Testing our Limits: Crossing over the Guadalupe Reservoir to Almaden Quicksilver County Park

“The best journeys take unexpected detours.”

—Lisa Mangum

An unplanned detour has taken friend, Bill Rothenberg and I to some of the most beautiful places and some seemingly crazy ones as well.

Take this morning's hour ride. We had intended to do a modest ride along the Los Gatos Creek Trails, through Vasona Lake County Park to Los Gatos Boulevard, continuing on with a steep climb up Kennedy Road to Shannon Road, to the Guadalupe Reservoir on Hick’s Road. The payoff is a few adrenaline rush descents. But, we found ourselves pushing the envelope. During our interlude at the Guadalupe reservoir, Bill noticed some hikers across the way in the distance and wondered out loud, could we cross the steep cement dam spillway to access some other biking trails. After several attempts, we discovered it was too slippery and downright risky to climb to the top of the spillway and ride across. We speculated if we might have better luck walking our bikes across the lower part of the 60-degree downward grade. We would have to lift our bikes over the black corrugated PVC drain pipe and walk it down to the gravel trail across to the other side while gripping our brakes to gain better traction. Broken glass and “Devil’s thorn,” otherwise known as "goathead vines" sharp enough to puncture bike tires were difficult to avoid. I kept thinking of a quote I read recently: “The leading cause for injury in old men is them thinking they are still young men.”

We finally made it to the other side, only to realize we now had to navigate uphill before we could get to the hiking trail. Perseverance and ingenuity paid off. With belabored breath, we made it across without getting hurt. We saw a sign for Almaden Quicksilver County Park, but we didn’t know where the trail led.

Suddenly, a hiker appeared. He looked familiar. "Joey?" I asked. "Yeah!" He said, squinting as the sun shone on his eyes. "It’s me, Dennis from Courtside Bay Club." Joey was a spin teacher before Covid-19 hit. We asked him for assistance and he pointed us in the right direction. He told us he lived only a mile away. As people would say of such encounters, “What are the chances?” But, I happen to believe in Serendipity.

Almaden Quicksilver County Park in South San Jose encompasses 4,163 acres. Formerly the home of 1,800 mining families dating back to the 1800s. It includes over 35 miles of hiking trails, including 30 miles of equestrian trails and 16.6 miles of bike trails. Quicksilver, the silver-colored metal mercury is often used metaphorically to describe something that moves or changes very quickly The word comes from the sense of quickness that means “alive,” which is how Bill and I felt after another magnificent biking adventure. Or, as Bill referred to it: “Another epic ride." By the time we made it back home, we had traveled 28 miles round trip, blue skies all the way.

On This Veterans Day We Honor My Late Dad & Family Members & All Who Served or Continue to Serve

“To our men and women in uniform, past, present, and future, thank you."

A few years before he died our dad, Frank Augustine was a recipient of two Hudson County Military Service Medals and a Citation Certificate by the Hudson County NJ Executive, Thomas A. DeGise, the Office of Veteran Affairs, and the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders, for his seven years of service in the US Army at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, as a personal aide to his friend and mentor, Army Chaplain, Capt. William Walsh. He also received a proclamation from former Mayor Dawn Zimmer, presented by Councilwoman Jennifer Giattino.

Dad was honorably discharged in November 1942 just before the attack on Pearl Harbor. At 99 years old at the time, he was one of our country’s oldest living Veterans. He died on December 18, 2017, almost three weeks shy of his 101st birthday. Dad literally followed in the footsteps of his older brothers, my uncle Joseph Augustine and my uncle and godfather, Anthony Augustine. He joined them in Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

My dear nephew, Andrew Augustine, is part of the new generation of Augustines to serve his country. He is a Technical Sergeant in the United States Air Force. Having served in country’s around the world, he is currently stationed in Okinawa, Japan with his wife Kaylyn who also serves in the US Air Force. We are so proud of them both.

Postscript: In 1954, Eisenhower signed legislation formally establishing November 11 as Veterans Day. Our thanks to all those (dead or alive) who served our country in war or peace.

Happy Heavenly Birthday to Our Late Brother Michael: Celebrating & Remembering

Michael Carmine Augustine

Born: November 10, 1958

Died: November 1, 2019

Our late brother Michael was a sweet, caring guy with the biggest smile and the biggest heart. Just ask his former co-workers, his friends, and his four boys—my nephews: Michael, Jr., Andrew, Brock and Alex. He was their hero and they were his pride and joy.

Michael is a traditional masculine name with Hebrew roots (Mikha’el), meaning "gift from God.” He loved to laugh and make other people laugh. He was brave in many ways and sensitive too. His friends affectionately called him Augie, a nickname variation of August, Augustine and Augustus.

I've included some rare photos when we were kids.

Peace dear brother! We are all thinking of you. Say hello to mom and dad.

Bike Riding the Stevens Creek Bay Trail to the Stunning Nature Preserves & the Magical Bridges that Got us There

“Cyclers see considerably more of this beautiful world than any other class of citizens. A good bicyle, well applied, will cure most ills this flesh is heir to.”

