Monday, December 31, 2018

Knave - San Jose capitol - Tony Lavezzola - California history timeline - gold - Oakland Tribune - Sunday, September 6, 1959

California state capitol, timeline, Downieville, Lavezzola, gold,California state capitol, timeline, Downieville, Lavezzola, gold, Sun, Sep 6, 1959 – 35 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, Alameda, California, United States of America) · Newspapers.com

ANYONE preparing a toast for next Wednesday's observance of California's 109th birthday anniversary can't afford to overlook San Jose, first capital of the state following the Constitutional Convention at Monterey in 1849. It was by a vote of 23 to 14 that the Monterey convention chose San Jose as California's capital. Here's the way Clyde Arbuckle, secretary of San Jose's Historic Landmarks Commission tells the story: "The San Jose delegates and lobbyists had done their work well. Now San Jose had only to provide a statehouse, which was not easy in a town that had no funds and was composed of tents, shanties and one-story adobes. Fortunately, two Frenchmen Pierre Sainsevain and Zepheryn Rochon [Other sources say this was Charles Roussillon, who perhaps had an alias "Rochon"? See bottom of this post for a transcription of the linked article. - MF] were building a two-story adobe which they intended to use as a hotel. It was 60 feet long by 40 feet wide, and located on the east side of the Plaza between San Fernando and San Antonio Streets. The San Jose authorities proposed to rent it as a capitol for $4,000 a month, but better counsel prevailed. It was bought outright for $34,000, the deal being financed by 19 public-spirited -citizens who gave their joint note for the money. In order, to secure their loan these citizens took a mortgage on certain public property known as pueblo lands. On Dec. 15, 1849, a little over a month after California's first general election, the first Legislature convened in this 'hotel statehouse.' But since the building was yet incomplete, only the assembly could find enough room in it. The Senate had to meet for a while in the dwelling of Isaac Branham at the southwest corner of the Plaza where San Jose's civic auditorium now stands.

Sunday, December 30, 2018

Fall of 'Ten-Mile House' - Oakland Tribune - Sunday, February 25, 1945

Fall of Fall of "Ten-Mile House" Between Marysville and Downieville, the old 'Downieville Trail' Sun, Feb 25, 1945 – Page 17 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, Alameda, California, United States of America) · Newspapers.com

Fall of 'Ten-Mile House'

"While living at Marysville years ago," says John W. Winkley, "I had often noticed an old tavern on the Browns Valley Road. It stood stark and lone on the wide, treeless plain. It was known as 'The Ten-Mile House,' [see next article, below - MF] as I remember, though I may be mistaken as to the number of the mile posts. The old building in dilapidated condition, had a broad portico or 'port-cochere' extending over a roadway, where the old-time stages could stop and discharge passengers under cover. I seem to recollect that when first I saw the place someone was still living there, though I don't know how he could have made a living unless as a sheep-herder. Then came a great storm and the old structure collapsed. It lay prone upon the ground for some time, slowly vanishing, as I suppose people carried timbers and boards away. At length the spot was bare, and some weeks ago as I passed along that road I could not decide where the old tavern had stood. This road was once part of the old 'Downieville Trail' of the gold '50's, and multitudes of miners passed this way. The fall of the 'Ten-Mile House' was typical of the dissolution of hundreds of old California 'hotels,' 'inns' or 'taverns.' Only a few remain. On this stretch of the old road were: Galena House, Empire House, Peoria House, Sixteen-Mile House, Yuba County House, Stanfield House, Abbott House, Martin House, Phillips House, Zinc House, Bowers Place, Comstock Place, and by way of Indiana Ranch, Maple Springs and Greenville Village to Foster's Bar on the Yuba River. All prospered during the days of gold, but now have mostly disappeared."

Quaint Johnsville - Oakland Tribune - Sunday, September 15, 1957

Quaint JohnsvilleQuaint Johnsville Sun, Sep 15, 1957 – 61 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, Alameda, California, United States of America) · Newspapers.com

