps and Google earth I was able to recreate the route from memory and the movie footage. I saved the route and you can interact with it at http://bit.ly/AiglonEx. This is especially fun if you use Google earth.

The following video composed from my 8mm movie footage of the expedition documents the trek. The movie is Part 4 in a series of video I have compiled from my 8mm movie archives. The complete set can be seen at http:/bit.ly/Aiglon1966

Enjoy the show, cheers, Richard

Aiglon Memories - Part 3 - Allalinhorn

2010-05-10T18:14:00.000-07:00

"Ca fait du bien de grimper dans les montagnes. Le vent qui souffle, le soleil qui brûlures au visage. Ca fait du bien de grimper dans les montagnes"

Monsieur Flotron

I have now completed part 3 of my Aiglon Memories 1996 tittled "The Allalinhorn" This part is rightfully dedicated to Monsieur Flotron who lead us safely through many expeditions enthralling us with his infectious passion and complete respect for the mountains.

It was Flotron that taught me when in trouble: Stop, be calm, be creative, everything you need is right in front of you. Advice that has served me well in the many crazy situations life has thrown at me.

Enjoy

Aiglon Memories 1966

2010-04-18T20:39:00.001-07:00

I finally got my 8mm movies converted to digital and I'm in the process of creating a six part series with the 45 minutes of video. The parts I'm planning include:

Part 1 - Out and About
Part 2 - Fribourg Track Meet
Part 3 - The Allalinhorn
Part 4 - Mountain Long Ex
Part 5 - Dijon Cultural Expedition
Part 6 - A Day In The Life

I am using music from Aiglonites. On the first 2 parts I've used music from my brother Tony who attended Aiglon from 1963 - 1969.

Part 1 "Out and About"

Part 2 - "Fribourg Track Meet" - In which Tipper Davis runs like the wind and Todd Barbey crashes.

The Best Olive Oil in Traverse City

2009-08-22T08:23:00.000-07:00

We're in Traverse City this weekend to attend a wedding. Traverse City is a wonderful tourist destination with a charming quaint downtown that features lots of interesting shops.

Indeed none more interesting than Fustini's Vinegars and Oils which features large stainless steels jugs of each and allows free sampling of all. A really unique idea that allows you to taste many oils the way you taste wine.

They have a great selection and it's really fun to compare the oils side by side.

I highly recommend a visit.

O'Keefe and Adams - A Must See

2009-08-02T16:57:00.001-07:00

I really enjoyed the Georgia O'Keeffe and Ansel Adams - Natural Affinities exhibition at the SFMOMA.

If you get a chance to go I highly recommend it. The audio tour was especially good. As a photographer and painter seeing O'Keefe's paintings next to Adams' photos of the same subject was inspiring.

This quote from O'Keefe gave me pause:

"nothing is less real than realism, details are confusing, it is only by selection, by elimination, by emphasis, that we get to the real meaning of things."

That certainly makes sense to me. I've always tried to do that with my painting. The place for me is the south of France. I spent a lot of time as a kid growing up in a little town called Cassis-Sur-Mer. Just as O'Keefe resonated with New Mexico, I resonate with the Provence. Here is a painting and a photo of mine showing the Cap Cannai, my favorite view.

Trip Report - Florence, Tuscany and Rome

2009-06-05T15:12:00.000-07:00

Lucignano - Tuscany
Watercolor by Richard Treadway

We just concluded a fantastic trip to Italy that started in Florence, traveled through Tuscany and Umbria and concluded in Rome. I wanted to share our experiences and recommendations for those that maybe considering such an expedition.

In many ways we lucked out with on-time flights and perfect weather. The journey from San Jose to Florence and the return from Rome back home were each a long 24 hours but uneventful and on-time. The trip went so smoothly due to Pat's great planning and research. A big thanks to her for the countless hours she spent researching places to stay and see. We also got advice from AAA and help making some bookings which made the planning a bit less stressful. You can see all our pictures here
We started in Florence and we were very pleased with our stay at the Hotel Grand Minerva. The staff were exceptionally helpful and friendly. The hotel is on the Piazza Santa Maria Novella away from noisy busy traffic but a short walk to the historical down town. It features a rooftop pool and bar with 360 panorama of the city. We highly recommend it.

Over the course of 3 days we took in most of the main attractions including the Duomo and the Ufizzi. We were quite disappointed with the Ufizzi as the paintings were very poorly presented with insufficient lighting.