—Dr. K. K. Doty

Biking buddy, Bill and I loaded up our bikes on the back of his SUV at 10 AM and headed to the Stevens Creek Trail with one stop for a chai tea latte and a small apple tart. It was cold and partly cloudy. We were dressed in layers and wore ear muffs to cut the chill. The paved all-weather pathway contains six under-crossings, six pedestrian bridges, a major 1/4 mile over-crossing structure, and a 350-foot overpass spanning over two highways (85 and 237). The trail provides users (bicyclists, walkers and runners) multiple experiences in a natural setting through woodlands, tidal marshes and creeks. We passed the Stevens Creek Shoreline Nature Preserve, Shoreline Lake Park in Mountain View, the National Wildlife Refuge, and the Palo Alto Bay lands Nature Preserve with 15 miles of trails. We paused for a little bird watching including hawks, ravens, seagulls, ducks, shore birds, and white pelicans. I took a photo of a large blue heron standing tall and wading in the creek along with some ducks, patiently stalking its' prey (tiny fish).

Our favorite part of riding these parts is to go a several feet off the main dirt trail and ride the narrow deep rutted small hilly terrain near the waters’ edge. The sun had been shining and we were much warmer than we first started.

The terrain we covered was massive. We decided to extend our adventure by riding the large hilly terrain that resembles sand dunes toward Palo Alto Airport, a general aviation facility on the outskirts of Palo Alto near the South end of the San Francisco Bay Trail. Other than a few charters there are no commercial flights. It is the tenth busiest single runway airport in California used before the pandemic by venture capitalists who flew in on their private planes or jets to cut deals. We stopped to watch the planes land and take off, and then decided to circumnavigate the airport.

I stopped to see an abandoned blue bicycle on its side with its’ front tire turned up. It looked perfectly rideable. There’s a story there we will never know. We passed Lucy Evans Nature Center, and the Historic Sea Scout building that was transformed into the ‘Eco-Center,’ a community resource for environmental education.

After a few hours of riding we headed back on the trails leading to the Hong Kong Bakery & Cafe on Castro Street in downtown Mountain View, for a snack and take-out delights to enjoy with our spouses, Sarah and Cecile. In all we rode over 30 miles round-trip and spent over three and half hours having outright fun and making a contribution to our well-being.

Photo credit: A little of isle of white pelicans at the National Wildlife Refuge overlooking a large grey building at Moffett Field. It was published in the summer issue Nature Magazine, 2019

All of the other photos are my own.

The Halloween Holiday Spirit is Still Alive & Well & Granddaughter Lyla & Her Pumpkins & Her Nana Cecile

“There is magic in the air when pumpkins shine in the sun by day and glow in the moonlight by night.”

There may not have been too many trick or treaters this year, but the Halloween spirit was still alive in spite of Covid-10.

During a bike ride, I took photographs of the local merchant’s decorations in the neighboring downtown historic village of Saratoga and one in San Jose.

Also, every year our neighbor’s daughter brings her more ghoulish artistic Halloween decorations to life, even if it looks like they came back from the dead. Her creations are strategically placed between the townhomes of two neighbors on our cup-de-sac above the upper pond and waterfalls where we live. The first series of photos are of Lyla with the pumpkins in front of her home and neighbor next door, in Redwood City, including one with her Nana Cecile.

Enjoy the photos and the spirit of Halloween leading up to Thanksgiving.

Remembering My Mom on Her Birthday Who Departed to the Heavenly Realm Seven Years Ago

"We never lose our loved ones.

They accompany us; they don’t disappear from our lives.

We are merely in different rooms."

—Paulo Coelho

What I remember about my mother:

She was beautiful beyond measure

She had a wicked sense of humor

My friends loved her and her generous hospitality

She encouraged me to get an education

She sacrificed so much for me and my siblings

Her wonderful smile

Her roaring laughter

Keeping a neat home

Her loving hugs

Instilled a love for our Sicilian heritage

Sending me Italian Deli care packages when I went away to college

Her hard work as a seamstress in her younger years

Her Italian meatball soup with carrots, onions and celery

Her love for bingo and playing the lottery

Our long walks together when she came out to visit us in California

Our many trips to see her family in Sicily

Having her and my dad join us and the kids on trips to Maui, Mexico and Alaska

Providing me a private Catholic School education when I was unhappy in the public school system from the start.

Encouraging our dad to buy a home in a safer neighborhood when I was 7 years old.

Remembering my Tender Hearted Brother Michael on the First Anniversary of His Passing

“A light loses nothing by being extinguished, it just goes back to how it was before.”

—Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Seneca, the great Roman Stoic philosopher reminded himself that prior to being born we were still at peace, and we will

once again be at peace after we die. We are also remembering Michael’s boys who survived him: Michael, Jr., Andrew, Brock and Alex whom he adored and cherished as they did him. He would have been 62 on November 10. I want to thank my dear beloved nephew Michael, Jr. (Mikey), for sending me a lovely card and gift a few days ago prior to the anniversary of his father’s passing.

As Mikey wrote, his father "meant so much to so many especially his family, so I want a part of him with you.” To my delight he chose an elephant charm and chain to gift me, a reminder of the once in a lifetime camera safari trip to Kenya and Tanzania I took with his father and my brother-in-law Joseph Mcallister. He asked would I mind bringing the elephant charm with me on my bike rides, hence the card with a whimsical illustration of a bike. Consider it done Mikey. I was so touched by your presence of mind to think of me and sending me positive thoughts and feel-good wishes to brighten my world just a few days prior to the anniversary of your dad’s passing.

I was so impressed that you remembered my telling you that days after I returned to California from NJ following your dad’s funeral last year I went bike riding with a friend and was feeling a lot of sadness and pain. Then, something came over me and instead of focusing on mourning his loss, I felt that your father was riding along with me and I was showing him the sights like I did when we were kids when he and your aunt Josephine sat on the the back of our uncle’s Vespa in Sicily while I drove us along the beach. Your father would be so proud of the thoughtful, sensitive, man you have become. Your symbolic gift couldn’t have come at a better time.