Quaint Johnsville 

The Knave: Last week with a friend, Dean Shane of San Jose, I drove up Route 101 to Eureka and Arcata, then over the range to Willow Creek, down Trinity River to Weitchpec and up the Klamath River to old Orleans Bar. The weather was perfect for color pictures. From Orleans we retraced our way to Willow Creek and up the Trinity to Weaverville, then east to old Shasta City, Redding and Burney Falls. These falls are among the most beautiful in California. Thence we proceeded to Lassen Park, Truckee, Lake Tahoe, and home by Donner Summit. One of the most interesting stops was at the old town of Johnsville a few miles west of Mohawk on Route 89. Here is one of the best preserved old towns of the gold mining days in the high Sierra. Apparently the town never had a bad fire, and the original buildings stand in quaint formation along the main street Along about 1870 John Parrott bought up the old mines of the Plumas-Eureka, Mammoth, Washington, and Rough and Ready, but soon afterward sold them to the Sierra Buttes Company of London. This company, in 1876, laid out the town of Johnsville on Jamison Creek, about two miles from Jamison on the same creek which had been settled in 1853. All along Jamison Creek are evidences of quartz mills, arrastras, mine shafts and placer diggings. The mines around Johnsville have long been closed, but a few families still live at the old town in rejuvenated houses. Presumably, they work in lumbering or Highway service. Among the old buildings in Johnsville is an old frame hotel, an ancient firehouse, a general store, and a number of dwellings. The old hotel had a balcony around three sides of the structure, part of which had fallen to the ground. The old firehouse and store across the street stand in lonely decrepitude. Someone still operates the old store upon which are nailed a number of amusing placards. These were probably collected from other buildings and placed on the front wall of the store. Here are some of the quaint sayings: "Mr. Lee is an open book with blank pages." "You-ens are welcome." "Whatever isn't growing wears out" "It ain't the fustest, its the mostest which counts mostest" "Please don't go away mad." "For sale - no fire water." And, "I love two legged ears." There is a quiet, somnolent atmosphere about the old town that soothes a modern man's tensions and welcomes rest. - John W. Winkley.

Saturday, December 29, 2018

WEEKEND WALK - Oakland Tribune - Saturday, May 24, 1969

1969 May 24th Redwood walk and history1969 May 24th Redwood walk and history Sat, May 24, 1969 – Page 23 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, Alameda, California, United States of America) · Newspapers.com

WEEKEND WALK 

Redwood Canyon Cool, Alluring

By DON and PHILA WITHERELL 

Breezy ridges, broadleaf forests and a cool canyon filled with ferns and redwoods are among the diverse delights which await the hiker in Redwood Regional Park. The park, located in the hills east of Oakland, has an interesting history and a network of well-marked trails to satisfy the most discriminating weekend walker.

Friday, December 28, 2018

A WANDERING CLUB. - The San Francisco Call - 28 Oct 1896, Wed - Page 14

Wed, Oct 28, 1896 – Page 14 · The San Francisco Call (San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America) · Newspapers.com

WANDERING CLUB. 


The Latest Addition to the City Cycling Organizations. 

The latest entry to the circle of local cycling clubs is the Wanderers, which organized on October 16. The membership is limited to twenty and clubrooms have been established at Nineteenth and Guerrero streets.

The club is made up of enthusiastic wheelmen who don't care to scorch, who won't stick to well-known roads, however good, but who like to roam from place to place whenever a reasonable good road stretches before them, caring little for place, time or distinction, and only looking for a new place to drive their wheels. For this reason they have adopted the name of "Wanderers."

The officers so far elected are T. B. Bailey, president and captain; Harry Thompson, first lieutenant; Albert Smith, secretary and treasurer; executive committee —A. Haughton, W. Schaumleffel and H. Thompson; sergeant-at-arms, Charles Krueger. An emblem has not yet been adopted, but it has been thought that a comet would most fittingly typify the proclivities of the club and its members.

Thursday, December 27, 2018

WITH THE WHEELMEN. - San Francisco Chronicle - 05 Jan 1895, Sat - Page 12

WITH THE WHEELMEN.
Emblems
Imperial Cycling Club emblem is the shape of a royal crownWITH THE WHEELMEN. Emblems Imperial Cycling Club emblem is the shape of a royal crown Sat, Jan 5, 1895 – Page 12 · San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, San Francisco, California) · Newspapers.com

WITH THE WHEELMEN.
First Road Race of the Year Scheduled.
Garden City Cyclers Issue a Challenge.
The Bay City Club's Crack Kindergarten - Gossip Around the Headquarters.
Next month the annual twenty-five mile road race of the California Associated Cycling Clubs is to be held, and already the racers are talking about what handicap they will receive. This will be the first attempt of Robert A. Smyth, the new Coast handicapper.

LOGGING IN THE REDWOODS. - Santa Cruz Weekly Sentinel - 13 Jun 1874, Sat - Page 1

LOGGING IN THE REDWOODS.LOGGING IN THE REDWOODS. Sat, Jun 13, 1874 – Page 1 · Santa Cruz Weekly Sentinel (Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California) · Newspapers.com

LOGGING IN THE REDWOODS

How the Timber is Felled, Cut-up and Sold.

A LAUREL TRACK RAILWAY!

How to Mark an Accomplished Chopper.
A Graphic Sketch of a California Forest.

Real Estate Reporter June 6th. 
McClutchem, the millionaire, and Donahue, the hodman, both have houses of the same material here - that is, redwood - the only difference being in the size and architecture of the dwellings. As the admiring Eastern Visitor says, nowhere in the world is so much made of wood as here in California. Our blocks of fine, and even magnificent dwellings, with a stone nowhere but in the foundation, are always a source of wonder to the Eastern man aforesaid, in whose mind wood and cheapness have become associated as synonyms. What Californian [sic] would do without her redwoods, it is hard to conceive. But it is a problem that must face her before a great many years. Her supply is not by any means inexhaustible, as the tree grows along the Coast only, in a strip extending from the Bay of Monterey close to the Oregon line.