As far as restaurants we had 3 important rules that had to be followed. 1) Most of the clientele are speaking Italian, 2) The menu did not have pictures of the dishes and was also in Italian and 3) It had to be at least 2/3 occupied. Following these rules we had great dining experiences. When we broke the rules, not so much.

Our best meal in Florence was in a small restaurant behind the Piazza della Signoria, called Ristorante Birreria Centrale. We had the Tagliatelle and the Lasagna and both we excellent. I recommend the indoors for a very warm ambiance.

Our worst meal in Florence has a funny story attached. We were in a leather store and met 3 college co-eds on an exchange program. They were friends of the shop owner and were concluding their 4 month stay later that week. They seemed savvy so I asked what was the best restaurant they had experienced. After some discussion they all agreed on Il Profeta. We took their advice that evening. Our conclusion - We got we we asked for, that is: "The favorite restaurant of co-eds home sick for the US." Our first clue was that the clientele were all speaking English (American). The cooking was distinctly American style Italian presented with a flair and intriguing stories of traditional Florence making it even more appealing to Expats.

From Florence it was off to spend a week in a Tuscan Villa near Lucignano. The rental company named the property Villina Cottage but once there we discovered the real name is Poggia-Grilla. The villa overlooked the valley and Lucignano and every evening we would eat alfresco under a trellis of jasmine and wisteria. Three of the nights we arranged for Christina, the caretaker, to cook for us and those meals were the best 3 of all the meals we had on the trip.

The Villa is in a olive orchard and is a 300+ year old farm house. The accommodations would not please everyone especially those accustomed to the new and modern. The approach to the villa is an old dirt road barely passable by car but the trek is worth the view. We found a nice vineyard, Agricola Fabbriche, at the bottom of the hill and their blended wine, Camargi Palma was really enjoyable. I should have had a case shipped home.

From the villa we took several day trips to Assisi, Castiglione Del Largo and Montepulciano. We had a memorable lunch at the Cantina overlooking the lake at Castiglione Del Largo. Pat had a papparadelle bolognese and I had a tagliatelle in artichokes and duck ragu.

Driving in Italy is like bumper cars at 100KPH. It seems there is only one rule - don't have an accident. After that anything goes. If you're going too slow expect to be tailgated relentlessly. It's a bit intimidating but you get used to it.

From Tuscany it was off to Rome. We used a Garmin Nuvi 750 and that was invaluable, even if the American accent of the Italian names drove us crazy. It was especially useful in getting into Rome to drop the car off.

In Rome we stayed at the Hotel Mascagni, which is modern and quiet with very well appointed rooms. I would highly recommend it.

We visited all the usual sites but two experiences are worth calling out. The Borghese Gallery was stunning. All the art is exceptionally well presented and Bernini's statues are breathtaking. The gallery limits the time and number of visitors so the crowds aren't overwhelming and you have plenty to time to enjoy the masterpieces. I was particularly struck by Bernini's Apollo and Daphne. The audio tour is very well done and well worth taking.

We arranged a private tour of the Vatican and while it was expense it was definitely worth it. Our guide Flavio was very informed and passionate. Even with all the crowds he expertly guided us to the must see areas of the museum, chapel and basilica.

We finished our trip with our final meal breaking 2 of our rules for restaurant selection by eating alfresco in the Piazza Della Rotonda. It was by far the worst food we had but the entertainment in the Piazza with the Pantheon in the back drop was a real highlight.
All in all it was a wonderful trip.

Valentines Dinner

2009-02-15T10:09:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed a wonderful Valentines dinner at Arcadia in downtown San Jose. I must say we were surprised and the quality and complexity of the dishes. We started with the AHI Tartar which featured a quail egg yolk and finely chopped bosc pear in sesame oil. I had the Sole which was lightly fried and served on a bed of mashed potatoes with bechamel sauce. Pat had the steak Rossini which featured a fillet mignon in a pinot noir reduction sauce with foie gras.

A perfect complement was the bottle of Alexander Valley Silver Oak 2000 we had been saving for just such an occasion. The wine was superb but I don't think that would have mattered much because it's not the wine but who you're sharing it with that makes it great.

From the heart

Dinner at Santana Row

2008-11-30T09:10:00.000-08:00

Last night we had dinner at Consuelo's Mexican Bistro. It was a beautiful evening and though it's winter in most of the country here the days are amazingly warm. So we were able to get a table outdoors and partake in the best entertainment that valley has to offer - People watching. Sitting there watching the steady stream of people go by to live music is pure entertainment. The outdoor Parisian cafes have perfected this form of entertainment with their tiered seating facing the street offering optimal viewing for all. At least we have Santana Row, the closest thing to Paris in the Valley. We often eat at the Left Bank and if you pretend enough you can imagine you're having dinner in Paris (without the 12 hour flight).

