What does one have to do with the other, you ask? Well, I live in northern California not far from the San Andreas fault and so anything affecting that fault, and earthquake science are interesting. As a cyclist, my chosen form of exercise is likely to be strongly affected by any major activity on the San Andreas, what with rock slides, road subsidence, widespread chaos and disaster. So for me anyway, the two subjects have some concordance. In that light I roccomend the following two stories;

San Andreas Affected By 2004 Sumatran Quake;

Largest Quakes Can Weaken Fault Zones

Worldwide

(SienceDaily)

ScienceDaily (Sep. 30, 2009) — U.S. seismologists have found evidence that the massive 2004 earthquake that triggered killer tsunamis throughout theIndian Ocean weakened at least a portion of California’s famed San Andreas Fault. The results, which appear this week in the journal Nature, suggest that the Earth’s largest earthquakes can weaken fault zones worldwide and may trigger periods of increased global seismic activity.

Reuters – A resident does a handstand during a morning exercise session at the Temple of Sun Park in Beijing September …

CHICAGO – Even in the “oldest old,” a little physical activity goes a long way, extending life by at least a few years for people in their mid- to late 80s, Israeli researchers found.

The three-year survival rate was about three times higher for active 85-year-olds compared with those who were inactive. Getting less than four hours of exercise weekly was considered inactive; more than that was active.

The results “clearly support the continued encouragement of physical activity, even among the oldest old. Indeed, it seems that it is never too late to start,” the researchers wrote in Monday’s Archives of Internal Medicine, which published the study.

They noted that exercise reaped benefits even for previously sedentary 85-year-olds; their three-year survival rate was double that of inactive 85-year-olds.

Oldsters didn’t have to be super-athletes to live longer; walking at least four hours weekly counted, even if it was just in 15-minute strolls a few times daily.

“As little as four hours a week was as beneficial as more vigorous or prolonged activity,” said study author Dr. Jeremy Jacobs, a geriatric specialist at Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center in Jerusalem.

Read the source article

Though I’ve been accused of having a birth certificate written in cuneiform on clay tablets, I’m not yet among the “oldest old”. But I’m pretty damn springy at 55, and my although I’ve paid mucho dinero for health insurance over the years, my sole demand on those services has been for routine checkups and a single traumatic impact (bike wreck) many years ago. Until now. Courtesy of “socialized medicine” (i.e. the VA) I’m having the consequences of a long  history in the sun, mostly cycling but also skiing in the Alps for Uncle Sam, removed from my skin in the form of a couple benign basal cell carcinomas (the best kind) and a couple actinic keratoses scraped from the balding crown of my head. But, by virtue of regular vigorous exercise over those years, I’ve saved my various insurers potentially MILLIONS, not having made claims on their resources for any or all of teh various disease of inactivity like high blood pressure, diabetes, back pain etc., etc… More »

Popularity: 27% [?]

The route shown below was built in Google Earth for navigation purposes and is the first of two possible routes from the high point on Reeves Canyon Road at the Upper Ranch through the back country and in through the back side of Montgomery Woods State Park to Orr Springs Road about five miles downhill from Orr Hot Springs. Most of the route can be traced visually from the satellite photos, with the exception of the section designated by the group of map pins. At that location, the visible traces of the road are completely obscured by vegetation, and that’s where things can get dicey.
I’m posting this well in advance of riding it and will be posting notice on the Yahoo Mendo Community BB group to solicit any advice or warnings and hopefully avoid disturbing any activity out there. My purpose is solely to pass through, and absolutely NOT to find anything that others don’t want found. I’ll be carrying a penny-whistle and using it frequently to notify any folks who might be out there gardening that I’m coming through. In addition, just like hiking in Alaska, I’ll be giving frequent shout-outs to the forest so as not to surprise any aggressive wildlife. More »

Popularity: 42% [?]