Sunday, December 23, 2018

Eastbay District Has Many Sites For Outings - Oakland Tribune - 03 Jun 1923, Sun - Page 37

Eastbay District Has Many Sites For OutingsEastbay District Has Many Sites For Outings Sun, Jun 3, 1923 – Page 37 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, Alameda, California, United States of America) · Newspapers.com

Eastbay District Has Many Sites For Outings 

Not all families in the Eastbay are going to be able to make either the seashore or the Sierra on their vacations this summer. Even the comparatively inexpensive Russian river trip will be taboo to some who must content themselves with a few days' camping in localities only a few miles from home. To these who have camp outfits, there will be an opportunity to rusticate close to nature in country near home quite as enjoyably as though transferred to the high mountain country.

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Mt. Tamalpais February 1, 1885

Joe Breeze brought this to my attention, a while ago. Mill Valley Library has the East Peak register. The first bike entry within is from Feb 1, 1885.  They most likely rode up the brand new Eldridge Grade, and were no doubt on ordinaries, or high-wheel bikes. I imagine there wasn't a lot of easy riding, in either direction. 
Sunday, February 1st 1885
Left Tamalpais Stn. 9 A. M. arrived on
summit 11.55, pretty hard work as trail
was not very dry. Weather foggy and windy
Good lunch and plenty of drink in store for us
when we get through with this.
C. T. Morrison
W. E. Nachtrieb
Member of the Nemean Club and Bay City Wheelmen
Would like to meet E. K. Knowlton on one of his many trips to this popular Summit Resort
Will ride down the new road on our bicycles as soon as weather is settled.

Sunday, December 9, 2018

What did bicycle riders in the 1890s drink? Not much. And weird things.

What did bicycle riders in the 1890s drink? Turns out, not much. And when they did drink, they drank weird things. They were afraid of water, actually. Makes sense, water quality was hit or miss, especially in the places where they might ride. More below.

DON'TS FOR RIDERS
Some Suggestion Dropped by Champion ZimmermanDON'TS FOR RIDERS Some Suggestion Dropped by Champion Zimmerman Sun, May 3, 1896 – Page 23 · The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America) · Newspapers.com

DON'TS FOR RIDERS 

Some Suggestions Dropped by Champion Zimmerman. 

Saturday, December 8, 2018

A City Of Cars - article about San Francisco's "Carville" - Pearson’s Magazine v5, #29, May 1898

Pearson’s Magazine v5, #29, May 1898 (England)
I recently wrote a post about "Wheelmen's Rest" and "Carville". I'd heard about Carville before - the little community out in the dunes of west San Francisco where the old horse-drawn trolleys from cities around the bay were abandoned, after the switch to electric cars, used as living quarters and vacation houses. This is near today's Beach Chalet and the west end of Golden Gate Park and the Zoo. I saw a few pages from Pearson's Magazine, an English magazine, on ebay, titled "A City of Cars" about Carville, and I hadn't seen these pictures or words in my internet searches, so I bought them and scanned them. Here they are. Carville thrived as a community, until it was burned on July 4th, 1913 to make way for developed housing. I'm a bit less interested in cable cars and San Francisco infrastructure, but maybe you are more interested in those things, or the view English people had of San Francisco in the 19th century. Merriden Howard wrote for various publications at the time. Outside Lands has a great post about Carville and a podcast episode about Cycler's Rest, near Carville.

Friday, November 23, 2018

Charles A. Bailey, founding organizer of the Sierra Club, was a bikepacker

Imagine a founder of the Sierra Club, a bikepacker who traveled by bicycle on dirt roads and trails, camping wherever he pleased, a man who climbed all the routes in Yosemite, a real estate mogul who could live like a tramp, a man headed for a tragic fate.

Charles Augustus Bailey was a signer and witness of the articles of incorporation of the Sierra Club, on June 4, 1892:

https://www.sierraclub.org/articles-incorporation

He discovered and named "Sierra Point" in Yosemite valley:

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Not a run, but rather a "climb and coast" - Mon, Nov 16, 1891, Page 3, San Francisco Chronicle

Mon, Nov 16, 1891 – Page 3 · San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, San Francisco, California) · Newspapers.com

The Wheelmen 

Not a run, but rather a "climb and coast" this time was the programme of the Bay Citys yesterday. The 8 o'clock boat to Sausalito found the boys all ready for the ride, which they started at Ross Station, and walked and climbed to the very top of the mountain, about two hours from the station. A register in the book at the top, lunch, a survey of the really magnificent view from that point, the great ocean on one side, San Francisco and San Pablo bays on the other, with the pretty valleys at the base of the mountain, and then the descent. It may have taken two hours to reach the summit, but considerably less than half that time was necessary to get back. The scorchers went on via Corte Madera to Sausalito, while the others took the train at Ross Station.