A few dishes at Consuelo's deserve special mention. We enjoyed the Ceviche de pescado which featured fresh chunks of white fish, marinated in lime juice mixed with diced tomato,
jalapeño chile, onion, green olives, avocado, cilantro and olive oil. Also the Callos de hacha a lovely dish of pan seared scallops served over corn-potato puree, sauted green beans, chayote squash, with garlic and epazote herb.

Sitting there last night Pat and I agreed on a "New Rule" - Every time we eat at Santana Row it must be at an outdoor table facing the esplanade.

Cheers.

Thanksgiving Feast

2008-11-28T17:37:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we had a great Thanksgiving feast. A turkey dinner with all the fixings. The stars of the feast were the Silver Rose Dentelle 2004 wine and the turkey stuffing covered in thick brown gravy.

Our stuffing starts with a stew made from the turkey neck with celery and carrots and adds italian sausage and chestnuts. One secrete to the stuffing that I learned from my French grandmother is to pour burning Calvados into the cavity before adding the stuffing. She thought of this trick one year when the bird lacked freshness and seemed a bit off. In France alcohol can fix anything.

The Silver Rose Winery is at the most north end of the Silverado Trail in Napa Valley and also features a charming inn were we've stayed on numerous occasions. Their Dentelle, a Cabernet, Cabernet Franc, Merlot blend was a perfect pairing. It featured black currants, strawberry and oak on the nose. Chocolate, smokey, tobacco with a long smooth finish.

Diets be dammed, a true feast of the senses.

Web 2.0 Expo - Visiting New York

2008-09-22T14:35:00.000-07:00

Last week I attended Web2.0 Expo in New York. It's always fun to visit the city that never sleeps. You can see my post on the event here.

We stayed in the Hudson Hotel which turned out to be quite the swinging hot spot. All dimly lit with candles and spot lights. It reminded me of the Paramount, an Ian Schrager style hotel I've stayed in near Times Square. Come to realize the the Hudson is part of the Morgan Hotels Group which was created by Schrager so its no wonder his style was immediately apparent everywhere. We had California style weather the whole week and the outdoor patio was the hot spot to be in the late evening for a night cap. Off course everyone in our group complained about the size of the rooms which were only slightly larger than the bed but nonetheless well appointed.

Getting from Newark airport to the Hotel proved to be more challenging than I expected. After spending the better part of 2005 in New York I was confident I could figure out the transit systems and subways. However the trip from the airport via AirTrain, Path and Subway involved 3 changes and lots of walking. Taking a cab from LaGuardia is a lot easier. I ended up making a silly mistake getting on the E instead of the A/C line at Pen Station. Oh well it only took me 2 hours to get to the hotel.

I enjoyed nice dinners with the Curl team at Soba Totto, Bocca Di Bacca and Nice Matin. Soba Totto is a Japanese restaurant specializing in meats all slowly smoked over the grill. No Sushi insight.

Bocca Di Bacca, an Italian wine bar, featured a full menu and extensive wine list. I enjoyed a octopus appetizer and scallops over a bed of pureed celery and diced tomatoes. At the waiter's recommendation we enjoyed a Tuscan Brunello di Montalcino sangiovese grosso.

Nice Matin, one of my favorites, is a french Provencal Cafe. Having spent 0ver ten years in the South of France it seems like home to me. I had a grilled Salmon with asparagus, eggplant puree and zucchini pesto paired with an earthy, peppery Gigondas.

Dinner at Aqua

2008-09-05T09:55:00.000-07:00

For labor day we traveled to San Francisco and spent the weekend at the Westin. Our plan was to make sample the cities finest restaurants over the next year. First on the list was Aqua.

I can see why Michelin Guide gave Aqua 2 stars "Excellent cooking and worth a detour." We traveled from San Jose to celebrate our special occasion at Aqua and it was well worth the drive.

The service was impeccable and the cooking exceptional. I had the Tartare of Ahi Tuna followed by the Hawaiian Walu. I finished with a selection of cheeses. The Walu had a wonderful Foie Gras sauce that was a surprising complement to the fish. My wife had a lobster salad (special) followed by the Alaskan Halibut and finished with the Apricot Medley.

