Location : Lake Chabot
Distance : 11.2 miles (18km)
Duration : 2-2.5 hrs
Difficulty : Moderate strenuous, mildly technical
Elevation 600′ gain/loss
Ride Type : Loop on fire roads
Parking : $3.50 (we parked outside the parks so it’s free!)
Maps : download here
Comments : long ride but little bit flat than the 2nd attempt. Nice view of the lakes.

We did this loop on Saturday 18th Nov started at 11pm. To reach Lake Chabot was not so far from Sunnyvale, we only drove about 30minutes or so. The track quite popular for any stages of cycling, but heading off the beaten path through the bike loop which expanded to nearly Redwood Regional Park was rewarding.

It was gentle ride at the paved road east Shore by the lake then climbing hill to the Live Oak Trail. The we heading down to Brandon and Gordonrod Trail then back to the lake at Bass Cove Trail through the dam.

The route not so technical, it just little bit hard work for climbing up the hills (hoaaa….). I am still struggling to keep my ankle works as my breath could cope with the incline of the road. On the way up at Live Oak I spotted little animal crossed the path. Curious I reported to Mark then we abandoned our bikes to search those little thing. It turned out like cicadas but bigger, sat quietly hidden beneath the rocks.

We also spot the small gully that represent erosion on the ground with lovely pattern. I just like a little valley in grand canyon ! It was really quite that day, may be because we were off the walkers path but also the cycling route actually close to the shooting range. When we heading down Brandon Trail through eucalyptus trees we heard big bang many times. Fortunately we were safe.

We decided back to Sunnyvale at 4pm to the Oakland Marina. It was a peaceful sunset looking to the Oakland International Airport. Beautiful red sunset that we never seen before. Here’s the pictures with a plane ready to landing on the runway.

I have been using Lightroom a free software from Adobe in the past year since they launched first beta version. Now with 4.0 Beta in Windows and Mac platform they are creeping to gain market from photographers. I came across with this software when we try to find a cheap alternative for Aperture -an apple based pro editing photos in raw. Since I am taking pictures in RAW I found Lightroom a beautiful tool to play with.

The good stuff:

1. Originally designed for Apple user now Lightroom ready for the Windows.

2. As editing photos Lighroom DO not destructive to all the changes you made. You can simply restore it with “recovery” or “reset”
3. It integrated nicely with Photoshop CS and even merged the editing you’ve made before in Lightroom and create another copy. Vice Versa.

4. The “Develop” toolbars is really powerful for correcting color baldness based from level, tones, curves, and histogram. Even they have Camera Calibration and Lens Corrections for the effect of lens/filters you’ve using.

5. It has several default developing that you can use directly for gray scale, sepia, direct positive (enhance the contrast) without playing much on the bar. You also can set up your own default editing when working in batch photos taken from the same locations.

6. I love the “export and import” batching that let you transfer your pictures direct to the locations you want including batch naming, reduced size, color calibration etc.

7. The “Web” tools is really powerful to create a slideshow for photographer portfolio website. I haven’t try it yet but soon I will.

8. The “sync” tool on the develop really helpful to edit many photos in just one click. Once you edit a photo that make as a default editing, you can sync to many pictures to edit exactly the same as the sample. Great hah..

Things to improves :

1. As Adobe’s other programs, Lightroom will take all power of your processor and memory. I urges you to have lots of memory (built-in or external HD) and faster processor

2. Importing files was great but I found a little bit tricky to rename in right order.

3. Lightroom couldn’t erase pictures from your CF directly, you have to delete it from your camera on the folder menu.

4. When import from CF, Lightroom keep checking thumbnail on your system. It make longer to import and also did not inform you when it finished. In this v4.0 Beta Adobe fixed the bugs and now has the progress bar on top left when all the tasks being done.
Good news is Lightroom seems to deal with many tasks, but the more tasks you play will slower your comp.

5. I heard that Lightroom will sell to public if the Beta version achieve level that Adobe need to get money from users (February next year?). I reckons the price will be no more that $299 -the price from the rival Aperture. So yes…..before they sell it, you’ve better download and have a try now.

Suggestion : for your ergonomics reason I suggest you to invest bigger screen computer. The 17′ is minimum and if you can afford 30′ posh cinema screen from apple it will better….