Sunday, November 11, 2018

Scrolls Are Presented to Relatives of Alameda County's Fallen Heroes - Oakland Tribune, 11 Nov 1919, Tue, Page 10

Scrolls Are Presented to Relatives of Alameda County's Fallen HeroesScrolls Are Presented to Relatives of Alameda County's Fallen Heroes Tue, Nov 11, 1919 – Page 10 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, Alameda, California, United States of America) · Newspapers.com
[Note that I've done my best to present the correct text, below. It's been converted by Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and corrected by me, but I'm sure I've missed some mistakes. Please comment with fixes, if you know them. - MF]

Scrolls Are Presented to Relatives of Alameda County's Fallen Heroes


The honor roll of Alameda County men and women who made the great sacrifice, and who will be appropriately and lovingly remembered today during the Armistice Day celebration by the presentation of scrolls to their next of kin, includes the names of 325 heroes. Four of them are women, one of whom, Miss Marian Crandell, was killed in France.

How is this possible?



Saturday, November 3, 2018

A DEVELOPING FACTOR. - The San Francisco Call, 23 Jun 1895, Sun, Page 18

A DEVELOPING FACTOR.A DEVELOPING FACTOR. 23 Jun 1895, Sun The San Francisco Call (San Francisco, California) Newspapers.com

A DEVELOPING FACTOR. 

Assuming that the; bicycle is a permanent institution it is not difficult to foresee the peculiar effect which it will have on the growth and development of San Francisco. It being an established fact that cheap and swift urban transportation is an exceedingly important factor in determining the character and extent of a city's spread, and the bicycle having proved its ability to compete with all kinds of street railways and livery service, two considerations now present themselves. One is that the districts having the smoothest pavements will be those which develop most rapidly, and the other is settlement will proceed most easily in level and approximately level areas.

Friday, November 2, 2018

Wheelmen's Rest

At CaliSphere there's this picture:

Villa Miramar (from which the bicycle trips would start) -- Wheelman's [i.e. Wheelmen's] Rest, on the Great Highway.
I was curious about it. Notice the sign at left, "WHEELMENS REST", the trolley car in the dunes in the distance, and the cabin just visible to the left, rear of the Villa Miramar. It was the "WHEELMENS REST" that brought me to the page. I'm very curious about our local, bicycle past. Wheelman was the phrase for (male) bicyclist at the time. Bicycles were called 'wheels'.

From Bicycles West:

The Villa Miramar, a bar at the end of today's Irving Street, put up a sign advertising itself as the "Wheelmen's Rest." North of the park, Adolph Sutro had a three-story chalet erected on the southwest corner of La Playa and Fulton Street that he named "Cycler's Rest."

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Unfrequented Bicycle Roads in the Vicinity of San Francisco - The San Francisco Call, 18 Apr 1897, Sun, Page 28



Unfrequented Bicycle Roads in the Vicinity of San Francisco



You ride the bicycle? Of course, or at least you are thinking more or less seriously of learning to master it, with a view of holding a place in the procession now rapidly nearing the end of the century on wheels.

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

San Francisco Cycle Racing Association, Charles A. Wikidel

I found an auction on ebay for a 'scorer tag' from the San Francisco Bicycle Racing Association. It piqued my curiosity. It appears that the San Francisco Bicycle Racing Association was a one-year experiment by Charles A. Wikidel, a former chef and perhaps a bit of a shifty promoter, who developed, improved and enlarged the track at Central Park, promoted races, tried to introduce women's professional racing to San Francisco, put on races which got negative reviews, then left for the Alaska gold fields in the Yukon, I believe with a brother T. E. Wikidel, where he sold records, record players, opened a restaurant. I can find no record of him after about 1907. The scorer card apparently was granted to J. W. Coffroth. You can read more about him below. It's dated May 23rd, which was a Saturday in 1896, and you can read the article about that day's racing below, look for the article beginning with:"BICYCLING. Races at Central Park, San Francisco. SAN FRANCISCO, May 23"

Sunday, August 26, 2018

Redwoods Near Oakland - remembrances of Joseph Lamson

From "The Knave", Oakland Tribune, 08 Dec 1929, Sun Page 77

Redwoods Near Oakland
LamsonRedwoods Near Oakland Lamson Sun, Dec 8, 1929 – Page 77 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