We paired this with the Font-Sane Gigondas which features the earthy, peppery and barnyard flavors distinctive of the southern Rhone. I first had this wine at Absinthe and reviewed it here.

All-in-all an exceptional dinning experience I can recommend to anyone.

Next up Michael Mina.

Wine Tasting in Murphys

2008-05-29T16:25:00.000-07:00

Over the Memorial Day weekend Pat and I took the opportunity to visit Murphys, a small quaint town in the Sierra Foothills. The town's slogan is "Queen of the Sierra" and it has retained a lot of the charm it must have had back in the late 1800s. Very much like San Juan Batista which I described in this post "Lost in Time" a while back.

Our plan was to sample the local wines which are all part of the Calveras region. One nice thing about Muphys is that all the wineries have a tasting room on the main street so with a 15 minute walk you can experience 6 wineries. With a short drive you can get to another 4.

My tasting notes are all up on Corkd and tagged "murphys" The photos, all taken with my iPhone are up on Flickr.

In general we found the wines to be mediocre and pedestrian. Most of the 25 wines we tasted I rated in the 70-79 range using the Corkd 100 rating scale. The 70-79 range is defined as " Very average wines capable of quenching thirst but little else. Straightforward and unremarkable."

There were of course some notable exceptions. Here are the wines I rated in the upper 80s:

Newsome-Harlow 2004 Meritage. $30. A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 11% Petit Verdot. I rated this an 89. The nose had earthy, barnyard aromas and the finish was balanced with leather, tobacco and berry tones.
Cloud 9 Composition 2004. $35. Cloud 9 is the brand Solomon Winery uses for their propietary blend. The Composition is a blend of mostly Tempranillo, with some Syrah, Cab, Barbara and Petit Verdot. I rated this at 88. It had bitter straw and leather on the nose with heavy tannins and a smooth finish with hints of chocolate.
Stevenot 2005 Gran Reserve Zinfandel. $38. I rated this an 89. It had butterscotch, vanilla and oak with a smooth finish of chocolate and dark blackberries.

All in all it was a fun day and I can unequivocally say that Murphys is worth the visit.

From the heart

Richard

Easter Sunday in Santa Teresa Park

2008-03-23T14:04:00.000-07:00

Stile Ranch Trail - Santa Teresa Park

What a perfect day. On Easter Sunday there is no better place to commune with God than up close and personal with the beautiful splendor of Spring's new growth. Santa Teresa Park is aglow with a fantastic show of wildflowers from poppies to butter cups to snow caps and more.

Perfectly clear, very light breeze and temperatures in the low seventies made for a 10 out of 10 day.

Over the last 16 years hiking and biking in the park we've seen mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, wild boar, wild turkeys, rabbits and deer. But today was our first close encounter with a rattle snake - rattling and coiled to pounce we kept our distance. Clearly we're not the only ones enjoying the warm spring sun.

From The Trail

Richard

Celebrating Spring's Wonderful Greenness

2008-03-21T15:29:00.001-07:00

Willow Springs Road from my iPhone

With Spring officially upon us I'm back to training for the summer racing season. I've been getting in daily rides mostly around the Willow Springs loop.

Finally with all the February rain the hills are green and the poppies are out. I'm ready to celebrate the new growth of spring and relish in its wonderful greenness for all too soon it will become dry and parched and California golden.

On the road again. Cheers,

From the bike

Richard Treadway

Dad, He's Here

2006-03-24T11:03:00.000-08:00

Gabriel Treadway

The phone rang. It was the call I was expecting from Chris, my oldest son. "Dad, he's here, " he said.

And just like that I'm a grandfather. Chris and his wife Maureen had their first born son, Gabriel, born March 24th, 2006 at 3:57 PM in Phoenix, Arizona. Gabriel is a big boy and measured in at 8 pounds 15 ounces and 20 1/2 inches.

It is amazing to me how technology has changed how we experience a life being born. Not long ago no one would know the sex of the expected child. The father in the waiting room ready with cigars to pass around.

Today with ultra sound and other technological advances we knew a lot about Gabriel even before he was born.

And so it was. Chris' call with the simple words, "Dad, he's here" brought it home to me. The miracle of life.

From the heart

Richard Treadway

Almaden Valley Snow Line

2006-03-12T11:02:00.000-08:00

Snow covers 6 story tracking
tower atop Mt Umhunum

Well spring might be just around the corner but it's snowing in Almaden Valley. With the jet stream coming in from Alaska the snow line came down below 1000 feet. Yesterday I toured the valley and got these photos.