On this day of remembrance of your father and my brother, I offer a poem by @ Lauren, March 2010 called:

A Wish And a Prayer

May your spirit soar in freedom

From the fears that gripped you so tight.

May you find the peace you searched for

As you wandered lost in the night.

May your…mind be clear and calm

And your tender heart be warm.

May you have no need for strength now.

May there never be another storm.

May the music of the angels

Be the sweet sounds you hear.

As you’re rocked in Heaven’s cradle

May you never shed another tear.

I’ll wear your memory proudly,

May my love for you reach Heaven above

Until we meet again (dear brother).

Happy Birthday to our Wonderful Son-in-Law Kyle & Babysitting Our Granddaughther Lyla

"Be present in all things and thankful for all things."

—Maya Angelou

Cecile and I experienced two blessed and joyful events this past week, babysitting Lyla and celebrating our son-in-law Kyle’s birthday all on the same day.

We took Lyla on a stroll to Red Morton Community Park in Redwood City, played ball on the artificial turf, took her on the sliding pond in the children’s park, saying hello to the little girls and boys she has been accustomed to seeing, and visited the Rose Garden and decorative water fountain. We also visited a pair of flightless pet ducks of the neighbors and close friends next door, read her stories, fed her, and put her down for a nap. Later, before Kyle and Michelle went out for a romantic dinner at a local Mexican restaurant we all sang the Happy Birthday song. Kyle blew out the birthday candle with Lyla at his side. The cupcakes had miniature 49er helmets on them. Lyla helped dada Kyle open up his gifts. We bathe and fed her and got her ready for bed. The day was long, but the time spent was precious. Happy Birthday to a great son-in-law, a strong, intelligent, and handsome young man. Your parents welcomed you into this world and we’re so grateful that you eventually made your way into our world as well. You are a wonderful husband to our beloved daughter Michelle, and a loving and doting father to Lyla. We know you love our daughter, we see it in your eyes. You are such a blessing in so many different ways. You’re an important part of our extended family, and we love you more each day. Thanks to your sacred union with Michelle, which brought about a special gift in our lives, our little princess named Lyla.

Dinner with Friends at Zazil Mexicana Cocina at Santana Row & a Visit by the San Jose Fire Department

"The unexpected always happens.”

—Lawrence J. Peter

Cecile and I decided to venture out for dinner at Zazil Mexicana Cocina nestled in the heart of San Jose's Santana Row with friends Bill and Sarah Rothenberg. To beat the crowd we agreed to meet at 5:30 PM with masks on. We chose this restaurant for its wraparound corner location that offers alfresco dining with safe and comfortable spacing between tables. The 90 degrees plus heat of the day was beginning to ease and it felt quite balmy out. Zazil has a reputation for embracing new techniques from around the world that honors Mexican culture. The ambiance was delightful with Latin music playing in the backdrop, the food is tasty and plentiful. The restaurant took over the location once occupied by Consuelo’s and offers cuisine that is freshly prepared with local ingredients.

Complimentary salsa and fresh corn chips were brought to our table. We ordered Guacamole for our appetizer. For our entrees, we ordered a Mexican Salad, Grilled Chicken Fajitas Zazil with bell peppers, corn, mushrooms, salsa, black beans, and rice and sour cream, Grilled Steak Fajitas Zazil, and I had Tacos de Pescado Ensenada (Tempura fish, cabbage, slaw, cilantro, and Morita chile mayonnaise). Vegetarian and gluten-free offerings available. Sarah and Cecile enjoyed Margaritas and Bill and I had a bottle of La Cerveza Del Pacifico beer.

At the end of our meal, we heard the annoying sound of a smoke alarm and looked toward the interior of the restaurant to see what was the source for all the commotion. Apparently, the food on the grill got overheated which is a diplomatic way of saying, that one of the chefs must have burnt someone's food, or was a little overzealous with the cooking oil? The alarm kept droning on and on. I asked the waiter when will they turn it off. He informed us that the regulations require that the San Jose Fire Department must inspect the premises before the alarm can be shut off. Minutes later, we were joined by San Jose’s finest first responders. There were three fire trucks. Several firemen rushed to the kitchen. Everyone was safe, an evacuation wasn’t necessary, and people resumed eating and enjoying their drinks. We chalked it up to our evening’s entertainment. It was nothing compared to the unexpected events of 2020. So, please, if you live locally, don’t let this keep you from dining at Zazil.

The Joys of Cycling in San Francisco Including the Fog-Covered Golden Gate Bridge

“My two favorite things in life are libraries and bicycles. They both move people forward without wasting anything.”

—Peter Golkin

As everyone knows, It is not currently safe to travel the world, so one has to pick and choose venues closer to home, and bicycles have become a favored mode of transportation. Bill Rothenberg and I are fortunate enough to live about 50 miles south of San Francisco. Given the absence of robust tourist trade and rush hour traffic due to the pandemic, it is easier and quicker to drive our bikes to the city.

We parked in a lot across from Chase Center, an indoor arena in Mission Bay, that is home to the Golden State Warriors. One of the signature pieces at the front of the Center’s Plaza are the five large, silver alien-looking spheres containing massive mirrors angled in is such a way to magnify its surroundings including the curious passersby like Bill and me. We took photos reflecting our images.