Redwoods Near Oakland 

OF THE BIG REDWOODS in Redwood canyon behind Oakland, trees which fell under the ax in the days when their beauty was unappreciated, the diary of J. Lamson (1854) dwells with interest and regret. As forwarded by Albert Wheelan some excerpts are here quoted: Fuel was in demand in San Francisco in the fifties. Timber surrounding the town, scrub oak and other trees had succumbed to the ax. Yerba Buena and Angel Islands had contributed their growths to the woodsmen. The Contra Costa plains were cut off, and the woodsmen were cutting timber down the peninsula. Finally the trees in Redwood canyon commenced to yield a supply. Lumber was in demand and the big redwoods of the San Mateo and Santa Cruz hills were levied upon to supply this demand, as well as the redwoods on the Rancho Palos Colorados, as Redwood canyon was then called. The shipping point for this timber was San Antone, afterwards called Brooklyn, and now a part of Oakland. The diary of J. Lamson gives an interesting account of the work in the redwoods on the last mentioned rancho: "January 30th, 1854. On an excursion today I stopped on the way to see two trees felled. When the reader is told that I passed more than six months in the redwoods, and had seen trees fall around me almost every day, he would suppose that such scenes would lose their novelty for me. It is, however, a scene of no ordinary sublimity to behold one of these monster trees, nearly as high as the Bunker Hill Monument, fall to the ground, and it is a sight that I never tire of seeing. I speak of them as being nearly as high as the Bunker Hill Monument, because I have seen some of the largest and tallest trees, they having been felled, before I arrived here. But a comparison with the monument will give a better idea of their great height rather than, figures. Imagine then, one of them, such as have grown here, and such as are still standing in other forests - imagine one placed inside the monument and towering fifty or even seventy-five feet above it, and you will have a conception of the grandeur of those magnificent trees. The two trees whose fall I was about to witness stood side by side up a steep declivity. One of them had been cut off, and stood leaning against the other."

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

My review of Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness, by William Styron

Darkness Visible: A Memoir of MadnessDarkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness by William Styron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a long essay, sold as a book, describing his experiences with depression. Styron's style and storytelling make this painful subject an engaging read. The telling is the right size; he leaves nothing out and his stories are on point. His creativity is not blanketed and stilled in this essay, written after surviving a black period. He is honest and open, describing how the illness developed, what it ia like to be in the grips of depression - or melancholia as he sometimes refers to it - as a mental illness. He makes it clear that what he, and many others experience is in fact a change in the body / mind, and not just sad feelings, or "the blues", and he tries to put into words what a brain inside a storm of activity that is destructive to its own feedback and self-consciousness feels like. I think the real value in this book is the way he's able to put his experiences into words, and to recognize the signs of depression in others, relate it to his own and try to verbalize their experiences. Suicide is a necessary associate in this story, it is obvious that this unrelenting storm of confusion and misery can settle in and exist for years, and that the loss of hope and the need for a way out causes many to take this exit. Styron describes some of the types of depression; manic, unipolar, and he's also forthright about the causes. Having read the DSM - the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association - he speaks with a very solid grasp of our current medical understanding of the disease, and he is candid about his triggers; entering the later years of his life, having quit an alcoholic pattern cold-turkey, relying on fairly massive doses of a kind of sleeping pill later shown to be a trigger for depression, and having experienced a parent's - his mother's - death at an early age. He also talks about his experience with doctors, psychiatrists and a mental health hospital. It's very clear that he put himself in the hands of professionals, and trusted in them, while being very self-aware and himself well-read on medical technology. He describes how he felt led astray, but then finds the right path after spending a period contemplating his own suicide. It becomes clear (spoiler) that getting off of those specific sleeping pills was the inflection point, as well as entering a hospital that put him in an entirely other environment, where his convalescence and healing are explicitly the top priority.

My take; consciousness makes possible self-consciousness. We are not a finished product, but an organism on a point of evolutionary continuum. Self-consciousness has flaws. A person's own brain can become caught, entrapped and lost in a storm of thoughts and feelings all trending toward destruction, with no hope of a rational version of themselves coming to the rescue. Only other people with a clear intent to help, and explicit communication about the real danger felt by the sufferer make help possible. Many survive depression, and most have experienced it. A lot of this essay rang bells, for me. I found myself thinking "If only he rode a bicycle, or got more exercise, or got out in nature more." I have my own way of putting my brain right. Honest and forthright read.

View all my reviews

Saturday, August 11, 2018

My review of Proud Highway: Saga of a Desperate Southern Gentleman, 1955-1967 (Gonzo Letters), Hunter S. Thompson