Today Jon and I rode up Hicks road to Mt Umhunum. A tough climb - 2500 verticle in 4 miles. They should put this climb in the Amgen Tour of California next year and have a hill top finish.

Route up Mt Umhunum

Climb Profile

There is a property owner that will not allow anyone to travel the section of Mt Umhunum road that goes through his property so it is impossible to ride all the way to the top of the military base and the 6 story tracking station at the top. This is most unfortunate as it would be a world class Hors Category climb at just under 3500 vertical feet in 8 miles with much of the climb at over 13%.

From the bike

Richard Treadway

Amgen Tour of California - Sierra Road

2006-02-21T11:01:00.000-08:00

Discovery Leads the chase up Sierra Road - Stage 2

Today the Amgen Tour of California rode through our back yard. It really was a thrill to see the world's best cyclists hammering up the very hill I climbed just the day before. Sierra is a tough climb rising 2000 feet in under 4 miles. It took me 39 minutes to climb it. The pros would climb it in 20 minutes.

I had no idea just how big this event would be and I certainly was surprised. As we waited on Sierra for the race to arrive the road gradually began to fill with hundreds of spectators. Jon and I had positioned ourselves about 1/3 of the way up and found a good spot to catch the action. A steep right hand turn. From our vantage point we could see down to the intersection of Sierra and Piedmont roads where the racers would turn left and start the climb.

People with cell phones getting updates on the peleton's progress... They're 30 minutes away! Then suddenly the skies filled with helicopters, motor cycles, police cars honking their horns and camera crews all whizzing by. It was like an invasion. Then the leaders on the climb. Yes with the same cross eyed brain dead look that marks the absolute concentration required to climb a 13% grade at 13+ mph at your HRMAX. Savoldelli, Hindcapie, Simoni all fly by. WOW.

Here are my photos from the stage

From the bike

Richard Treadway

Enter at Your Own Risk

2005-12-27T16:32:00.000-08:00

San Cristobal Mine, Quicksilver Park

My Brother was visiting for Christmas and to give him reprieve from the flatlands of Florida I took him on a 4 mile hike in Quicksilver Park to the San Cristobal Mine.

Quicksilver is a magical place that has loads of wildlife and plenty of ruins from the mines that closed down in 1972. A great place to take out of towners that is authentic and not touristy. I know that trials well as I ride my mountain bike on the English Camp - Bull Run loop often. In the years I have been visiting I have seen wild boar, bobcats, wild turkeys, coyotes, rabbits, deer and even a mountain lion.

It must have been a hard life as a miner but when you finally did get out of the mines you could rejoice in the surrounding beauty. The kids of Quicksilver must have been a tough bunch as well if this class picture in any indication.

English Camp School Kids

The hike to the mine is a little over 2 miles mostly uphill with a mild 6% grade. The day was cloudly but warm as we've had a series of storms driven by a jet stream straight from Hawaii known as the pineapple express.

On entering the mine the air is strangely warmer and our glasses steamed up as did the camera lenses. The mine has been closed off about 100 feet in. Looking beyond the barrier gives you an idea of what cramped quarters the miners must have had to work in. It certainly gives you an erie feeling even though you are only 100 feet in. The rails remain in the entrance which makes for nice picture looking out.

Into The Light

You can see all the photos from the outing here on flickr

From The Trail

Richard Treadway

Team San Jose Road Race

2005-11-08T11:13:00.000-08:00

SJBC Road Race
Originally uploaded by Richard Treadway.

Last Sunday I participated in the Team SanJose road race. This is a 32 mile race that makes 2 laps around the Uvas and Chesborough reservoirs in south San Jose.

The complete course is shown here.

It is a fun event and the race director of some 25 years , Gary Lee always makes it interesting by assigning handicaps that make it possible for anyone to win no matter what their fitness is.

This race is part of the San Jose Bicycle Club's (SJBC) winter series that features 13 races over 5 months from October to February. See the complete schedule here.

It is a great way to get into the sport of bike racing as the events are low-key, instructional and feature time trials, criteriums and road races.

Sunday's race was fast. I'm not as fit as I have been in years past and I'm older and heavier but I was still able to hang in with the pack. My time was 82 minutes which equals my fastest at 23.4 MPH average. The scratch group (Category 1) caught our group (category 3 - we had a 3 minute head start) just into the second lap by hammering the first 16 miles in 37 minutes which is a 26 MPH average! Gary was counting on them doing 40 minute laps.