I praised Lightroom because the way of software works is intuitive for photographer rather than Photoshop CS. All the photography basic rules can easy been tweak compared with Photoshop that suit better to design/images editing. That’s why I love it so much because as a vivid amateur photographer is important to have a software that understand your needs.

Systems :
Power Mac G5 Dual 1.8GHz,
MacBook 1.6GHz Intel Core Duo 14′ Black, Dell Monitor 20′
Digital Cameras Nikon Dseries with Kingston CF

Related posting :
Aperture : Bermain Dengan Raw

1. I can not change status as I do on the previous version. I used to put note as my own status and YM seems remember it, but now I even can not change it !

2. The “New Instant Message” blue button did not respond if I highlight the contact who I want to send message. It supposed to be related at least works together in sync.

3. I love to have an options that let the contacts sort by it’s status. I was hoping the online contacts will be on the top while the ‘idle’ contacts will be displayed underneath

4. When I tried delete a contact, it did not do anything !

5. The iTunes show status did not respond for “busy status”. It always show available even I want to say that I am busy while listening of iTunes. Any alternative?

6. For the head-shot picture for the contacts seems take while to uploading. I had to wait about 10-15 minutes to see pictures of my friends

7. I noticed there is no facility to save the conversation, even from the previous chat. I need these facility since my conversation need a documentation. Please put this back !

Addition :

8. Sending file was OK, with download box status show the situation.
9. Webcam works great, but window user complain about the size of the interfaces. I set as small and highest quality.
10. I haven’t try the conference yet. But I loved the interface, it’s clean, nice and integrated with Y! Mail through notification.

We thought that we need a camel bag -designed for cyclist that allow you drink without stopping, so we decide to looking for outdoors shop somewhere near. We spotted REI at Mountain View which someone told the biggest store. The REI was great for such bargain stuff. They have backdoor room for things that been used or slightly damaged in crashing price. I was tempting to buy rucksack since I forgot where I put those bulky LoweAlpine. Anyway we bought camel bag and a light for Mark’s bike. He thought he is going to cycle to work to keep him fit. And me ? hmmm I am polishing my basketball shoots !

We also find Sports Basement which give lots lots discount. I only bought Backpacker Magazine for their nice new walking routes in California. We were heading Purisima Creek Redwoods. We decided that the lower start will be best so we took highway 92 then 1 then left to Higgins Purisima Creek Rd about 1 mile from Half Moon Bay.

After a fast lunch we were straight to the business. The map for the cycling path was on the entrance. We choose Harkins Fire Trail as a start. The Guidebook said that it will a hard work to go up hill and I have to admit IT IS a hard work. My acid stomach complained with late lunch and soda drink created not really nice mixing. I was struggling for first mile. Mark even offered me to go back since I felt dizzy. I said that I want to keep going.

The next 2 miles was a grueling cycling up. I managed to keep my breath in pace, I am kind a slow starter. It worked ! Take it easy and just keep paddling…. On top near Skyline Blvd we had great view. It was worth to come up here. We sat watching the pines and Douglas fir. The Half moon bay clearly seen from here. Also I amazed with banana slug (Ariolimax) . They are second biggest in the world.

When we were starting the Jeep Trail Mark had to remind me about brakes. This would be quite daunting as we down the hill in several sharp bends. The path itself little bit muddy with tree roots might make your bike off the track. I found the right turn was my weakness, so I had to train several times where and when I turn wheel and swing my body away. It was so focus to keep going even in long dark forest. The hill was on the shade part, so when we were down we barely get the sunshine on the road. The Whittemore Gulch Trail was tricky as I had problem with sight.

We enjoyed the trail ! I would not recommended this route to totally beginner biker. The route was too technical and if you’re not careful you will end up several feet down the hill. Anyway I had my muscles aching until today.

You can download cycling map here www.openspace.org

Mbak Ambar,

Many thanks for your support so far. I was in Tajikistan now and found that birocracy so complicated. I am not enjoy staying in Tajikistan because lacked of strategy. I even haven’t got time to wandering around the city. Little bit disappointed specially because I spent lots money for visa. It might be not my best luck. By the way, how’s America?

Agustinus Wibowo
ps : Happy Eid Mubarak. Forgive my mistakes in the past.

Gus Weng been travel extensively in area that most of muslem conflicts, such as Afganisthan, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan or even another South Asian countries (Mongolia, Tibet, Nepal, India). I knew him virtually, we never met in real world. Our “friendship” started when I sent personal massage about his photo of Angkor Wat during a sunset on one of the photography website. It’s a beautiful picture ! It just so enchanting piece !