The Proud Highway: Saga of a Desperate Southern Gentleman, 1955-1967The Proud Highway: Saga of a Desperate Southern Gentleman, 1955-1967 by Hunter S. Thompson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this, after reading Hell's Angels, which I enjoyed. He saved every letter. Passionate, intelligent and impulsive, his letter writing is up there with his best published writing. I highlighted a lot of quotes in it. A complex person, not easily categorized, he was a member of the NRA, a fierce opponent of the Vietnam war, a friend of Ginsberg, an Air Force vet, able and willing to offend with language, afraid of a fascist future, in the form of Reagan and Nixon. He loved and hated. He probably suffered from manic depression. He'd land big publishing contracts and then stop writing. He was terrible at the business of writing, losing money and struggling to find publishers, agents and editors with whom he could work. He really, really liked guns. He wore his heart on his sleeve, as they say. He was really funny. I would have liked to have met the guy. I saved quite a few to-read books that he mentioned, and immediately jumped to one of his favorite authors after this, William Styron, but a book that was published after Thompson died, _Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness_. They had a bit in common; self-destructive tendencies, a cessation of passion when the darkness came. There are singular people in the world. I liked this quote, in response to a 14-year-old boy who read Hells Angels and wanted to join the gang as soon as he could; "When I was 14 I was a wild, half-wit punk who caused a lot of trouble and wanted to tear the world in half if for no other reason than it didn’t seem to fit me too well. Now, looking back on it, I don’t think I’d change much of what I did in those days … but I’ve also learned at least one crucially important thing since then. And that’s the idea of making your own pattern, not falling into grooves that other people made. Remember that if you can do one thing better than anybody it’ll make life a hell of a lot easier for you in this world—which is a pretty mean world, when you get to know it, and a lot of people in it can ride big Harleys … especially in California. The best of the Angels—the guys you might want to sit down and talk to—have almost all played that game for a while and then quit for something better. The ones who are left are almost all the kind who can’t do anything else, and they’re not much fun to talk to. They’re not smart, or funny, or brave, or even original. They’re just Old Punks, and that’s a lot worse than being a Young Punk. They’re not even happy; most of them hate the lives they lead, but they can’t afford to admit it because they don’t know where else to go, or what else to do. That’s what makes them mean … and it also makes them useless, because there’s already a big oversupply of mean bastards in this world."

Thompson, Hunter S.. Proud Highway: Saga of a Desperate Southern Gentleman, 1955-1967 (Gonzo Letters) (pp. 627-628). Random House Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

View all my reviews

Saturday, July 14, 2018

The Hiker's Paradise by Louis Allen - Oakland Tribune 07 May 1922, Sun Page 77

The Hiker's Paradise
Kohler Creek
Thorn roadThe Hiker's Paradise Kohler Creek Thorn road Sun, May 7, 1922 – Page 77 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

[See also "Short Hikes for Sunday - Oakland Tribune 26 Aug 1923, Sun" - MF]

The Hiker's Paradise, by Louis Allen

Flagstaff Hill, Redwood Canyon, Thorn Road, 'The Hights,' Leona, Niles Canyon All Lure

Trip to Lake Chabot and Dimond Canyon ; Entire Trek of Fifteen Miles Reveals Marvel Scenes

Last week Mr. Allen told how Hikers should dress and equip themselves. Today he tells about some more favorite hikes in the Eastbay.

Sunday, July 8, 2018

NEW WHEEL TOUR BY THE SEA AND THROUGH MOUNTAINS - J. J. Bliss - San Francisco Chronicle - Sunday, August 21, 1898


San Francisco Chronicle page 21 - Sunday, August 21, 1898

NEW WHEEL TOUR BY THE SEA AND THROUGH MOUNTAINS 


Here is the above map, georeferenced. I will try to make a kml route of the ride. - MF

To SANTA CRUZ by way of the coast is an agreeable bicycle tour that is almost unknown to the majority of wheelmen. Bicyclists have long labored under the mistaken idea that the coast route was difficult and hazardous, coupling it in their minds with long sandy stretches and much walking through a barren, forsaken country, which could afford no pleasure for a tourist. As a matter of fact, there is much less walking required required than on the overland route leading past Los Gatos and over the Santa Cruz mountains. There is an unlimited amount of interesting scenery affording a complete variation from any outing the "Chronicle's" bicycle readers hare yet taken. Practically four tours are embodied in this one, yet but three days are required to complete the round trip of 170 miles.

Thursday, June 28, 2018

High-Wheeling to Denver - Bikes were a status symbol in 1889,

This is from the April-May, 1971 issue of Frontier Times magazine. I scanned it.

High-Wheeling to Denver

Bikes were a status symbol in 1889

By RUTH ALMY

Photos Courtesy Author

EIGHTY-TWO years ago on June 2, young Joseph Ambruster rolled into Denver on a high-wheeled bike. The front wheel was five feet in diameter and the back one about two. Ordinary bicycles were common in those days, but high-bikes were strictly for he-men and very tricky to ride, especially over rough terrain. Joe pedaled 982 miles from St. Louis to Denver in 26 days, he might have made it in less had it not rained 11 out of those 26.

Sunday, April 8, 2018

A FOUR-YEAR-OLD Chas. R. McAdams, Jr., Champion Cyclist of the World. - The Austin Weekly Statesman (Austin, Texas) 16 Jan 1896, Thu • Page 8

The Austin Weekly Statesman (Austin, Texas) 16 Jan 1896, Thu  • Page 8


A FOUR-YEAR-OLD. 