(July 28, ‘09) This weekend, I’ll be riding and documenting the route posted in the map below. This is preparatory to defining our exclusive Lake County Bike and Wine Tours in co-operation with Blue Lake Lodge. The route “as ridden” will be posted on Monday, with the geo-tagged photos and full description.  I’ll be spending the night at either Clear Lake State Park or (depending on gates and permission) preferably at the top of Mt. Konocti (Kuh-nok-tie). That would be the high point in the elevation chart below.

In the meantime, its 5:40 PM and I’m hitting the road in five minutes.

Planned Route

Clearlake Loop Navigation Route
Well, I spent 3 days riding the route and two weeks editing, geo-tagging and uploading the images, due to technical issues ranging from a nominal 42 Kbss dialup line which usually runs at about 10 Kbps to a balky computer which goes to a black screen about 10 times a day., to a messed up GPS file that I still have not fixed. More »

Popularity: 24% [?]

Since it would seem that any route north out Redwood Valley, other than Tomki Rd.,  is currently unavailable behind locked gates, upon the advice of locals, I’ve mapped the route below. Starting at Hoppers Corner in Potter Valley, I’ll be heading due north to the Eel River and the road of the same name that leads through some very interesting looking country and eventually to Hearst-Willits Road and, perhaps some refreshment at Shanachie. The return to Redwood Valley via 101 should clock in at nearly 50 miles. I’m out the door by 4, camera in hand and the route uploaded to the GPS. Temp is about 85 and sunny with a stiff breeze from the west; perfect. The hammock, night clothes and sleeping bag are loaded and I may just camp out up on the high point, who knows?

Route as Planned

Potter Valley to Willits back country cruising
I’ll post the route below as ridden. Here’s hoping for no locked gates.

July 24, ,09; Back to Redwood Valley, and more or less recovered. Total distance 59 mi., total ascent 7000′, ride time about 7 hrs. And one hulluva ride too I might add. 2 miles from the start point at Hopper’s Corners,there’s a nice warmup climb coming north out of Potter Valley, gaining 800′ in two miles. The road surface is quite good, with clean, if narrow shoulders, until you cross the Russian River. Taking a left on Eel River Road, the pavement narrows and surface conditions fade to quilted asphalt as you head north by northeast along the east bank of the main fork of the Eel River. 12 miles from the start point you cross the Eel at an elevation of 1400′ and then commence a three mile climb up loose dusty gravel to the summit at an elevation of 2850′. there are two stretches with slopes exceeding 40%. There are also a number of gates between the bridge and the eventual outlet at Hearst-Willits Rd. After talking at length with the folks at Hopper’s Corners in Potter Valley, as well as with all the people I met along the way, the consensus was to leave the gate the way you found it, pass through without leaving the road, and announce your presence as you move. So I did. More »

Popularity: 27% [?]

Sherwood Road is a county road, but for most of its length you would never know it. The track shown on the map below begins at Columbi Market in Ft. Bragg and ends at Hwy 101 in Willits and the geo-tagged photos give a pretty fair idea of the conditions along the way; Pudding Creek “peanut butter” clays, named so both for their color and consistency when wet, which is a very good reason to ride this in the dry (May-October) season. The road runs more of less paralell to the Skunk Train route but offset a few miles to the north and several hundred feet in altitude.

Columbi Deli and Grocery, Ft. Bragg

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An excellent stop for carbs before tackling the long climb, this market seems unchanged since the 50's and is an institution in the neighborhood.

Popularity: 19% [?]

“Whether you are logging big trail miles or beating gas pump prices, the X-Alp Mid is your go to shoe. Built for the long haul, the R&R plate allows you to drop the hammer on the pedals but has enough flexibility and traction for when you have to get off and push up the big hills. Quick drying, highly breathable mesh/synthetic upper. Endo-skeletal fit system securely wraps feet.”

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Popularity: 17% [?]