The "wall" is always a challenge especially for an old fat guy like me. Even though I was dropped over it on the first lap, I faired better the second time staying about mid pack.

Jon Climbs the Wall
Originally uploaded by Richard Treadway.

So it all came together in the end with the category 1 riders taking the glory of the win. I ended up 26th.

All in all a great day in the saddle.

From the Bike
Originally uploaded by Richard Treadway.

Richard Treadway

Lost in Time On A Horse With Two Wheels

2005-11-05T12:33:00.000-08:00

Cowboy Country From the Bike
Originally uploaded by Richard Treadway.

I took a great ride in the back roads of Hollister today with my son Jon. Just like San Juan Batista this area is lost in time. Cattle farms that have changed very little since the late 1800s dot the landscape as cows graze peacefully. This must be where they film the "Happy Cows" cheese commercials. I think if I were a cow this would be the place to be.

When I look out at the undeveloped land I'm taken back to a time when we'd be riding horses not bicycles.

Into The Hills

Old Barn

Here are the other pictures I took on the ride.

The day was perfect and the temperature was cooling in the mid 50s. The hills are all golden this time of year and made for a real contrast to my rides last week in New Hampshire.

Here is a part of the route.

Jon and I made a plan to do this ride again in the Spring when all these hills will be emerald green. Earlier this week a major bicycle race, the Tour of California will go through this area in February. That should be a perfect time to highlight the beauty of the region.

I'm looking forward to it.

From the Bike
Originally uploaded by Richard Treadway.

Richard Treadway

Riding the New Hampshire Lanes

2005-11-02T14:57:00.000-08:00

Wilton Center
Originally uploaded by Richard Treadway.

Last week I visited my good friend Dave and his faithful companion Annie in Milford, New Hampshire. I took the opportunity to ride the beautiful country lanes of New Hampshire. The weather didn't fully cooperate and most of my rides were in 40 degree drizzle but the fall foliage lit up the roads against the gray sky and reminded me in a wonderful way of the beauty of the four seasons.

See the photos from the ride here.

Having been in California for 15 years I forget how easy it is to ride 90% of the time in sunny warm conditions. I remember one Easterner telling me the real reason Californians are so whacko is that they don't have that "attitude adjustment" period called winter.

But it's not just the weather that is in contrast. There's a big difference in the roads. In fact I prefer to call them lanes. Between Milford and Mount Vernon there must be 20 different back roads you can take. This provides a lot of variety. Contrast that to San Jose. Between Almaden Valley and Morgan Hill there are only 2 roads that you can take. After a time it gets boring. New Hampshire is more like England were the "lanes" as they are called are really farm roads that follow the property boundaries and have over the years all been paved. It makes for great riding.

One ride I did was a loop from Milford to Mount Vernon to Francistown to Jaffrey and back to Milford over Hwy 101.

You can see the complete loop here.

Richard Treadway

From the Bike
Originally uploaded by Richard Treadway.

Flashback to 1996 - The Iron Horse

2005-09-30T11:22:00.000-07:00

This article in the New York Times on Durango triggered a flashback of my epic ride in the Iron Horse race in 1996. Of course that was well before blogs but I did write my adventure in my journal and this seems like as good time as any to post it to my travel blog.

Durango Colorado - May 25th, 1996

When my old high school friend Todd Barbey, invited me to his horse ranch in Durango Colorado to participate in the 25th running of the Iron Horse Classic, I thought, "Hey that would be fun." Two and a half hours into the 47 mile, 5800 Vt.ft race negotiating 3 inches of snow over the 10,000 ft Colbank pass I had a different impression.

Having spent 6 years in the Swiss Alps I should have known better and been more prepared but hey, a 47 mile race, it's not that far and with all that climbing I'm sure not going to weigh myself down with heavy things like a warm rain jacket, winter gloves and booties. But that's what I would have needed and more (a tent would have been good) to finish safely. When I was finally rescued 8 miles from the finish there was 3 inches of snow covering my abandoned bike. Anyway, All's well that ends well, and Todd and I will have a good story to tell.

The race is truly an America classic which started 25 years ago when two brothers; one a cyclist, the other the train conductor on the Colorado - Silverton line, challenged each other to a race on the opening day of the train line. On that first running the train won but the younger brother-cyclist eventually prevailed beating the train in the 3rd running. Since then the race has grown steadily and the 25th running had well over 800 riders.