Chas. R. McAdams. Jr, Champion Cyclist of the World. 

Master Chas. R. McAdams, Jr., of Fort Worth, champion 4-vear-old bicyclist of the world, came in yesterday and is stopping at the Hotel Salge. He was accompanied by his father, who left him in charge of Mr. Harper, the young man who is arranging the bicycle tournament for next week. Master Charles has gone into training, and will take part in next week's tournament. He has ridden all over the United States and is the greatest child cyclist living. He wears several medals, among which is one which rends "Champion Four-Year-Old Cyclist of the World; record 1-4 mile 57 seconds, flat standing start, at Evansville, Ind.. Oct. 5. 1895."

His father is very proud of the hov and says he will bet he can heat any professional once around a circle track to the professional's twice around.

A Statesman reporter called on the young man expecting to find a big, overgrown boy of twice the age, but was agreeably surprised to find - well, his mother still calls him her babv. He can scarcely talk plain and is very small for his age. He weighs 35 pounds, and his wheel, winch is a present from the factory, weighs but 9 pounds.

Found on ebay

MANY MILES ON WHEEL - WHEEL WHIRLS - ACME ATHLETES - Oakland Tribune 02 May 1894, Wed Page 8

Oakland Tribune 02 May 1894, Wed Page 8


MANY MILES ON WHEEL

An Acme Man Makes a Trip to San Diego. 

A. P. Swain, a prominent member of the Acme Club, has just made a run to San Diego on his wheel. He has sent The Tribune an account of his trip, as follows:

"I made a start from the Acme Club at at 4:30 o'clock on Saturday, April 15th, and rode to San Jose, where supper was had, and a very enjoyable evening was spent with the Garden City Cyclers. On Sunday morning a start was mad bright and early, and after an easy day's ride, passing though Gilroy and several smaller towns, I reached Chular, where a stop was made for the night.

Monday, February 26, 2018

My review of "What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions" by Randall Munroe

What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical QuestionsWhat If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love books. I give books, and get books at Christmas. Lately I've been reading primarily on kindle, so a hardcover Christmas book has an uphill battle. I got this book last Christmas, and enjoyed it so much. It's a perfect little book, if you have a curious mind, like to read in five-minute chunks, and find humor and science a good mix. I don't want this book to sit idle on a shelf, so I'll look for a friend to hand it to. Munroe is witty, understated while at the same time happy to talk about massively overblown hypothetical situations. And of course his little stick-figure cartoons are the best. Do you live in or near Oakland, and want to borrow this book from me?

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Thursday, February 15, 2018

Eagle GX drivetrain and Maxxis DHR / DHF 2.8 tires


I recently upgraded my favorite bike - a Retrotec Funduro, made by Curtis Inglis - to an Eagle GX drivetrain with 32-tooth front ring and 12 gears in the back, 10 through 50 teeth. I swapped out an X1 drivetrain, also with a 32-tooth front ring, but with 10-42 on the back. I also swapped out the tires; WTB Ranger 2.8 "Tough/Fast" casing & rubber, which was getting bald and slippery in the back, but with as yet no cuts or punctures, for Maxxis Minion DHF 2.8 front and DHR 2.8 rear.

The Funduro is built around Boost, with wider hubs and an offset chain ring to give more clearance to "plus" tire sizes while maintaining a short chain stay and good chain line. This version of the Eagle GX kit in a box had the Boost version of the crank set, where the chain ring has 3mm of extra out-board offset.

Installation went fine, with two hiccups; one, the limit screws on the rear derailleur were not set to Boost spacing, meaning I sent the chain into the spokes a few too many times before I got the high-low limits set, and two, even with a straight derailleur hanger, there's still just a hint of complaint in one of the middle-low gears. I run full housing from shifter to derailleur, and had to increase cable tension on the second ride, getting the sifting near perfect. The kit came with a red plastic b-tension adjustment tool that was pretty handy. I followed the chain-length instructions on page 10 of the current SRAM User Manual Cassettes and Chains, page 10, but it ended up being one link too long, so I took it out before setting the master link in place. (Note that the master link is directional, outside link should have an arrow facing the direction of pedaling, but this does cause me some anxiety on the Escher spectrum, since inside link points in the opposite direction of chain travel during pedaling. Janus had this problem.) I still have a slight hint of derailment, audibly in about the 5th gear from lowest, but it hasn't jumped yet. I'll put an alignment tool on the hanger before next ride. Could also be imperfect tension. Installing the shifter was so easy; uninstalled the old one from the Matchmaker brake / shifter clamp, installed the new one. I always use the right-most hole on the shifter, because I have big hands and want the shifter as inboard (left) from my grip as possible. That means removing the little placeholder screw that's usually in the right hole into the left hole, so that I can attach the shifter to the mount with the right hole. Sorry, no pics, but if you have a SRAM shifter, look for yourself.