We moved on to the front of Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants in the South Beach neighborhood which offers a wonderful view of the Bay. We then rode to the Welcome Tower, a 30-foot tall temporary public art installation that celebrates the city’s community of dreamers, inventors, and artists. The rainbow-colored motif reconceptualizes the Coit Tower, one of the most iconic symbols in the city. I took a photo of Bill at the base of the structure to render a sense of scale and the fanciful play of colors. We then approached the historic Ferry Building on the Embarcadero with its 245-foot clock tower. We continued on toward Pier 39 and the Aquarium of the Bay, which is a part of the much larger Fisherman’s Wharf, then on to the Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture, and the Marina Yacht Harbor.

The final leg of our biking excursion was the 1.7-mile Golden Gate Bridge. Its orange-red towers and cables are known internationally, and it is one of the most photographed bridges in the world. As we approached the path toward the bridge it got cooler and cooler. I took a few quick photos in Fort Mason, the Palace of Fine Arts, and Crissy Field.

Unlike the first time we crossed the Golden Gate Bridge toward the onset of the pandemic, we got to experience its natural, fog-shrouded state. We heard the haunting and booming foghorns mounted below the roadway level utilized to guide hundreds of thousands of vessels through the Golden Gate Strait, warning ship operators of limited visibility. In contrast to the relatively mild weather throughout the city, it was cold, so cold it reminded me of the Polar Bear Club, who swim in wintery cold waters. It was quite a rush.

Since there is no official designated bike lanes on the bridge, cyclists must share space with pedestrians.

The “Golden Gate” refers to the stretch of water that separates San Francisco from the Pacific Ocean.

Following a brief rest stop, we reversed course back over Golden Gate Bridge and retraced our way to Budin’s restaurant for classical white clam chowder in a bowl of sourdough bread, and a half of grilled cheese before winding our way back through the city along the bay for our return home. According to my Strava app, which maps out riding routes, we had completed another 25 miles of travel. Bill and I concluded that this ride was one of our top five bike rides since the pandemic hit.

A 25-Mile Seaside Bike Riding Nirvana in Santa Cruz and Capitola

"During moments of uncertainty go to the beach, enjoy the sunshine, the ocean breeze and just keep pedaling."

Following a brief respite from the record-breaking month of bad air quality from the raging wildfires of Napa Valley, eye-burning smoke began to waft into the South Bay again, raising the Air Quality Index to over 150 or three times normal level. So Bill and I decided to head over the hill to Santa Cruz where the air was cleaner, the temperature was 10 degrees cooler and the show-stopping vistas are a welcome sight. The coastal breezes were awesome, people were out enjoying the beaches and outdoor eateries.

We began our ride on Natural Bridges State Beach to the waterfront promenade on West Cliff Drive past the scenic overlooks and beach coves. We rode out to the Santa Cruz Wharf to visit the sea lions lounging and cuddling up with one another on the lower decks. And, of course, there were beautiful views of the ocean and boardwalk. We rode to Lighthouse Point, and the 40-Ft. Walton Lighthouse. We stopped at Pleasure Point, a surfing mecca, to watch the surfers doing what they love before continuing on to Santa Cruz Boardwalk, and the Santa Cruz Harbor which straddles the city limits which runs down the center of Arana Gulch. We rode on the upper and lower harbor, and continued to Capitola, before heading back to the Steamer Land Supply restaurant, on West Cliff Drive near the surf museum, on Lighthouse Field State Beach, a great place for small bites. We enjoyed fresh fish tacos before riding back to load up our bikes and head back home, feeling completely rejuvenated.

Half Moon Bay: A Blissful Country and Coastal 28-Mile Bike Ride With Friends

“Just because you are happy it does not mean that the day is perfect but that you have looked beyond its imperfections.”

—Bob Marley

Bill Rothenberg, Jimi Hunter, his wonderful wife Jennifer and I drove up to Half Moon Day in two cars recently, parked near the Mill Rose Bed and Breakfast and unhitched our bikes. Bill treated us to iced coffee to go from the Cafe Society before beginning our ride.

We began our adventure with a seven mile cruise on a reasonably wide shoulder lane on Highway 1, before crossing the island divide on Tunitas Creek Road for our backcountry ride. We coasted by old ranches, abundant farmland before stopping at The Bike Hut at Potrero Nuevo, a 300-acre farm that Jimi was raving about. The red hut operates on the honor-system, and sells snacks, beverages, bike tools, and picnic tables. Nothing has ever been taken from the store. Regrettably it was closed (Probably due to the pandemic), but this didn’t stop Jimi from making it memorable by casting his bike aside and clowning around by hopping on an old child-size vintage Schwinn bike in front of the store.

Tunitas Creek Road is an 11-mile, one-lane road beginning at the ocean, meanders through small farms and ranches and climbs a slow and challenging 2,000 feet with switchbacks through a beautiful, lush redwood forest. This is considered to be one of the best biking roads in the Bay Area. There were no cars in sight. At one point while lagging behind, taking it all in, I decided to stop and listen to the silence. After reaching the highest altitude the ride dramatically shifts from a slow ascent to a dramatically fast, and busy downhill adrenalin rush.

From here we turned onto Lobitos Creek Road. The canopy of redwood forest provided us with shade and scenic ambiance.

I stopped to take some photos of horses corralled on some local ranches for our granddaughter Lyla who loves horses. When she sees a horse, she loves to phonetically sound out the utterances horses make: "NAY!"