This years winner Jonathan Vaughters set the course record and broke the 2 hour barrier. He simply had a superior level of fitness having just completed the Tour Dupont, 16th in the CG.I think I was headed to a 3:10 time which would have put me in the top twenty of the 45+ class. The winner in that group was at 2:17!!!The perennial favorite, Durango's own Ned Overend is the Iron Horse participant with the most wins at 4 victories and even at the age of 41 took 2nd also breaking the course record.

The following is exerted from the Iron Horse Web site.

The day began as a perfect racing day in Durango with overcast skies and a cool 40 degrees. By the time the winners reached the finish in Silverton it was snowing. Jonathan Vaughters from Englewood, CO was the winner breaking the previous Iron Horse record by a whopping four minutes. At the finish Vaughters confessed, "I actually thought I was playing it conservatively".

Yeah, right!

Second place went to Ned Overend of Durango who was four minutes behind Vaughters. The race began with the parade through Durango pacing with the train. The race didn't actually begin until the racers reached the Iron Horse Inn, just north of town. A 30 bike pileup occurred shortly after that, but the racers had the advantage of a 20-30 mph tailwind coming up the Animas Valley. The high point of the race (literally) is Molas pass (just under 11,000 ft. By 11:30 there were 3 inches of snow forcing race officials to stop the race for hundreds of riders further back and evacuate them off the passes.

Most who finished had to brave hypothermic conditions for the last 15 miles of the race. As is often true of spring in Colorado, the weather was downright pleasant by 1:30.

Richard Treadway

Up Hicks under Mount Umunum

2005-09-20T08:50:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I did the Hicks loop. It's been a long time since I did this loop. With a 13-14% grade climb it's not the sort of ride you take on whim. But as I have been doing 120 plus miles per week for the last 2 months it seemed like a good time to give it a try.

The steep part of the climb has 3 sections that all look like the final turn to the top. If you're not ready for it you can easily get the feeling you are stuck in a Escher painting.

The ride does reward you with a great view of Mt Umunum. Umunum is Ohlone for humming bird. These wonderful birds are in abundant here in the Almaden Valley.

Here is the complete route

Richard Treadway

Silicon Valley Sunset

2005-09-15T10:01:00.000-07:00

Coyote Peak - Santa Teresa Park

Last Sunday I rode my mountain bike up to the summit of Coyote Peak in Santa Teresa Park. I to do this ride regularly but the last 6 months in New York City working with an Internet start-up has kept me from my usual routine so it was fun to rediscover it.

At 1,155 feet, Coyote Peak is a great place to see the setting sun with a view of the bustling Silicon Valley to the north and the bucolic Coyote Valley to the South. Santa Teresa park is at the confluence of civilization and wilderness. Over the last 10 years of visiting Coyote Peak in the evening hours I have seen wild boar, mountain lions, coyotes, bob cats, wild turkey, rabbits and many deer. It's a magical place and it only takes an hour to complete the entire 10 mile out and back loop from my house. See the route here.

There are marvelous outcroppings of bedrock formations of the Franciscan Assemblage primarily serpentine rock. This is one of my favorites that I have photographed often.

There is an abundant collection of wilfloweres each having its own season thoughtout the year so no matter when you go there is always something new to discover. You can see my Santa Teresa photo collection here.

Up next my other favorite loop in Quicksilver Park

My Heart Soars Like a Hawk

2005-08-31T18:32:00.000-07:00

Lake Tahoe

I spent the last 4 days with my son Jon and my brother Tony at Lakeland Village on the south shore of lake Tahoe. As always the weather is perfect and the power of the place overwhelming.
We took the new Heavenly Gondola to the observation deck where the picture above was taken.

Late August is a good time of year to come to Lake Tahoe as schools in California have started so the screaming rug rats are in minimal supply. Lakeland Village is right on the beach and it's a treat to toast the sunset with a fine glass of wine.

As Barabara Kingsolver writes in High Tide in Tuscan, each place has its rhythm and Tahoe's is a crazy set of mixed vibrations. Casinos with gambling and Los Vegas style entertainment on one end of the spectrum and natures most peaceful relaxing escapes on the other.

I remember my first time to Tahoe in April of 1986. I had placed first for the eastern region in the a national ski race competition called NASTAR. The final championship that year was held at Heavenly Valley and as a first place finisher I was awarded an all expenses paid trip to Tahoe to compete.