And then I am getting know about him when he launched his personal website contains of his photos and journal couple years ago. Sometimes we chat about several aspects of his journey. How’s his photos in India compared with the series in Tibet for example. How’s his volunteer jobs with Danish aids during cartoon carnages in area affected by great earthquake in Kashmir. He wrote beautifully about muslem’s life in the countries he visited. Most of its about history, festivals or personal relation. He wrote honestly and even sometimes so naive.

He only young boy (he refused if I mention that) but if you see the depth of what he wrote in his journal, you will find a great surprises. I knew how difficult to write about cultural and religious combined so called travelogue but he did very good job on that. Not because he is so humble but also he is so human. Sometimes he felt uprising mood, sometimes he felt lonely. I knew that feeling specially when you traveling alone.

We shared moments when someone robbed him in Nepal, or a middle age man tried to have a sexual encounter to him. But also when he been punched by police or people in the streets. We shared also about difficulties to get visa for Indonesians like us. We shared jokes sometimes but we always laugh for the same things.

I admired him actually. He is been writing for National Geographic China for his first journey in Afganisthan, met the Taliban and visited great Budha site in Bamiyan. Now he is about the harvest his long stretch journey when more media contacted him for pictures and journals. I always knew that he is not a usual boy.

Keep contact Gus Weng, anytime if you see me online.

I have been mountain biking for three years when Mark lend me his twenty years old bike. Since we were in California a couple weeks ago soon we realised that we were in the mountain biking’s heaven. This area is great for exploring the parks and natural wonder on the saddle; this made us getting itchy to put feet on the paddle again. So here we are in the Northern California trying new bikes from cyclepath shop. I have got bike Contessa 40 from bike-maker Scott which is lot better than my old one.

Henry Cowell Park is situated near Santa Cruz. We were heading there from Sunnyvale in interstate 280 then took highway 1 left to highway 9 through winding road of redwoods forest about 5 miles to the park. We had difficulties to find the Pipeline Road, after wandering around near Park Centre the path just there -among the giant redwoods tree.

Redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens ) can grow for 200-240ft (60-121m) high known for one of the eldest tree in the world. The red barks and heartwood were resistant to the fungus and fires that common happen in this hot dry weather in coast. The tall and leaf of redwoods made shady area for the forest path.

The track started with paved road to uphill even steeper after passing the railroad. And that would be on and on. I was struggling with gears system as I never play lowest gear ever. This is a right time to try. About 2.5 miles we down to intersection with Powder Mill Fire Road turn left to Ridge Fire Road climbed up again to the observation deck. It was nice view with the Panderosa pines and jay birds scattering on the ground looking for seeds. With it’s bright blu colour the birds just easy to spot in.

In the observation deck we stopped for another intake fluids. There is tap water so you can drink here. I met two ladies riding horses. We had a chatt about this hot autumn weather. One of the lady said that the californian called this situasition ‘indian summer’ which a period that the air so dry and hot, usually late october or beginning of november before rain pouring down. It supposed to be more humid than those saturday.

Down the track we heading the Ridge Fire road again which is quite sandy. It’s a hard work to keep your wheel rolling in the sandy ground. I found little bit fun though ! Then we back again into Pipeline road across to Rincon Fire Road. We were tempted to try the Cathedral Redwoods but I was begging to back into Rincon. It was lot fun here ! We just down hills among the tree roots and dark forest. I was playing again with gears and brakes. Oh anyway american put brakes in opposite side of UK bikes. Left hand brake for front wheel and right hand brake for back wheel. I have got lesson how to control the bike if we’re hitting lumps of tree roots.

Then we back again into Pipeline road and heading to car park. Huh it was great ! My bike works perfectly well, my shorts with padding helps me from hurting my bums. So yes definitely will do some more.

Photos here Mountain Biking 1st Attempt (thanks for lovely shoots from Mark)
Map from virtualparks.gov

The four were great and enpowering -if that the producers wants, but for my view I choose the third movie : Maya Raya Daya. For under 10 minutes this movie gave a strong massage about Indonesia women. I’m rather say this movie is disturbing, brutally honest and dilligently done.

