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By Roz Rogoff

About this blog: In January 2002 I started writing my own online "newspaper" titled "The San Ramon Observer." I reported on City Council meetings and other happenings in San Ramon. I tried to be objective in my coverage of meetings and events, and...  (More)

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Rails to Trails

Uploaded: May 23, 2015

In 1989 I lost a lot of weight. Over a period of 3 years, from 1989 to 1992 I dropped about 150 lbs. from almost 300 to just under 150. I lost the first 90 lbs. from 1989 to 1990. That's when I decided to take up cycling again.

I bought a Peugeot ladies cross bike, which was designed to be used on pavement or dirt trails. It was mainly a comfort bike and easy to ride. I lived in Culver City back then and was very close to the bike path along the Los Angeles River to Marina Del Rey. For those of you not familiar with Los Angeles, the "River" is a paved over river bed that is empty most of the year, but fills up with water during the rainy months.

The ride from Culver City to Marina Del Rey is about 6 miles. There's head-wind going and a tail-wind coming back. They held Jazz Concerts in the park there on Sunday afternoons, and I used to ride down, listen to the music, and take the tail wind back home. I lived about two blocks from the bike path, which made it very convenient to get there and back.

I subscribed to a couple of cycling magazines and even sent a letter with a photo of me and my Peugeot bike, which was published in one of them. This put me on a mailing list for a host of cycling-related products and organizations.

I joined the WOMBATS (Woman's Mountain Bike and Tea Society) and went on what was billed as a beginner's trail ride. Everyone was very nice to me even though neither I nor my bike was in suitable shape for this easy ride. I still have my WOMBATS T-Shirt somewhere but it is too small to fit me now.

Around that time I received an invitation to join Rails to Trails. This organization is dedicated to converting old, abandoned railroad tracks to walking and biking paths. It sounded like a good idea so I joined.

Well you already know part of the story. I moved from Los Angeles to Morro Bay and then from Morro Bay to San Ramon. I've lived here for 18 years now.

I gained back most of the weight I lost, and then lost some weight again, and bought an adult-sized tricycle to ride on the Iron Horse Trail near my house.

About a week ago I received another invitation to join Rails to Trails. I thought "how ironic." I contributed to Rails to Trails when they started converting the old Southern Pacific railroad tracks between Concord and San Ramon.

I never heard of San Ramon before I moved here, but I helped to build the Iron Horse Trail 20 years before I knew where it was. Now I can look out my office window, where it is almost dark, and see the Iron Horse Trail a few hundred feet from my backyard. How weird is that?
Community.
What is it worth to you?

Comments

Posted by vanessagallo, a resident of Danbury Park,
on May 24, 2015 at 11:56 pm

Good Stuff!! A fantastic article. Very objective and critical.


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on May 28, 2015 at 12:48 pm

OK...I won't miss out on the discussion!!!

I enjoying trying my bess to do the right thing politely.

Spelling correction: Paragraph 8 - Iron Horse TAIL

you're welcome! BUSTED!


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on May 28, 2015 at 1:12 pm

Also, I don't wish to upset your fans but as you know, Buster Keaton used to wear a Pork Pie Hat that resembles that thing perched on your head at the top of this page. I try my best!


Posted by San Ramon Observer, a resident of San Ramon,
on May 28, 2015 at 4:00 pm

San Ramon Observer is a registered user.

Cholo,

I don't see Iron Horse "Tail" in paragraph 8. I did misspell WOMBATS and caught it yesterday and corrected it. I mention "tail-wind" in paragraph 3, but no Iron-Horse Tail.

Since you like puns, I guess you could call this blog The Iron Horse Tale.

Roz

PS The hat is a Tilley Hat. It's my trademark hat. Web Link I bought it 20 years ago. I have dressy hats for special occasions, like the one I wore to the last City Council meeting.


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