All week the weather was warm. Then Saturday comes and it is cloudy and cold. Didn’t dress right. I wore shorts and a thin arm warmers. Who cares it will just warm up and I will be fine. The bike gods had other plans, it never warmed up.

So I decided to go to Al’s Big Burger. Time for a mushroom, bacon, cheeseburger with fries. The crinkly kind. The best way to warm up. Got there early before the rush.

Took my Fed 3 film camera with me and took some pictures. I didn’t use the roll so I still have some pictures to take. Going to be interesting to see how the pictures come out.

The wind was blowing pretty good today. The water on the bay was pretty rough. Couldn’t stop these kayakers going out.

Usually these birds are brown with black. First time I’ve seen a blue one. Glad he stayed in his spot long enough for me to get a picture.

I like riding my bike because It is just the right speed to cover a lot of ground and slow enough to see things and stop to take a picture.

Kayakers getting ready to head out at Ferry Point. I get sometimes you just got to get away from it all. Actually in the middle of the bay is probably a good way to do it.

Sometimes I see graffiti that I like. Saw this on a trailer at the post office distribution center.

Even with the cold it was good day of bike riding. It is always good bike riding.

Hopped on the bike and decided to ride across the Carqueniz Bridge. The weather was nice so it turned out to be a nice spring day ride.

When I got across the bridge there is a nice resting place and great view of San Pablo Bay. The Vallejo ferry was returning from San Francisco and tugboats doing their work. Always a nice spot to have my snack.

On my way home I stopped at the Hercules Library to do some reading and cool off. It  was getting a little warm. Not too many people inside so it was quiet and I finished the book I was reading, Audition by Rhu Murakami. Pretty good.

I like weekday rides. Not crowded on the roads or when I go places.

On my way home and my bike commute home takes me through downtown Pinole. Not very big. Blink and you might miss it.

At least the weather is warming up now. Hopefully the rain is finished and I can ride dry. But now the hot weather. At least in July the fog shows up with the wind but at least it is cool and makes for great riding.

Coots by Kellers Beach. Nice to see the coots. San Pablo Bay is cleaned up.

I hate to think about what I was swimming in during the 1970s.

Riding 23rd Street in Richmond.

Taking off on my bike and it looks like a threat of rain. But this time I’m prepared, I remembered my rain pants. This time if it pours down rain I can slip on my rain pants and stay dry. Bike gods throw your best shot.

Stopped at Barnes and Noble. I got a white mocha and grilled cheese sandwich and it was pretty good. I was impressed. Got some reading in and finished the book I was reading, The New Koreans: The Story of a Nation by Michael Breen.

Stopped by the Albany Library to read some magazines. Got a comfortable chair. Get to the Albany Library in the morning and I can enjoy the quiet. Albany Library can get noisy in the afternoons.

I like my quiet weekends. I spend enough time surrounded by noisy people when I’m at work.

The view from Point Isabel on the bike/walk path. Low tide today. Not too many people on the bike/walk path. The threat of rain will do that.

Break time. The Doten Family Marsh is my last break spot before I pedal home. I had a bag of Kettle potato chips and decided to enjoy my snack. The weather was cool and breezy but still enjoyable to have a break. Always good to be outside.

The bike gods were being nice. The threat of rain did not happen. But it started clouded up when I reached home so the rain still may come. Let the rain come now that I am home.

The rain has caused muddy trails so hiking in the mountains are out. So it is off to Ferry Point. Nice views of the bay and lunch in Point Richmond. Only to discover Great American Hamburger is now closed on Sundays. So off to Starbucks.

Fishing on the pier. At least you don’t need a fishing license.

Tugboats doing their job. I like going to Ferry Point and watching the tugboats.

The weather was warm so it made for a good walk into Point Richmond. I keep forgetting about a cafe down from Starbucks so the next time I want to check it out and see what they have.

I’m hoping that the Sunday closing of Great American Hamburger is temporary because they have a help wanted sign up. But if not then Saturday on my bike ride I will stop in. If it is crowded I can eat outside by the Richmond Plunge. Got to get my fix in.

The SF Bay Area is getting expensive but I can go outside all year long and do my hikes and bicycling so it is a price I’m willing to pay.

Pedaling on 23rd Street in San Pablo. Got rid of the first car lane and made a bike lane. Great for the bicycle rider so great for the car driver. Don’t worry once you hit Richmond it goes back to two lanes.