The story in this movie about three women in different time setting. Maya is a pretty girl who bringing up among feudal high caste Javanese family in 18th century. The tradition said that she will marry a noble man from same caste of her’s -a man that already married with three kids. Then she faced the fact that she obliged to say nothing for what she feeling.

Then time changed into 1945′s when Indonesia declared it’s independence from Dutch and Japanese colonialsm. An attractive girl named Raya was facing reality that she can not joint her friends in Indonesian political movement which mushroomed during World War II. She was proposed to marry againts her will. She began experiencing physical abused that led her into desperation. She couldn’t do anything only whispering ‘tidak’ (No) with a painful tone.

The lady number three is Daya -a girl who lives in present time. Again the physical abuse were brought up into light, even now we have got clear picture about what the movie try to say. Yes the pictures there were disturbing, you will watching her pretty face became in ruins with fist mark. You will see how she changed from a bubbly young lady into a vulnerable woman.

I must to say that after watching this short movie I remembered The Hours (2002) -a great movie about three women which received tremendous critics and awards. The pattern was the same that the ladies separated by time although they connected by a piece of Mrs Dalloway’s novel. In this movie Nicole Kidman granted her first Oscar as writer Virginia Wolf who portrayed in mental instability then lead her in suicide.

Maya Raya Daya project produced by a high acclaimed Indonesia woman’s director Mira Lesmana. She’s been producing great numbers of movies since Indonesia struggling with their own audiences. While Nan Achnas wrote the script the three characters on the movie done beautifully by a young actress Luna Maya.

I loves the cinematography of Maya Raya Daya which containing symbolic accounts of the events. From the savanna field into cold floor of traditional javanese’s house. The camera recorded Luna Maya acts with several different moments of situation led you into the substantial changing.

The music was great with a solo piano in the background just filling atmosphere sort of emptiness. The only thing that I found little bit annoying was the sound which being taken direct from the actress’s source. I can hear buzzing of traffic when I was hoping there was only Luna Maya’s voice. I knew that this is technically not difficult to ‘extract’ the unwanted background sound. Anyway I like the way they chose a contemporary themes rather than a traditional rhythm (say javanese gamelan). It was a right decision.

I also praised Mira and Nan to avoid religious issue in this story. I knew it was hard not to put circumstances in the movie but by disguising behind cultural issue I have to admit it is a great escape. Even for me who grew up in Javanese family I can understand the pressure of the culture-based of marriage or relationship.By putting on the screen it’s also give a strong impression that as a woman beauty means a power to make a decision, to make a choice.

It’s a power of strong will to pass the cultural burden that engraved Indonesian woman not to speak about domestic violence. It’s not about domestic anymore, it’s about a crime.

I am writing this because as an Indonesian I’m concern about one of natural wonder lied in the Papua island next to New Guinea. It is NOT because I want to go but in fact because I CAN NOT go there.

When Reinhold Messner crowned Cartens Pyramid or Puncak Jaya became one known as Seven Summit, climbers all around the world were in racing to conquer it. The consequences is the price to climb hiked as much as $18,000 ! It’s getting an conflict of interest when the only access (say legally) is from Jakarta. Why? Because Cartensz is within the area of the copper mine held by Freeport. And the company notoriously using military to protect their teritory. To hand a permit to climb the beautiful wall in highest peak Austronesian you’ve got the permit from BAIS (inteligent body in Indonesia like FBI), army, minister of tourism, ministry of foreign affair etc etc. Yes ..it’s a long process.

Is that apply for me -an ordinary woman from Indonesia as well? Oh definitely yes because the lacked of access made the Cartensz even harder than should be. The only thing I can do is try to contact local agent ask about the price -for sake’s of my coriousity. They even DID NOT repply my email for second time, totally ignored me. But when a colleage -he is a foreigner sent email he’ve got repplied in instantly. He even got updating ‘expedition’ to climb Cartensz while he keep saying that it’s ridicilous for him to give a short notice about the expedition. Can you prepare an expedition in just 4 weeks? Naaaayy….not for him and phisical ability. So being Indonesian means you are a poor and can not afford the amount of money.

Most of climber regarded Cartensz not so easy but it does not mean difficult. I was pittying my self that as Indonesian is not guarantee that you can climb mountain in your own country. Shame….

Note :
A good source about Cartensz from climbing guide Ptr Jahoda here
Picture from Wiki and Google Earth