We also visited Arata’s Pumpkin Farm on Verde Road, established in 1932, and home to the two-acre World Famous Minotaur’s Labyrinth Hay Maze, six-acre corn field and Pumpkin. Pony rides, petting zoo, haunted house. Do to the pandemic it has limited hours. I took a photo of the big bronze horse sculpture on its hind legs with Jennifer and Bill in the foreground.

On the way back, we drove through Cowell Ranch Beach which includes the Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail, a safe and scenic way to explore the coast. Half Moon Bay Coastal Ride is part of Half Moon Bay State Beach. We continued on passed the Ritz Carlton, and made our way to downtown Half Moon Bay and enjoyed a socially distanced lunch at the Cantina in the courtyard at the historic San Benito House in the heart of Main Street. We were serenaded by a musician and singer while we ate.

I enjoyed my favorite “Baha” Fish Tacos (locally caught cod in Negra Modelo beer batter with cilantro, cabbage, red onion, lime crema, guacamole, and roasted tomato salsa).

Passing It Forward: Sharing the Joy of e-biking with a Good Friend Who Helped Us Downsize

It seemed like just yesterday when I bumped into good friend Mohssen (Mo) Rastegar while riding on my e-bike on my way to the Los Gatos Creek Trails. He waved, and after passing the main intersection, he followed behind me in his car and we both pulled into an empty parking lot to greet each other. In pre-pandemic times, we would hug one another. Mo likes to refer to me as Dr. Augustine Jaan or Dennis Jaan, which is the Persian word for “soul" or a diminutive suffix attached to given names, in this case, it means “my dear,” as in my dear friend. Mo had been inspired by my blog posts about all my biking adventures and had some questions. I was happy to oblige and pass on the joys of e-biking as it had been passed on to me by my other friends James Hunter and Bill Rothenberg. Mo is a successful real estate broker who together with his lovely wife Simin had helped Cecile and me downside from our Saratoga home to our current and more modest townhome almost five years ago.

Responding to one of my more recent Facebook posts, he told me he had purchased an Ebike about two months ago and said he would love to get together for a ride sometime. We made it happen two days later. We met at the front entrance of the gated community where Cecile and I live. We rode through Friendship Park on our way to Starbucks for iced coffee and got caught up on family and our lives in general since the pandemic began. There were our bikes standing side-by-side. My black Sondors and his white Lectric XP, both foldable with the about a 50 V battery and a 500 W motor offering extreme torque, towing capacity, and hill-climbing power. Both e-bikes also have seven gear shifts and fat tires.

Bike sales have skyrocketed during the coronavirus lockdown and that especially includes e-bikes which contrary to the common myth that they are just like scooters or mopeds, are actually pedal-assist, which means they use a small electric motor to boost the power created by your own pedaling. Bikes remove the everyday barriers that stop people from cycling, like feeling out of shape, the dread of a steep climb, or feeling tired after a long day.

There are few things that bring people together and rekindle friendships quite like riding a bike. The serenity of nature, the rush of endorphins riding down a hill, having fun, staying fit, and feeling like a kid again are all welcomed add-ons.

When Mo and I rode, I shared some shortcuts through town where there was little to no car traffic, up and down the hills in our local community, and along the Los Gatos Creek Trails.

Here are some photos of our ride together, including a regal Grey Heron I spotted wading in the creek waterfall stalking its prey for food below the pedestrian/biking bridge we were on. There was also green and red algae covering the large expanse of water on the Los Gatos Creek Trails on the way home. We were both shocked that three hours had passed by, a reminder of the saying, “Time flies when you’re having fun."

Celebrating Kim's Birthday AL Fresco In Michelle & Kyle's Backyard Terrace In Redwood City

We began the evening with a refreshingly bitter Negroni which is said to have been invented in Florence by an Italian

Count. It’s a one-to-one recipe of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth (though Kyle substituted dry vermouth) and an orange peel garnish For Kyle, who had recently sprained his foot (hence the black boot cast on his left foot and leg), this was just what the doctor ordered:-) As you can see in the photo he was feeling no pain. Neither was I for that matter. Sometime later, Kyle and Michelle's good friend and next-door neighbor, Kayvon, and his father Farouk joined us for a drink (photo).

Our granddaughter Lyla, was quite the social hostess, happily taking slices of gourmet cheeses from the appetizer plate and handing them out to family members. Somehow, Papa (yours truly) wound up with the biggest pile on my plate. We also had the prosciutto and coppa (capicola), sliced Italian bread, crackers, and, gourmet Marcona Almonds.

The big surprise was gourmet pizza and sides of meatball dishes with arugula and tomato sauce which Michelle and Kyle ordered from Vesta, a Michelin guide award-winning Italian eatery in Redwood City. The pizza specials included Margherita, Sausage & Honey, Mushroom with goat cheese, Peach, and Bacon. Michelle made an abundant delicious mixed vegetable salad. Vesta was among the eight Peninsula restaurants that received a $100,000 donation from Facebook Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, who wanted to help keep their favorite local restaurants afloat during the coronavirus crisis.

At the end of our family get together, Michelle brought out a birthday cake, and our little Lyla got to practice singing Happy Birthday to Lollie (Kim).

Postscript: Many thanks to my dear friend and former colleague, Dr. Douglas Robinson, a foot and ankle specialist who treated Kyle at my request on Friday and made it possible for him and Michelle to host the evening's festivities in honor of Kyle’s beloved mother.

