Year 4 ended on November 15, followed by data processing, chart making, Christmas decorating and food prep – all to be ready for the first Friday of December party.
After-party:
Arlete’s BIG – Year 4
Tag Archives: Arlete's BIG
Food prep
My focus for at least the past two weeks has been getting ready for two big food events. Thanksgiving: mashed potato casserole and 3 dozen from-scratch rustic dinner rolls. One week later: the 4th annual Bicycle Interest Group party. I enjoy making all the food and choose things that can be made ahead.
The savories: pineapple cheese ball, toasted walnut hummus, curried white bean dip,
ham and green chile mini-quiches and artichoke nibbles.
The sweets. Candied walnuts: Mexican mocha and orange brandy. Cookies: German walnut shortbread, maple walnut, espresso walnut shortbread.
On the day of the party, I only reheated two items. And .. “thank you” to all the people who have told me they like seeing food pictures.
Supermarket Sweep
SABA organized the second-annual Supermarket Sweep and Jibe joined in to support two teams of three bike-riders by donating $250. Lorge, Stacey, Brenda, Sheila, Lori and I met on the patio at Bella Bru at 10:15. We opened the envelope with instructions, planned our strategy, and left at 10:50.
The first four stores we shopped at were smaller mom-and-pop types – three Indian and one Carribbean Jamaican. Nice for our local merchants but expensive.
Sheila:
Our final stop was at a lower-priced large grocery in S Natomas.
I was happy to stay with the bikes while everyone else did the shopping. All our bikes were about to be loaded to the max with Lorge carrying the most – he bicycle tours and has large panniers on the rear and smaller panniers on the front plus his handlebar bag.
Then we rode about 12 miles to the meeting point at Two Rivers Cider Co.
We checked in and had our donation weighed: 101 pounds.
Time to use our drink tickets.
3:00 – the last team arrived.
Cheers!
3:30 – time for us to ride back to N Natomas. This event collected 700+ pounds to donate to River City Food Bank. The N Natomas team rode a total of 35 miles. A long fun day.
Ride to Del Rio Trail
This morning the City of Sacramento encouraged people to walk, ride and roll along the Del Rio Trail to see the recent public art installations and visit with some of the artists. Twelve of us met at the Gateway Connector Bridge over I-80.
There are 18 total art installations along the Del Rio Trail. There are 5 identical “granaries” placed in various locations along the trail.
An 18-foot bronze dining table with local seeds and seed pods embedded on top:
A mirrored ball at the top could make you think a train is coming toward you:
Lots of spinning with a good wind:
Davis to Winters and back
Fourteen of us met in Davis at Lake Blvd and Russell Blvd on Saturday morning.
We rode about 13 miles to Winters. Great bike parking in front of Steady Eddy’s.
We took a one-hour rest stop for lunch and to visit the Winters Harvest Festival.
This is a popular ride organized and led by Leo – everybody loves the rides Leo leads. I got to ride sweep – my favorite place on a group ride.
On the way back with just 4.5 miles to go, one of our riders had a flat tire. Sheila and I stayed with the rider while Leo rode back to his parked vehicle, then drove to pick up the stranded rider and her bike.
Great ride with old and new friends. 26 miles.
Happy birthday
One of our bike buddies – Paul – had a 70th birthday party. Paul, Edith (Brenda’s mother), Brenda, Laurie, Martine, Lori, Jim:
Paul, with wife Emmy, gave a short thank-you speech before the cake was cut. Emmy made the most delicious spread of food, including a couple of my favorites: lumpia and pancit.
Ride across the Golden Gate
On Sunday morning, several of us drove to the Larkspur Ferry Terminal, arriving in time to take the 10 am ferry to San Francisco.
San Quentin:
At Ft Point. Brenda in front, me, Lori , BarbaraL, Laurie:
The Golden Gate Bridge from a viewpoint on the ocean side. Note the suicide nets.
On to Sausalito for lunch, then Tiburon, back to the Larkspur Ferry parking lot and home. Great day with great friends. 34-mile ride.
Saddle Up Saturday #1
Cheryl and I went for a ride. Actually I needed to practice my Blue 1 route for Project Ride Smart on Tuesday and Wednesday, then we rode to Bella Bru. Joining us at 9:45 – BarbaraL, Laurie, Cheryl, Paul, me, Lori:
Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm
In Wheatland. Nine of us met at Sammie’s in E Nicolaus and rode the long way to Wheatland. On Scheiber Rd:
Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm. So many more people this year, long lines at Mrs B’s Bakery. I stayed with the bikes while everyone headed in different directions.
Maria, Laurie, Rosalyn, Jane, me, Cheryl, BarbaraL, Lorge and Brenda:
On the way back, a brief stop at Salle Family Orchards.
Fun group of people to ride with! 32 miles in great weather.
Ride at Lake Tahoe
On Saturday morning, I met Brenda, Laurie, Lori, Maria, and Sheila at Olympic Valley Park in Olympic Valley. We rode the Truckee River Trail to Tahoe City
then south along the west shore of Lake Tahoe.
There was a great descent to Meeks Bay Resort, our turn-around point.
Back to Tahoe City where we stopped for a late lunch at Bridgetender Tavern. A different view of the Truckee River on the short ride to where we’d parked.
What a great ride! 35 miles. Me, Brenda, Lori, Laurie, Maria, Sheila:
arletelouise 