Zanella Pordenone

by

Posted: February 9, 2026

Leave a Comment

In November of 2024, I was riding along on my bike on a lovely fall day when I passed a garage sale in progress. I would have continued past it if I hadn’t spotted a vintage bike leaning up against a tree. I stopped to check it out, and found out that it was for sale at a very nice low price of $100. I talked to the garage sale proprietors and told them that I wanted the bike and would return shortly with my van to pick it up. I quickly went home on my bike, grabbed some cash, and returned and was able to acquire a new bike.

The bike itself is a Zanella Pordenone, which I know nothing about. It’s a nice looking bike, with classic geometry, down-tube shifters, and the awkward brake lever position common for bikes of that era. Most of the components looked original, except for the wheels, which were a newer Mavic model, with presta valve tubes. I like that the wheels are modern enough that I can easily change a flat, if I get one.

I haven’t ridden it too much, but today I decided to go run some errands, specifically to go to Mollie Stone’s in Palo Alto. It wasn’t a short distance, but it was pretty flat, which is about what the gearing can handle. Here is a picture of it. It’s a lovely vintage bike, for sure.

The Zanella I picked up real cheap at a garage sale in Nov 2024

Super Sunday Hike: Long Ridge

by

Posted: February 8, 2026

Leave a Comment

With some sort of super sporting competition taking place just down the road from my place, I decided to take advantage of the quiet roads and good weather to hike Long Ridge. I did the usual jaunt on Hickory Oaks Trail to the Wallace Stegner bench, and then down Long Ridge Trail to Peters Creek Trail. I passed by Two Moon Lake on my way back to the car. The weather was nice and the trails were reasonably quiet for a weekend. Pictures are below the fold.

Continue reading Super Sunday Hike: Long Ridge

Livermore Bike Ride

by

Posted: February 7, 2026

This was the third week in a row where I’ve driven to the start of a Western Wheelers LDT ride. This week it was in Livermore, where we rode up Del Valle, Patterson Pass and Altamont Pass. We skipped a short loop into Livermore for the official lunch stop, as we had already grabbed lunch just on the outskirts of Tracy.

It was the usual suspects with me, Lyresa and Tom, and we were joined by one of the Bobs.

Continue reading Livermore Bike Ride

Pumpkin Bread Play-By-Play

by

Posted: February 6, 2026

Leave a Comment

Well, sort of. I wanted to make some pumpkin bread this week. I was going to prepare the pumpkin on Wednesday, but I did a bike ride instead, as I couldn’t do the usual Tuesday ride for… reasons. So, today it was a two-fer, preparing fresh pumpkin from the newly acquired sugar-pie pumpkin I got from the Farmers Market, and then making the bread from that fresh pumpkin. The photos document the key moments in my quest for freshly baked goods.

Continue reading Pumpkin Bread Play-By-Play

Monday Hike: Mindego & Borel Hills

by

Posted: February 2, 2026

Leave a Comment

Two Hills for the price of one. A lovely hike, starting with a good walk to Mindego Hill, with its sweeping views of the hills and ocean, and then back up to Borel Hill, which had its own fine views of the Bay.

Continue reading Monday Hike: Mindego & Borel Hills

Seascape Ride For Pie

by

Posted: January 31, 2026

Leave a Comment

I went out to Seascape today to do a 74 mile ride that’s put on by the Western Wheelers. The usual suspects, Lyresa and Tom were there, and we were joined by Debra and Athena.

We started early so as to have enough time to do the distance and the route meandered through the neighborhoods before returning to the ocean near Capitola. We then went inland and enjoyed the pleasant weather, proceeding through Corralitos and then up Mt Madonna.

The climb was tough, averaging 9-10% for over 2 miles, but not too bad and it was a great day to be out.

After we descended, we got the required pie at Gizdich Ranch. I had the apple pie with ice cream and it was delicious.

We then continued south and enjoyed the rolling terrain before reaching Elkhorn Slough. We then rode through the strawberry fields and soon enough we were back at the start.

A very nice day on the bike.

Continue reading Seascape Ride For Pie

Peters Creek Falls Hike

by

Posted: January 26, 2026

It was nice again on Skyline and I wanted to check out Peters Creek Falls. This is a bit off the more popular trails, and the out and back section to the falls from Portola Heights Road was not maintained and a bit overgrown in spots.

The falls were quite nice and there was plenty of water to make it pretty. There isn’t a single waterfall but a series of several smaller ones.

Continue reading Peters Creek Falls Hike

Morgan Hill and Gilroy Hot Springs

by

Posted: January 24, 2026

I got up late as my alarm didn’t wake me up for some reason. However, I still had enough time to eat, use the bathroom, pack my gear, and make it to Morgan Hill to meet my friends with some time to spare.

The day was very nice, with pleasant weather, although with a bit of headwind when we were heading north. The hills were verdant and pretty, with even some early season poppies.

Continue reading Morgan Hill and Gilroy Hot Springs

Sugarloaf Hike

by

Posted: January 21, 2026

I was in San Mateo for a hair appointment, and I went over to Sugarloaf afterwards for a little hike.

I lived in nearby Belmont for 17 years, but never actually explored the trails here. They were mostly reasonable, except for the very steep descent. The views from the top were excellent.

Continue reading Sugarloaf Hike

San Bruno Mountain and Brisbane

by

Posted: January 12, 2026

I decided to go a little farther away from home today, and drove up to San Bruno Mountain for a hike. That mountain has interesting geology, and since it’s not part of the Santa Cruz Mountains, it stands pretty much on its own, with 360 degree views from the top.

Near the top are radio towers, which is my usual destination when I’m on the bike. Today, I took a looping trail to the towers, then continued along the ridge towards the southeast. I then descended what turned out to be a treacherously steep trail down towards the city of Brisbane. The gradient was often over 40%, and I had to pick my way slowly down until I reached the city streets.

I walked around the streets, and then towards a trailhead that would hopefully take me back to the ridge, and not be as steep as the one I descended. As it turns out, I crossed paths with a nice lady I had seen on the ridge, and she told me that the trail that I was heading towards was very much less steep, with switchbacks and a milder gradient. She had just descended on that trail, and it was nice of her to make sure I was on the right track.

I continued back along the ridge, the way I came, then down a more direct route to my car, which took me through a grove of Eucalyptus trees. It was a good route with good weather, so all-in-all, a very pleasant trek.

Continue reading San Bruno Mountain and Brisbane