I guess I forgot how much a ride can take out of me. The Tucson walkabout got my riding up to par, but I haven't ridden since then (almost a month ago!) since I've been running more in "training" for the Bay to Breakers. Today I went for a "casual" ride, a moderate 28-miler with moderate climbs, down Highway 1 starting in a coastal town called San Gregorio. I've fallen out of form and completed the route more than 10 minutes slower than when I did it last year when I was in shape. No surprise, no disappointment. I didn't take enough rests and I was struggling at the end as a result. Bleah. I got there via Half Moon Bay, and I swear I still have no idea where the Half Moon Bay Ritz-Carlton is.

So the ride took a lot out of me and I got home too late to meet up with Han and Ikuko and friends to catch the new X-Men movie. And it took enough out of me that I bailed on meeting up with a bunch of old Oberlin folk, my first "community" upon moving out here, this evening. But that was out in the East Bay, so I feel justified. East Bay, man, whatever.

I did make it to the second night of Throwing Muses, and it was even better than last night; it was more relaxed, more confident, more rockin'. Kristin Hersh talked more, indicating a higher level of relaxedness. The folk I met last night were also there in the same place they were last night, right at the foot of the stage. Freaks! If I were the band, I'd be gettin' scared about them. Well, I'm just about done with seeing live shows until the Built to Spill show on the 27th. Sold out! Woohoo!