Reunited, and it feels so gooooood.

A weekend at Westport, on the Mendocino coast. Another long drive and windy roads, and then, voila, there you are, a little green around the gills, ready for some beer-tasting and ocean air and whatever the weekend might offer up. The air is like a drug. Crazy things happen on the coast that just don't go on in the valley. I'd like to plead temporary insanity based on the intoxication, but I have too much of a sense of personal responsibility to pass it off so easily.

Emily's bday was a fabulous (let's see if I can curtail the use of that word, shall we?) excuse for 7 of her friends to spend the weekend at her folks' place in Westport, CA (thanks, Fishers!).

Emily's dog Ripley is really quite good in the car. Only thing is, she does not want to be touched. Not at all. No comforting pets, no reaching back to say hello. It was in jest that I took this series (represented here by just one) of photos. It sort of looks like Ripley came up behind me for some attention and to take some shots with me. That was not the case. And if she saw these photos that make it look like she we were all chummy, she'd be mortified, I am certain.

After the windy road down Highway 20, we went to North Coast for some beer tasting, and to wait for Mindy and Steve. I didn't get any photos of us all at the restaurant, unfortunately.

Walking down to the beach with the pup. It was sunny and warmish and fall was in the air.
These plants scare me. They are the ones I took photos of in the spring, but they seem to be shape-shifting.
We made (a fabulous!) dinner on Friday night, Lisa and Anita showed up, and we drank wine (and beer), and sang songs and talked about Saturday's ride. I was nervous. Remember how big the hills were when Em and I did this in the Spring? They are the same size now. Winding roads. Big ups, big downs. But only 30 miles. Surely I can fake my way through 30 miles? It starts on an uphill and then there's time to catch one's breath.

So about this ride. . . I've tried to describe it a couple of different times. It hasn't come off that well (my apologies to those of you who have suffered through the attempts). It's been a while since I've had a really good ride. I commute by bike, but that doesn't really count. And I usually ride my fixie. Getting on my bike and starting off was like a huge sigh. You know when you breathe out and your whole body fine-tunes and you can hear yourself again? We started up the first hill and I dropped back a bit, thinking I wasn't quite there, and not wanting to compare myself on this first stretch. My legs were with me. My head was sort of there, pretty much. About 4-5 miles into it, I felt like I was in exactly the right place doing exactly the right thing. It was sort of this fabulous elation that started with each pedal stroke and moved upward through my legs, and grabbed hold of me and all I could do was laugh outloud to try to give it a path, an outlet. The only words I can reach are markedly sexual and obviously inappropriate to describe cycling. Obviously.
So -- I'm grateful for my bike and good friends and living in this remarkable place and for being healthy enough to enjoy every last bit of it.

Emily and Mindy smiling and ready to go.

Within about 4 miles, we were all sweating up a storm and pulled over to strip some layers. Who knew it was going to be sunny and warm in Mendocino? Not me.

Before leaving, we had all aired-up the tires. Myself included. Through a tree-tunnel I started to feel like my back wheel was not spinning right. I slowed down (awwww, yeah -- that's right -- she was behind me, I was ahead!) to see if Emily could see anything wrong with it -- she said it looks fine, but it's low. I said, "I just pumped it up." A fine answer, I think.
We pulled over and Emily added some air -- it wasn't flat, just low. Nice to have my own personal bike mechanic on a ride.
It held the rest of the ride. Weird.

Emily, Mindy Lou, and me at the whale-watching lookout (no whales). Awww.
Helmet cam!
I love this sign. Not so much the street sign (which is reminiscent of Mindy declaring, "Breasts are the most important thing."), but the "church sale."
Okay, so here we are riding from Westport to Ft. Bragg, taking a break, then riding to Mendocino, and feeling pretty good about ourselves, I tell you what. We pass these folks on the road, their bikes loaded down, one guy (no helmet!) with a surfboard rigged to his bike. Seriously. So they stop to talk to some folks in town and you can guess the first question from the townies: "Where are you headed?" Answer: "Canada to Mexico." Whatever. Show-offs. I'm still happy with my 30 miles. When we passed them on the road, I told Mindy that I would bet her that Emily was day-dreaming about bike touring at that very minute. Had there been a wager, I would have won.
Okay, so this t-shirt is funny, but not nearly as funny as my repeating the quote over and over and over for the next two days. Really. I'm sure everyone thought so.
Just wondering whether Miracle Max works here and how much one might cost.
Mendocino garden.
Lisa is Ripley's favorite aunt. Hands-down.
KC and her friend Indiana Jen. IJ has no whip or hat or boots, just in case you were wondering.
What KC gets when she tells me to smile.Mindy with cake!Emily's nightly concert.
Perhaps a little antsy waiting for everyone to get ready to go, I play with my camera. All weekend long, I had "RHS" -- Restless Heather Syndrome. Couldn't stop moving, couldn't stop bopping around, couldn't stop jabbering about whatever.
I got a '34 wagon, and we call it a Woody.
The perfect macchiato.
Live Jazz in Headlands Cafe.
Emily considering her next few tattoos.
Birthday girl at the winery -- winery is built on a fault line.
Sometimes I forget why I take photos. I'm pretty sure this one is just because white-girl dreads scare me.
Marcus, the pourer -- he thinks he's really funny. And I couldn't stop hopping around. And being sarcastic. And making fun of the dumb things he says. Sometimes I wonder if my friends wish they would leave me home more often.
Recycled barrels. Enhances flavor.
Yup.
Sunny and a chance of fog.
Bird-Jesus doing his thing.
Starfish at low tide.
The cliffs, of INSANITY!
Can you see what this is? If you look in the top right corner, you can see the water retreating. It's a reflection of clouds on the water.
Packing up to go. I like how bikes look in the truck this way. It's pretty hot.
Left alone again, waiting for people to get ready. There are only two here, but I took a total of about 15 pictures playing with my camera timer.

See Ripley's little nose coming under my headrest? But for the love of God, don't touch her.

Thanks for a great weekend, everyone!