Photos: of the pizza from Vesta's website

Happy Grandparents Day and Lyla's Debut Performance on a Native Percussion Instrument

“There’s no greater music than the sound of [our] grandchildren laughing.”

—Sylvia Earle

Today we celebrate National Grandparents Day, to acknowledge the bond between grandparents and their grandchildren. It is said that this special connection has proven to make grandparents live longer, and make children more emotionally resilient. It was Marian McQuade who was recognized nationally by the US Senate and by President Jimmy Carter as the founder of National Grandparents Day. McQuade’s motivation was to educate the youth about the important contributions grandparents have made in the lives of children throughout history. On August 3, 1978, Jimmy Carter signed the proclamation, that officially declared National Grandparents Day in 1979.

Cecile and I got to celebrate early, as our daughter Michelle decided to work from our home on Friday, while we played with Lyla. Cecile (Nana) made Lyla breakfast, and afterward, we read her stories, got out the coloring books, play dough, finger puppets, sang together.

Later in the afternoon, Lyla took me by the hand and led me to the carpet-covered stairs and said, “Up!” Using both her hands and her feet she climbed to the top of the landing, refusing my assistance. We walked down the hallway and she intentionally stopped to give a high-five to a bronze Buddha’s outstretched right hand. I had brought this one home from one of my trips to India some years ago (photo). The right hand held upright with the palm facing forward, referred to as a "mudra" in Sanskrit, symbolizes fearlessness and protection and the left hand held palm-up on its' lap is a meditative gesture. We continued to the back bedroom our son Jason used to occupy when he moved back from LA and where Lyla's portable crib was set up. She was particularly interested on the items on his desk. “Up,” she said again, indicating she wanted to sit on top of his desk. She was particularly interested in the framed photos of Jason, a golden giraffe, the TV channel changer and most of all the snooze alarm which after repeatedly pushing all the buttons, and much to our surprise went off at 8:30 AM on Saturday morning.

We then went into my office next to the bedroom, we looked at family photo albums I had stored under my desk. I also let her ring a temple bell gifted to me by our good friend Maybelle from Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma).

I then pulled down a Native Slit Tongue Log Drum, a percussion instrument made with a rich rosewood finish, and two soft mallets from my display shelf above the credenza I collected from my travels for Lyla to play and recorded her debut performance. She joyfully struck six distinct warm musical tones. I am sure our precious little angel will be returning for an encore performance in the near future.

Biking Encore in Triple-Digit Temperatures with My Son-in-law and Friend Bill

“Cycling side effects may include sweating, euphoria, freedom, and general awesomeness.” —author unknown

Our daughter Michelle, Kyle, and our granddaughter Lyla returned from a two-week vacation in Del Mar, a beach city in San Diego County late Friday evening, and spent the night. Thanks to the generosity of my biking friend and neighbor, Bill Rothenberg, who lent Kyle one of his bikes and helmet we were able to embark on another biking adventure together. The three of us have ridden together twice before. We began with a pit stop at Starbucks for iced coffee-to-go in downtown Saratoga, made our way to the front of Villa Montalvo, once the grand estate of Senator James Phelan that was built in 1912, now operated by the Montalvo Art Center where we took a selfie together. We then made our way from Saratoga-Los Gatos Road over quiet little neighborhood roads to the top of Overlook Drive. We entered an open meadow with spectacular views of the valley. Kyle, an avid hardcore rider who owns a standard racing bike, had his first taste of riding an electric pedal-assist bike in higher elevations. After two and a half hours of riding, we headed home, but not before stopping in front of our former family home in Saratoga. I bumped into my former neighbor who runs a software company here and abroad. Bill took a photo of Kyle and me in front of the home we lived in for over 34 years before downsizing five years ago to a townhouse in Rinconada Hills. I met a fellow bike rider on our way home, and he joked that I was making him work hard to keep up as he had a standard riding bike. He was with his adult kids who were lagging behind him.

After arriving home, I went to the Farmer’s Market for steak and veggie burritos and vegetable crepes to go and a half-gallon of fresh-squeezed orange juice and had lunch with the family. Later in the day as the temperature surged we took Lyla for a swim in the pool, before they returned home to their home in Redwood City.

Today, Bill and I rode our bikes several miles along the railroad tracks and up some very steep inclines to and within Stevens Creek County Park. Before entering the park we rode up a steep hill as the temperatures soared to hundred degrees and hit a dead end. I struggled to get to the top, had to stop to catch my breath. On the way down we serendipitously ran into the same bicyclist I had met near our former home the other day who had recognized me. We chatted and he told us that his father who is 85 rides his bike in these parts. That was all the inspiration I needed that God willing I will be able to continue to ride for many years to come.

Before we entered Stevens Creek County Park, he also informed Bill and I that the hill we just climbed at the end of the cul-de-sac, is the home of Pro Football Hall of Famer, Ronnie Lott who played for the San Francisco 49ers and San Jose mayor, Sam Liccardo, whose San Jose home was vandalized with graffiti recently by protestors, protesting the police shooting of Jacob Blake.

With temperatures spiking to 102, seven degrees lower than what would wind up being the high for the day, I was ready for a mid-afternoon swim. The pool in our gated community never looked so good.

Biking Santa Cruz and Capitola and Experiencing the Incredible Lightness of Being

“Always be on the lookout for the presence of Wonder."

After meeting Jimi Hunter and his wife Jennifer near Mike’s Bikes in Los Gatos, we followed them onto Highway 17 South for our half-hour ride to Santa Cruz. We parked at a strategic point and off-loaded our bikes. Bill and I ordered an iced coffee to go from a rustic outdoor cafe in a wooded area off the main street.