Yes, 50t low gear dwarfs the 180mm rotor.


The tires are bigger, chunkier, probably heavier, and at least in the front, have stock-car sized MAXXIS lettering. Looks so cool, and at 15psi front, 17psi rear tubeless on Derby 50mm-wide rims, ride amazingly. Any more pressure and they don't perform well. I'm 225lbs.





Traction is unreal; climbing, descending, cornering. On climbs, with the 50-tooth low I feel like I can clean almost anything. There's a tough, local climb that is long, steep and cleaning it requires a combination of strength, balance, traction and grit. I rode it seated, didn't have to try as hard as normal, beyond making sure my pedals didn't hit the sides of the rut at the top. I find myself braking on downhill corners well before I need to, which means I need to recalibrate my brain to match what this bike can do. My favorite bike is now better.

Rertrotec in front of Joaquin Miller's Abbey
I would definitely do both of these upgrades again. I have two more 1x11 mountain bikes which might get the 1x12 upgrade. (Both already have XD drivers on their rear hubs.) The low of the 50T is a nice match with the insane grip of the 2.8 Minions; two great tastes that taste great together. I have a used, but nice condition 1x11 X1 drivetrain for sale, if you want it.

My review of "Hell's Angels", by Hunter S. Thompson

Hell's AngelsHell's Angels by Hunter S. Thompson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Reading Hunter S. Thompson is like going jogging with a meth addict. He has these moments of brilliant prose, but zags and zigs and has a writing style that seems to skip important words or concepts or events in time, while still maintaining solid style. Spending a year with the Hell's Angels, you can almost see in his writing when he takes their viewpoint, is an advocate, attempts to analyze the news about them (the "Monterey rape") with a kind eye, but then as the book tracks his time with them through the drunken night at Bass Lake, the hopeful LSD parties at Ken Kesey's house in La Honda, with Ginsberg interrogating the cops on the road outside the house, the interactions with the black riders of the East Bay Dragons and the violent alignment with police at Berkeley Vietnam demonstrations, and finally in epilogue the "stomping" he took at the hands of Angels that you knew was coming all along, we can see Thompson's viewpoint pivot from advocate to critic. Surely some self-preservation and perhaps an attraction to the wildness of the Hell's Angels motivated his earlier point of view, but by the time he comes to his final analysis, he sees the Hell's Angels for what they are; uneducated losers attempting to roll back progress, fighting the future. "This wavering paradox is a pillar of the outlaw stance. A man who has blown all his options can't afford the luxury of changing his ways. He has to capitalize on whatever he has left, and can't afford to admit - no matter how often he's reminded of it - that every day of his life takes him farther down a blind alley."

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Thursday, January 25, 2018

My review of Thalia: A Texas Trilogy

Thalia: A Texas TrilogyThalia: A Texas Trilogy by Larry McMurtry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of those books that I didn't want to end. It's so good. He was just a kid when he wrote it, and the subject matter is fairly astounding for early 1960s, set in Texas, by a Texas author. Reading it now, in 2018, with such a polarized national conscious reminds me that there are real people everywhere, with real lives, and that we must really see each other and look past prejudice. McMurtry has this amazing ability to characterize and understand people. I felt like I knew the people and place in this book - three books, all set in the same windy, high-plains Texas town near Kansas, Thalia. I'm glad he's a prolific author, because I'm looking forward to reading more of his books. He doesn't challenge the reader, he doesn't put you into conflict, or ask you to evaluate or reconcile difficult concepts. This is why I think of his writing as a guilty pleasure; it's good, not cheap or weak, but easy. I enjoy it a lot, and it makes me a little better.

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Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Family & bikes

Frieda Weissenborn, née Hildebrand, top center, Julius Weissenborn, top right, my great-grandparents
This photo has hung in my father's house since I was little. It's his mother's parents out on a bicycle ride, probably before they were married and their children were born. Based on the clothes and the bicycles I'd say circa 1895. They were married 1898 in Rhode Island, and their first - of eight - children was born in 1899. They would have been perhaps 20 (him) and 18 (her) in this photo. I don't know who the other people are... yet.

Monday, January 1, 2018

JOAQUIN MILLER, SHRINE BUILDER Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California)16 Nov 1919, Sun Page 59 & 60

Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) 16 Nov 1919, Sun Page 59 & 60

I am no fan of Joaquin Miller. He apparently was a poseur, a faker, but probably very interesting in person. His poetry has not stood the test of time, but as a neighbor of his property, I find the park, trails, canyons and creeks fascinating, and he is connected to the idea of this place. I had been curious where the name of the trail "Bishop's Walk" came from. I found it, and much more. Here's the article I found, and the research I did on its content. There's a lot in here. I'm going to learn more about Fremont road... - MF

JOAQUIN MILLER, SHRINE BUILDER