The bike ride started out nice. Then the clouds started to move in. I heard the bike gods laughing. I know what is coming but I don’t know when.

Went to REI to have a peak. I have a $159 dividend so I wanted to have a look around. I didn’t see anything I wanted or needed. Next year dividend is probably going to be next to nothing.

I was riding by Golden Gate Fields and decided to have a snack. Had a great view too. The clouds are moving in and one would think I would have more urgency. I’m not going to pedal like a bat out of hell just to avoid some rain. My snack was good.

I’m by the Craneway building and I see a ship heading out to sea being escorted by a couple of tugboats. I had to stop because I like tugboats. Still no rain. The bike gods are playing with me.  I know I shouldn’t stop and it could cost me but I’m use to the rain. The last three Saturdays I have been rained on. Who am I kidding I still hate riding in the rain.

I reach the light by Hoffman Blvd and then it happens, the rain. It is coming down pretty good and it is a cold rain. I could swear I heard the bike gods giving high five’s. Maybe it was thunder.

I decided to skip Starbucks and head to the overpass in Point Richmond where I can rest under and stay dry. I eat my snacks and wait for the rain to stop or slow down. Sprinkling is okay.

Pedaling home. There are some blue in the grey skies. Looks like I’m home free. The rain is no more. It is a dry ride all the way home. Can’t take the back way because of the mud in the field. So it is the long way home. Love the sound of the garage door when it opens because I’m home and safe from anymore rain that will show up.

Now if my commute on Monday and Tuesday is dry.

A little climb on the ride home.

Clear all day and then the ride home and the clouds begin to move in. Now it is a race against the rain.

Still I’m in no mood to pedal like a mad man. But I do pedal at a steady pace. There will be no break by the bay. I like the little break by the bay but the threat of rain makes me skip it.

I get about a mile away from home I swear I felt a drop of rain or is it my imagination. Not taking any chances so I pedal faster. Lucky it is a downhill flat. Turn onto my street and open the garage door. Put the bike inside and no rain. Then all of sudden the rain begins or more like a sprinkle. But I beat the rain.

I guess the bike gods timing is off, But I wonder what awaits.

A ride by the Craneway Building and where Richmond is putting the new ferry. At least Richmond has begun work. Hercules just talks about their ferry.

Woke up in the morning and had a headache and my stomach didn’t feel that good. Thought I would pedal it away, usually works. Not this time just stayed with me for the whole ride.

Had my Nook with and I downloaded episodes from season 6 of Grimm. On of the best shows ever made as far as I’m concerned. Season 6 is the last season but it makes sense to me. Shows basically have a five year life span and after that the show goes downhill and becomes unwatchable.

There is a threat of rain but so far I have avoided it. The bike gods are being nice and I’m fearful. They are never nice. A little paranoia goes a long way.

I head to Point Richmond. Debating if I should stop at Starbucks or keep riding. There it is, rain. I knew the bike gods wouldn’t leave me alone. Isn’t it bad enough I don’t feel good. So Starbucks it is.

At least there is one chicken wrap left and I get a tall coffee. Might as well get some caffeine in me for the ride home. Starbucks is pretty empty so I get a table by the window. I want to know when the rain stops and then I can pedal home.

I take out my Nook and start another episode of Grimm. This is what a ride becomes when I don’t feel good and rain is coming down. Good thing I brought my rain jacket with me. Always be prepared.

Episode of Grimm is done and the rain has stopped. Time to start the pedal home. I like the ride through Point Pinole. Since I’m ready to call it a day I decide to take the short way home instead of the streets. Problem with the shorter way is I have to go through a muddy field. At least I get home faster.

Still not a bad day on the bike. I still got 28 miles in. So now it is time to lay down and take a nap. Damn Daylight Savings Time starts on Sunday. As far as I’m concerned Daylight Savings should start before Memorial Day and end the week before Halloween. It is basically a time for vacation and people who don’t work. Rant and ride done.

This is the worst section of my bike commute home. Not only is it a climb but there isn’t a shoulder. Cars sometimes get pretty close. Got to have nerves of steel.

This is why I can’t wait for June and the bike/walk path from Bayfront Park to Pinole Shores is completed. I can avoid this and take the bike/path all the way home.

The walk around the bike.

Always a good day on the bike.