During our 24 miles round-trip bike ride we ventured past some of the best beaches and communities beginning at East Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz to Capitola. We rode out to the Lighthouse Point, passed the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Seabright Beach, rode to the end of the hundred-year-old Santa Cruz Wharf to see and hear the sea lions’ echoing barks beneath the pier. We passed around the Small Craft Boat Harbor, Pleasure Point to see the surfers. We found ourselves standing at “The Hook,” one of Santa Cruz’s top surf spots. Known for its excellent waves but chilly water, Santa Cruz is a world-class surf destination. Jimi could tell you, he used to be an avid surfer back in the day. Wetsuits are an essential part of surfing, allowing people to stay in the water longer. The innovative design was designed by Santa Cruz resident Jack O’Neil. I took a photo of a young surfer with whom I had exchanged some brief pleasantries, carrying his white shortboard while walking in front of a wall mural of a whale. It couldn’t have been a better tribute and advertisement for O’Neil’s work and creativity. Eventually, we made our way to the quaint and colorful city of Capitola, located along Monterey Bay’s northern end. We stopped for photos in front of the Shadowbrook Restaurant, originally a log cabin built as a summer home in the 1920s.

Santa Cruz is filled with a diverse group of interesting people. Some of my most esteemed yoga teachers live here. Closer to the beginning of our ride I lagged behind to talk to a woman I had met on a previous ride along this stretch by the name of LeeAnn Sherwood, a local author of a provocative and coming-of-age book and a local personality. She was riding with her Pit Bull safely harnessed to the side of her bike and had stopped at a water station to fill a bowl of water for her thirsty pet. She was holding a purple sign that read: Alicia Kuhl for Santa Cruz City Council. “She's my friend and an advocate for the homeless," she said (Photo). She allowed me to take her photo. One photo I was particularly fond of taking was a colorful grand mural under the overpass of white, yellow, and red flowers with a couple looking at what appears to be their daughter and two granddaughters. I asked Jimi, Bill, and, Jennifer to pose in front of it. It feels like they just walked into the painting or it was photoshopped. The phrase, “the incredible lightness of being,” came to mind, which is how we all feel when we ride our bicycles.

At the end of our great ride, Jimi Hunter recommended the De La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant for lunch, principally because they had outdoor seating in the back with plenty of space along the fence to park our bikes. We were famished and the food turned out to be top draw-delicious. We headed to our respective cars, loaded up our bikes, said our goodbyes, and headed over the Santa Cruz Mountains for home sweet home.

Postscript: Please note the beautiful Open yellow Rose affixed to the top of a wooden fence overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It appears above a black memorial plate engraved in gold lettering in memory of a woman named Julie Kettman Smith caught my eye. She was over a year older than me when she passed on. Her epitaph which I cited below the title to this post reads:

“Always be on the Lookout For the Presence of Wonder.”

It seems to me like a great way to live one’s life and a meaningful way to be remembered.

Biking Along Ocean Beach, Golden Gate Park, Haight-Ashbury & Land's End Trail In San Francisco

“Hello! My name is Dennis Augustine and I’m a Bikeaholic: A person suffering from an extreme love of bicycles."

Bill Rothenberg and I followed behind our friend, fearless leader and former bike racer, James (Jimi) Hunter and his wife Jennifer by car to San Francisco the other day. They laid out a plan to escape the heat and smoke that has continued to blanket Silicon Valley and enjoy another biking adventure that definitely made it to our top five list of great rides. It’s amazing how driving just sixty-miles north from where we live could make such a difference in air quality. San Francisco was the lone exception of the eight of nine Bay Area counties that has been blanketed with a dark, hazy, smokey overlay.

San Francisco is a proverbial paradise for cyclists with a passion for pedal power. After parking near the SF zoo we drove along the flat three-mile sidewalk along Ocean Beach known as the Great Highway on the far western side of the magnificent Golden Gate Park, considered to be one fo the best urban parks in the world that cover more than 1,000 acres. Sitting on the Pacific Ocean, the weather in Golden Gate Park was 35-degrees cooler than the 90-degree heat we were experiencing back home.

Everybody agreed we were in a magical fairytale setting. We passed grassy meadows, the grand polo fields, secluded lakes like Stow Lake, waterfalls, the 55-acre botanical gardens and the Conservatory of Flowers. We also visited the Chinese Pavilion and took in the majesty of the beautiful Huntington Falls. And, as if that weren’t enough we visited the bison paddock along John F. Kennedy Drive that were peacefully grazing. It was created to honor the Wild West. The first bison was brought to the park in 1891 and more were added over time from private and public herds.

We then rode through the Haight-Ashbury district. The unique colorful community was home to the “Summer of Love” in 1967 as depicted on the facade of one of the buildings I photographed. I also took a photo of my friend Bill on his bike on the corner of Haight and Ashbury with his curly hair, reminiscent of our hippy days. In fact, all of the guys have let their hair grow long since the pandemic. Considering we grew up in the 60s, we feel right at home getting in touch with our hippie roots that hails back to the time of Jimmy Hendrix, Janus Joplin and Jerry Garcia.

We retraced our path back through Golden Gate Park and continued to the Land’s End Trail near the Cliff House. We rode along the dirt trails along the coastline, looking out the Mile Rock Lighthouse, Sutro Baths, Seal Rock and glimpses of the Golden Gate Bridge that we had crossed with our bikes earlier in the pandemic.