I couldn't believe the eclectic mix of clientele at our black jack table at Harveys that first night. There was a fellow in a tux, a runner in a warm-up suit, a woman in jeans and me in ski cloths. Coming from the east coast I thought it pretty weird but now that I've been in California for 15 years...

Whatever.

Richard Treadway

Lost in Time

2005-08-31T18:27:00.000-07:00

San Juan Batista.

I spent a leisurely afternoon in San Juan Batista with my son Jon
and my brother Tony. I love going there. Today’s excuse was that Tony is visiting from Florida. It’s always fun to see California’s beauty through the eyes of someone seeing it for the first time. We natives need a visitor to reintroduce us to the natural beauty that surrounds us. It’s so easy to become numb to it all.

San Juan Batista is a town that time passed by leaving it frozen in the late 1800s. Like Vesuvius did to Pompeii the railroad did to San Juan. With a simple twist of fate the railroad located in nearby Hollister and civilization passed San Juan by. Thank goodness for that decision as it has perserved all its old world charm for us to enjoy.

Every time I visit, and that’s often, I get an overwhelming sense of calm. It’s almost as though I lived there in a different life. The mission church has been functioning for over 200 years. Roaming the grounds it’s easy to get lost in a time warp and imagine life in the 1800s as it was with the Californians, known as the new aristocrats. Think Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Richard Treadway

Morning Coffee

2005-08-31T18:19:00.000-07:00

After a difficult 2 weeks at work it's a great pleasure to enjoy an early leisurely morning outdoors having breakfast in the cool sun. Birds chirping. Sounds of the day awakening.

Each time I spend a morning like this it takes me back to my time in in Cassis, Provence. The early morning when the air is still cool, the wind is calm and the smell of pines is abundant.

It belongs to the early birds. Those that service the tourist industry, working diligently and efficiently to prepare for the new day. Cleaning the sidewalks, cafe tables and beaches in anticipation of the tourist onslaught.

Those moments of industry, so purposeful, so practiced, so efficient, followed by sleepy eyed tourists wondering about with no particular purpose but for that all important cup of coffee. It's a time when everyone can tell the tourist from the local.

Gradually the sun becomes stronger and the "cigals" start their chorus. You have to look hard to find the locals, their time of preparation spent, the tourist onslaught overwhelms them. The lazy moment of the wondering tourists ends as the early birds fly away into the mayhem of the crowed streets.

Richard Treadway

Meditation Point

2005-08-31T18:14:00.000-07:00

Santa Teresa Park...

Sitting on a rock at meditation point.
What do you hear? What do you see?

Wind in your face to the south. Sun in your face to the north.
The first day of spring. In with some rain. Out with some sun.
Only the faint signs of life. Bird's song issuing the new bright green grass of spring.

Deep tracks in the hard baked mud of winter. Signs that there are other inhabitants you can't see, but certain they can see you.

Can you be still enough?
Can you be observant enough?
Can you be patient enough?
Can you be quite enough?
To hear and see and feel what you know is there.

Richard Treadway

Cafe du Plage

2005-08-31T08:37:00.000-07:00

Cassis sur Mer

... sitting at the Cafe du Plage, smell of Provence in the air. Rosemary, anise, garlic, fish and saltwater.

Skin warm after a day in the sun, parched from the heat, lips cracked, I reach for my cool, iced glass of Patis. I breath in the drink as it exposes the essence of provencal life through its herbs born of the earth.

An earth as old as the universe, a pleasure as old as man.
I wonder how many have known these simple pleasures before me. Surely they are as essential as man himself.

The heat bakes my skin, but the sun fills my sole with life. I head to the water its wonderful coolness surrounds me as I gradually work my way in up to my waist. The water beads on my brown skin. "Elle est bonne," echoes in my head and indeed she is nice, in fact better than nice, best.

The late afternoon sun paints the landscape in a warm orange light. The light of photographers and painters alike. It brings every mellow hew to the front. So much softer that the morning light which heralds the harshness of a new day.

The sun shimmers on the water, the waves continue their rhythmic splashing on "les caillous" of the rocky beach. I take another sip of my Pastis enjoying its every aspect.

I rejoice in the planet's immense diversity, surely it is the way of the human to enjoy these simple pleasures. Sitting here I know many before me have sat and contemplated all these imponderables and in one way or another have come closer to understanding what life is about.
As the planet gets smaller and our ability to comprehend it as a whole gives us a new perspective on its immense diversity and the brilliance of its natural systems we are coming to a new place.

A place where we can realize that though we are different we share the common principles of essential life.

Richard Treadway