Adventurous Patsel Enjoying Good Times, Good Beer

Drink deeply from the well of life and smile. That's advice from Corte Madera's Mel Patsel, who at age 75 is still looking for new adventures in life.

"I just haven't done enough yet," Patsel said. "I've been very fortunate to do the things I have done. I couldn't be happier."

Patsel, a former San Francisco firefighter, has a lifetime of stories to share if you have the time. Stop by the Anchor Steam booth during Oktoberfest in Corte Madera on Saturday and you'll likely see Patsel laughing and pouring some of his favorite beer.

"We all took a drink when we were 14 or 15 when we shouldn't have, didn't we?" he asked. "As an adult, probably when I was in the service, around age 19, is when I started to experience beer. I enjoy the taste, the effervescence of it.

"Back then, we were all drinking ales: Rainier Ale, Country Club. They're all beers you don't experience now. I like a nice, light pale ale, an amber pale ale. I enjoy Anchor Steam, but I go to the other booths and taste a bit as well."

Oktoberfest will host 14 breweries including Lhasa from Tibet, Lost Coast, Lagunitas, North Coast, Anderson Valley and Moylan's. The event, from noon to 5 p.m., will also feature local bands, food, and free fun for the children.

Patsel retired from the SFFD in 1993, then moved to Corte Madera, but he's hardly the retiring type. At age 55, he hopped on his bicycle and headed east across country. At age 65, he made the same trip, this time from the East Coast to the West Coast. He paddled an outrigger canoe from Molokai to Oahu and is an avid open water swimmer.

"(My family) tells me to take it easy. They say 'Dad, you just can't do that.' It's really not in my nature to do nothing," Patsel said.

He had planned to ride his bike across Canada this year to celebrate his 75th birthday, but recent health problems put that on hold. He says he'll try to bike across a few provinces next year.

"I just love life," he said. "I'm going to keep doing as much as I can as my health will allow me to do."