Chasing Coyotes on Ham-Hock Trail

Ham Hock Trail Garmin Stats

I posted up earlier in the week on the SDRando and OFR(Thursday Gruppo) message boards part 2 of the
"No Stone Left Unturned Rando Series". Several responses... Dan Phillips was riding the Sunset Beach 200 with buddy Bill, Dan Fitzgerald said it was a sufferfest and a his friend ask him to ride MTB up in Aliso Woods instead. Everyone else had big rides upcoming or dirt was too challenging for them! This rando route was a little more demanding and dirt+ than the "Rock & Road Trail" a few weeks back.

Came in from San Marcos with arm warmers and newspaper vest on. Once again the forecast was in error with a local low of 57F due. Not close. Garmin read 49F with no wind chill included! Mule Hill start sits next to Lake Hodges and it got much cooler than that in the valley. Racer-guy Devin was unloading his white Soulcraft hardtail, Troy had his newer Trek full suspension shined up and Keith's Spearfish had a small handlebar bag flopping off the front. A nice surprise was the addition of John Mestemacher! He was still waiting on his new steel Charge "Cooker" to arrive, but opted for his nice rando ready Rivendale with 32mm mounted. He had his traction work cut out for him today! I was riding the C'dale Trail SL with worn knobbies. Today I was trying out 35psi.

Sunrise on Mule Hill Trail

The group rolled out onto Mule Hill Trail at 7:00 sharp and straight away noticed cold hands. Devin and John were wearing single shirts and looked blueish! Troy said his Garmin temp was down to 34F. I checked mine and it was 35.4F. Holy sucks, no wonder we were froze! Not to worry. We hit the sun on the 19% climb out of the nursery and warmed up quick! Slight ditch detour on the Old Coach Trail and soon we were in full downhill mode to the bridge out. We had the ravine portage buddy system working with Devin doing most of the bike-packing. No poison oak reported. Nice leaf covered trail under tree canopy as we hit our first major short uphill climb.Devin and Troy made it up as the rest of us had different excuses: "I almost touched Troys wheel and had to back off" worked for me. John had narrow tires and Keith had a sore back from lifting bricks! Excuse-O-Rama was already in full effect!

Some nice riding ahead as we hit the trails and crossed several roads along the east side of Poway. The alley trails were good too, as friendly people were out walking their dogs early along here. Troy noted that Poway trail maintenance was great here, as they just dumped crushed rock, leveled it out and it was good-to-go! I offered up to Devin a "under 50" route option to rattlesnake trail, but he didn't bite on that one. Oh well, I'll try again later. A short run along Espola Rd, the extended bolt guardrail and soft sand downhill on the way to Garden Road Park. Great place to water down and bathrooms are clean. Keith led us down the road to the 7-Eleven control stop at mile 14. We traded stories on how great we were riding as Devin noted how well John was doing on his rando bike tires. I mentioned several route changes ahead, including the Poway Creek Bike Path add on.

A good time to snack on the 2 miles of Poway Road. We turned onto the bike path at the Community Rd.

Top of Poway Trail

Fire Station. We looped around and entered the Poway Trail amidst more of Troy's crushed rock dumps on the first uphill. After a road crossing it was time for "Five-Dollar Hill". I pointed it out and the story goes you're supposed to get five-bucks it you can climb it! We saw a few coyotes walking across the trail ahead. Devin said he needed the money and off he went chasing coyotes! We were pushing bikes and cheering him on!
A good effort put him part way up before he bailed.
Coyotes 1, Devin 0.
I think we'll call it "Coyote Climb" now. Devin said if he had his Nano Rapors tires he would have made it! Next time? John and Troy both concurred that their Garmins read 32%. Enough said.

Rocky trail along the ridge before a nice downhill, under a road and more fast riding on a well maintained  trail parallel to Poway Road. A well worn trail around the pump-house onto Cara Way. Unmarked Trans County Trail dips under I-15 to a great single track ride to the trailhead board. We opted for the north route, crossing the creek and away from horse traffic. We rolled into the Canyonside Park and watered up, hit the bathrooms and were back as a group again. Devin noticed a slo-leaker on the front, so opted to fix it now. John and I stayed with him giving advice and how-tos as Keith and Troy opted to ride ahead and check the sights on the north trail through the canyon.

On the north trail, Devin was having a little fun on a curve-bank jump, caught some air and crashed at the feet of a man, wife and dog walking the trail.
"Are you OK?"
He popped up and brushed off :  "Oh, ya... coyotes just kicked my ass and so did that jump!"
Coyotes 2, Devin 0
We crossed at Wagon Wheel Crossing and continued to Adobe Ruins without incident. Keith and Troy were waiting. Along Sorrento Valley Blvd. Troy said John had a flat tire behind us. I slowed, jumped the curb, slid and scrapped my knee on the sidewalk.
Coyotes 2, Kelly 0
A super fast tube fix for John and we're together again on Sorrento Valley Rd. and toward the SR-56 Bike

Nudie Pool near Santa Fe Trail

Path. We opted for a different control stop other that the AM/PM at El Camino Real. It was cross traffic and off track. Circle K at our turn on Camino Del Sur was better. So much for the no-race pace rando ride. As soon as we hit the bike path, John opened it up with his narrow tires!. We were smokin' roadies and Devin took the lead, John next as I was trying to recruit this white jersey roadie who liked MTB'ing better. He said it relaxed him more, but his friends were into Randonneuring. I guess so as we left him behind and we raced into the Circle K at mile 41. We collapsed on the north side shade. Finally Troy and Keith found us and we all had a nice break. That nice smell wasn't Keith's socks, but Troys Banana Boat Sunscreen. The good stuff was ahead!

A short road ride to Byrn Glen, through the gate and onto the Stagecoach 400 route trail. Good single trak up to the new bridge construction on Camino Del Sur, where a detour has us crossing the roadway and back onto the trail on the other side. Nice riding to the trail "Y", where I offered up a under-50 trail option. No takers so we climbed up to the Lusardi Creek Loop Trail Board and waited for Keith. He turned the wrong way, so Devin rounded him up. Big sonic downhill on the outside Loop Trail. We regrouped under the bridge and followed the nice Lusardi Loop Trail over to the Coast To Crest sign, around the power towers and a last downhill to the water crossing. The last road section was the slog up Artesian Way. Next up was the 34 switchbacks, this time downhill. I really suck at those turns, but I think I figured it out now. A rear wheel lock-slide seemed to work really good. Devin said it wasn't good trail protocol to tear it up like that. I apologized and went to the back of the line.

A short stop at "Skinny Dip Pool" and some quiet riding on Santa Fe Trail. Nice downhill to the steel bridge

John, Kelly & Devin regroup on Lusardi Loop Trail

as the temps were rising. A cool breeze along nearby Del Dios Highway helped quell the aerobic activity caused by near empty water bottles. Scenic riding near Lake Hodges Dam, past the park-n-ride car and finally the single trak around the lake. John missed a climb gear on the access road trail and went down easy, sunglasses and all.
Coyote 2, John 0
Back onto the big wide Hodges Trail, loop under I-15 as Keith was thinking of nothing but Vitamin Water and led out with a quick pace to the finish at Mule Hill. We were all dry and bottles were flowing through the Chevron check out. Dusty, dirty and smelling ripe, those coyotes don't have anything on us!

Another great training ride. We all had a good time, trail lessons learned. and are geared up for the next trail. Perhaps "Santa Ysabel Truck Trail" in the near future?

_randorides