[conspire] CABAL (in-person + Jitsi Meet), Sat., Feb. 8th

[Rick Moen]

I'll do my surefire homemade pizza again, _and_ homemade garlic
bread, _and_ a fresh pear pie.  Such a deal!

Saturday, Feb. 9th, 2025, 4pm - 12am PST (UTC -8)

Rick & Deirdre's house
1105 Altschul Ave. @ Gordon Ave.
W. Menlo Park
(lost?  call me: 650-283-7902)
http://linuxmafia.com/cabal/


_or_ attend online, via Jitsi Meet:  
http://meet.jit.si/CABAL
To attend remotely, you'll need:

o  Computer w/Web browser.  
   https://jitsi.github.io/handbook/docs/user-guide/supported-browsers

   mic w/ speakers/headphones.  Headphones/earbuds
   are recommended because they avert audio feedback loops.

o  or a specialised Jitsi Meet client program:

   o Jitsi Meet Client (28MB APK) for Android 5.0+, via F-Droid:
     https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.jitsi.meet/

   o Jitsi Meet Client for Android, via Google Play Store
     https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.jitsi.meet

   o Jitsi Meet Client for iOS, via Apple iTunes Store
     https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jitsi-meet/id1165103905
 
   o Jitsi Meet Electron desktop client (86MB binary: Linux x86_64, MacOS,
     MS-Windows), https://github.com/jitsi/jitsi-meet-electron/releases
     (Recommendation for headphones/earbuds still applies.)




Also, the next day:

SuperbOwl walk, Alpine Road Regional Trail, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, 2pm.

This coming Sunday is our hallowed annual day to look for spectacular
owls, SuperbOwl Sunday! 

So, please join me for a pleasant afternoon walk.   Nothing else will
happen on Sunday, except some professional sports thing.  (More about
SuperbOwl Sunday, here:  https://www.reddit.com/r/SuperbOwl/ ) 

Going uphill 4 miles on Alpine from Portola Valley (past the orange sign
saying "Alpine Road Closed at Town Limits.  No Access to Skyline
Blvd."), you reach a dead-end for cars, and small parking lot.  If lot's
full, park on nearby side streets. (Curb your wheels.)

I'll be waiting for 15 mins for stragglers at the lot's pedestrian gate.
Look for a guy with a mop of strawberry-blond hair. I'm at tel.
650-283-7902 , but cell reception's spotty up there.

Sunday's hike will be partway up the 2.3 mile, shaded, pleasant
firetrail and former historic turnpike, closed to cars in the '60s.
Then back down.  Probably not the whole ascent.  This will be just a a
leisurely, fun walk.

Past the parking lot's pedestrian gate, Alpine Road becomes its original
frontier-era 6'-wide dirt/gravel fire road, at first bordering Windy
Hill Open Space Preserve, then Coal Creek Open Space Preserve (three
side trails going up into that), eventually ending at Page Mill Road.
Monte Bello Open Space Preserve lies beyond Page Mill.  

Recommended for:  Families with children, horses, dogs, strollers,
bicycles.  Not for wheelchairs. 

Restrooms:  None.

Hours:  24x7.

Altitude change:  1,007 feet (for full 2.3 mile ascent)

Average grade:  8%

Trail type: gravel fire trail

Weather:  Sunny, 55°F.
https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=37.430410&lon=-122.204196&unit=1#.Y_l5NC0Q1pT

I've cleverly sidestepped y'all's main reasons to avoid this walk:

"It's too strenuous."  You're so nice!  I'm 66. 
"Rainy weather."  National Weather Service says no. 
"But mud!"  Gravel trail.
"Not enough advance notice."  Maybe 5 days is enough?
"Too remote."  Four miles uphill from Portola Valley's downtown
intersection.
"Too crowded."  Never.
"Costs too much."  Free.
"If only this were on a weekend."  Done.