After completing our 24-mile excursion, we packed up our bikes and headed back home. During the drive, Bill and I ate a chicken burrito, thinking about how lucky we are to be able to experience such beauty from the vantage point of riding atop our two-wheeled companion.

Postscript: The Warrior One Yoga Pose was taken at the entrance of the Golden Gate Pavilion that was graciously accepted from the Honorable Teng-Hui Lee, Mayor of Sister City Taipei as a testament to the abiding friendship between the people of Taipei and San Francisco on the occasion of the official dedication of the Golden Gate Pavillion on April 15, 1981.

Celebrating My Milestone 70th Birthday Thanks to My Better Half

“You don’t have to let the stay-at-home orders put a damper on your special day."

The plan was to hold the event on our outdoor patio with nine family members including Cecile and myself. That was until we began to feel the effects of some of the Northern California wildfires that included unhealthy air warnings. There were times when it was a struggle to see the sun through an eerie orange glow of smoke that had that familiar sour smell and caused your eyes to burn. Even when at times the sky looked relatively clear, if you looked closely, you could see a thin veneer of haze and soot fell on our newly acquired covered outdoor furniture.

So, we resorted to Plan B: We held our little dinner party indoors. Our son Jason made margaritas, Kyle brought over a case of Pacifico’s beer and Cecile ordered an abundance of Mexican food that was delivered by Pedro’s Restaurant and Cantina. We enjoyed fresh salsa, guacamole and chips as appetizers, and had chicken enchiladas, cheese tamales, rice, refried beans and salad. For dessert, we had a chocolate layer cake buttermilk topping from Icing on the Cake and vanilla ice cream. 

Thanks to the generosity of our extended family, I was gifted with yellow colored biking vest with zippered arms sleeves, a reticulated bike lock, a back fender rack, and an online gift certificate to Breathe Together yoga classes.

The headline on the front page of  The Mercury News the following day read, “Hey, California: With wildfires, blackouts, bloody protests, pandemic, could 2020 get any worse?"

As I sat quietly, my answer to this question, is yes, things could always get worse, which is the reason to seize the moment before it passes. When we first realized we wouldn't be able to eat out of doors I told Cecile maybe we should postpone my birthday dinner which is officially August 26 anyway.

Cecile gently and wisely talked me out of this notion and I’m so happy she did. It came off without a hitch. Everybody was in a celebratory mood, and it was a joyful and peaceful respite from these volatile and dangerous times we find ourselves in.

Fun-filled Times During a Triple Digit Heat Wave & Rotating Power Outages

"Sometimes the best moments happen when they are unplanned and unexpected.”

Our daughter Michelle decided to come over on Friday to work from our home and brought our granddaughter Lyla. This time Kyle joined her. We were thrilled. Later that morning Kyle, an avid cyclist and I rode to Lexington Reservoir vis a vie, the Los Gatos Creek Trails with a pit stop at the top of Vasona Lake. It was his first time there by bike and I was happy to lead the way. By the time we began to make our loop around the upper part, the temperature began to surge to 105 degrees. The ambient air from riding and the intermittent shade from the forested trees helped to provide some relief, and of course, we had water to drink. We returned 2 1/2 hours later and I headed for a scheduled half-hour outdoor lap pool session at the Bay Club Courtside. The water never felt so good. We also scheduled time to swim with the family in our gated community pool later in the day. The kids decided to stay the evening and we picked up three thin crust Cicero’s pizzas, watched a movie, and called it a night. Cecile made some delicious baked French toast for an early breakfast she prepared the evening before. Kyle and Michelle, and Lyla were invited for lunch with friends on Saturday in Santa Cruz. Our son Jason came over later in the morning and we had lunch and hung out.

Michelle, Kyle, and Lyla returned later in the day. Lyla was happy to see Uncle Jason and his dog Daisy. We scheduled another swim time at our local pool. Lyla got to offer some water to drink to the large decoy white swan that is intended to keep crows and other critters away. She also enjoyed some coloring book time, storybook reading, baby flashcards, blowing bubbles with Nana (Cecile) in our front atrium, hanging out with our white stone buddha statue on a pedestal, gently touching its ringlets (curls) on the top of its head and hugging it. Pointing to the world-famous icon, she said, “Girl!" There are indeed female buddhas in various Buddhist sects, but that's a conversation for when she is older. We ordered take out from Oren’s Hummus, whose specialty is Fresh, Authentic Israeli Food, with beer and Margaritas and talked into the night without ever leaving the dinner table.

Early in the morning, I awoke to flashes of lightning reflecting off our master bathroom mirrors and rain pelting the skylight. Lightning is rare in California. We were lucky the rotating Power outages that affected millions lasted only two ours.

Later that morning Kyle and I decided to ride our bikes again. We began with a road less traveled residential ride through some quiet, Saratoga neighborhoods, making our way to Big Basin Way for a gorgeous ride through the redwoods until we reached the Mountain Winery on Pierce Road. Kyle led the way from there to Mt. Eden Road winding up around the mountain where it levels out along some hillside vineyards with spectacular views of Redwood Gulch and Steven’s Canyon Road. The descent from over a 2,000-foot elevation on the way back was fast and furious, making the steep climb preceding it well worth the effort. Cecile had a wonderful scrambled eggs and chicken apple sausage brunch waiting for all of us, capping a wonderful weekend that seemed to unfold in the most fun and natural way.