This is a 35 mile loop with two significant climbs. The GPX file mapped below was hand made in Google Earth and will be uploaded to the Garmin for navigation purposes,

Cave Creek to Potter Valley
July 09; Planning on riding the route this afternoon, wondering about conditions at Cave Creek Rd.; did I get the route right, are there locked gates (the satellite photos were dicey at the crest)? SHould be an interesting ride. The camera and GPS are charged and ready to go, and the navigation route (shown above) is loaded and ready to go. Sunscreen, water and carbs and I should be out the door by 1:30.
Ok, finally out the door at 4:30.

Popularity: 24% [?]

This was my first attempt to create a KML path in Google Earth, use TCXConverter to transform the KML to GPX, upload the GPX to the GPS and ride the route. Oy! with the acronyms.
The USGS topo calls this Main Ranch Road, paralleling Eldridge Creek to the back side of Greenfield Ranch and thence to Orr Springs Road, right up at the top by Mann Ranch. With the permission of someone along the course of the road, I hope to ride all the way through from Redwood Valley and make a really nice 30 mile loop down Orr Springs, down to North State Street and back through Calpella to Redwood Valley. Not to mention this being the most direct route to the hot springs, less than 15 miles and very little traffic, saweeeeet! The road surface looks very dusty from the satellite photos, but fairly well traveled, with perhaps a dozen or so homesteads along the way by the looks of it.
On further research, I’m told by the Mendocino County Surveyor’s office that Main Ranch Road is a privately owned road with multiple owners.

Main Ranch Road
Hoping to ride this today, more news tomorrow.

Les indigienes

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An old farm at the crossroads

Popularity: 58% [?]

If you like to just wander around and stick mostly to the flat ground, here’s a thirty mile route around Ukiah and environs. Starting in Redwood Vally, its a quick spin own to Ukiah, a nice ten mile warm-up on the wide clean shoulders on Hwy. 101, and its legal too. Of course extra caution is required at exits and entries.
Then there’s a little tour of Old Town Ukiah and a loop out Talmadge road into the vineyards. Out here near Vichy Springs Road, you’ll find El Dorado and other Porsche-riddled enclaves up on the foothills above the valley.
Then its a quick loop back into town and back north to close the circle.

Ukiah valley tour

Popularity: unranked [?]

The turnaround point on this course is near the top of the so called “Black Bart’s Trail”. There are so many landmarks around here attributed to Bart that you have to take it all with a grain or two of salt. In any case, the ride up the colorfully named Road A provides some excellent vistas of Lake Mendocino, and by the time you get to the top its quite spectacular.

The surface is generally good clean asphalt with very narrow shoulders but traffic is pretty light. Clean asphalt till you reach the gravel part that is. From there on its steep, loose, dusty, dry 1″ gravel and requires a certain amount of finesse to stay upright. I’ve been told the road goes through to Potter Valley but I’ve not yet ridden the part past where the “Private Property” sign is turned perpendicular to the road. Next time tho, and I’ll bring the camera too.

I come back via Road B, where the track (below) veers north after the turn around. Again the road is narrow but winding and lots of fun. Beware of stray livestock and the occasional “surface irregularity”, but enjoy the run. Once back to the bottom lands its back north on East Road to Redwood Valley and a quick stop for hydration and a game of pool at Vic’s Place.
And, to close the evening, the long flat loop up East Road where it joins Tomki and West Roads, then back through the vineyards to the office. Happy Birthday America!

Black Bart Loop

Ok, July 20th and I made it over the top on Black Bart Trail and down into Potter Valley, with camera in tow. Got some pretty good photos including three of a California Green Rattlesnake. The folks of Potter Valley were warm and hospitable and more than happy to pose for the camera.

Totals: Distance; 36.61 mi., Ride time; 3:36:53, Ascent; 2360′

Rd. A – Black Bart-Potter Valley

The gallery below displays the geo-tagged images shown on the map above.

Start of the climb

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Base of Rd. A, grade varies from 5% - 14%, surface is adequate, shoulders are non-existent, traffic is fairly light.

Popularity: 34% [?]