Aztec Century Permanent + Recon

Modified Aztec Century route with added recon miles.

Sort of rode the Aztec Century. I started from San Marcos around 8:00 AM instead and rode over to
Escondido, up to Bonsall and then hooked up with the SLR Bike Path to the actual start of the route off Benet Street in Oceanside. Loads of riders on the SLR, doing a local ride. Met a whole lot of NCCC riders on the path and took a few pics. Numbers on the top tube, I rode with a chubby girl on a new TREK. She had her thinner friend helping her to do the 30 mile route today. Looks like she has a good mentor and also has a positive attitude for their planned 50 mile ride next year in Palm Springs!

Tinker Juarez look-alike on the "Ride The Coast"

All the way down the coast to Carmel Valley Road it was lined with cyclists from the "Ride The Coast" ride today! The largest number I saw was 2704 on Tinker
Juarez look-alike bike. Also only saw 2 or 3 of them actually stop at a red light! Did stop at Nytro Sports to check on Joe and pick up a bottle of cold Vitamin Water for only a dollar bill! Same price as Wal-Mart! Good deal. Continued southward among the racers and felt marginal going up Torrey Pines. Plenty of riders to ride with till the turn to Morena Blvd. Light traffic through Mission Gorge and Fashion Valley. Slog up Montezuma Road to the McDonald's control at SDSU.

Joe Morgan (center) looks real busy at Nytro Mulitsports

Ice cream and cookies at McDonald's, with water refull. Not many students there around 1:00 PM either. Slight tailwind over to Friars Road on the return trip. Very unusual for this route! Not enough batteries along for the photo trip of new route I was working on called "University Loop". Had to cut back on photos. Rolled back up to UCSD and down Torrey Pines. Still lots of riders on the road later in the day. Still a slight tailwind going up the coast to Carlsbad. I stopped in Carlsbad for receipt and hit Tamarack over to El Camino Real. Lots of late day climbing through there. Over to San Marcos for the finish as the sun was setting in the west. Rode over to Sprout's and got some dates for reward. A little tired. Hydration problem. Rode the inland rail trail and took the sidewalk home. Should have carried my little "Froggie" lights, just in case.

Oh well, short on batteries, too late a start at 8:00 AM (or too slow a ride with pic stops) and no lights at
sunset . Not a well planned out day, but managed to finish up around 10 hours. Better planned next time.

see ya next trip,
-randorides