I injured my ankle on an over-aggressive run back in late August or early September. Since then, I haven’t been able to run more than about a mile before inviting shooting pain. However, I’ve still needed a stress outlet, so I dusted off my road bike and started taking rides during the lunch break. I enjoy the solace of my mid-day break, a chance to push myself and get lost in thought about some current problem.
I’ve gone on only a couple of rides this past week, both to sector zero of the linear accelerator. On today’s ride, I brought a camera with me and snapped some pictures of the head of the accelerator. Sector zero is nestled in the Santa Cruz mountain foothills, west on Sand Hill Road. There is a gate below and behind sector zero, but it’s always closed. The foothills, of late, have been shrouded in haze and fog, making sector zero oddly peaceful and quiet. I’ve enjoyed bringing my bike to a stop on the hill above the sector, pausing to catch my breath (I’m no good at those hills), and taking in the view.
I’ve never been down in the accelerator, in all my years at SLAC. There was never an opportunity, and after th electrical accident there was no way I’d ever get to go down there without a good reason. Consequently, I’ve only seen pictures of the accelerator and the electron gun that feeds the whole thing. Standing over sector zero, looking down at this most powerful linear accelerator ever built and operated by humans tucked into these California mountains, is quite an experience.
