Ham-Hock Trail

Modified Ham-Hock Route I rode today

Last minute ride. Thought and thought about doing the Nate Harrison Century Trail instead. After my poor recovery from Tuesday's easier ride, I decided differently.

Left Mule Hill Chevron at 8:00 and proceeded the big climb towards Poway. Sun was up and it got warm real fast. Powerline trail was very rutted going downhill to the bridge-out portage. I did a downhill slide-crash and reddened up things a bit. Needed to find ice quick! Not to be as I re-tried the after bridge climb several times. Almost was good enough today and I followed the route down to the park and the following 7-Eleven. I thought about bailing as I iced down the knee and golf size bump on my right ankle.Filled my bottles with ice and headed out on the Poway Creek Trail.

No respite trying to climb the $5 hill. No way up that except walking, just like the coyotes do! Met 2 lady hikers on the top of Poway Trail. "Good job" was the refrain. Must not be yelling at me. Nice ride over to the Los Penasquitos Preserve Park. Tried to wash up with a paper towel. Had lost my uni-rag along the trail somewhere. Met with man-wife combo riders in the parking lot. Rode with them as we headed westward. Both had nice new carbon full suspension MTB's. Nice! I wanted to do some exploring so I headed up the canyon northward. Wet slippery trail under the elevated SR-56 Bike Path. Hiked up the dead end and proceeded over to the Circle K for water and rest up. Several older roadies there, so we chatted a bit.

Crash slide on this nice easy looking downhill to bridge-out

Proceeded northward on Camino Del Sur and then off on Bryn Glen Way. Back on dirt trails again as the sewer cleaning crew was blocking one trail near the bridge detour route. Took the straight shot up to the Black Mtn. sign trailhead and then off down the sonic Lusardi Loop Trail. Looks like more housing development edging up on the grasslands. Too bad. Followed the Loop over and up to the power lines, then down, cross the water and onto Artesian Road. Note: At the Coast To Crest sign, there is a small trail off to the right, which is supposed to go around the hill and end up at the water crossing. Looks interesting and challenging. If I had the nads, I would have tried it. Maybe next trip.

Next up was the 34 or so downhill switchbacks. Never did figure out how to do those quickly, unless I did the dirt slide around them. Devin says it tears up the trail too much. Correcto. Guess the toe down method will have to work for now. Garmin read mid 90's as I climbed along the Del Dios Gorge Trail to the Lake Hodges Dam. Nice ride along Hodges on the single track trail. It's smoothed out a lot from last spring. Did chat with one rider who was getting ready to try his new hammock in the trees and enjoy his lunch! Nice. Said he got it at Sports Authority instead of the higher priced REI.

Cruised along the Hodges access road trail. Got to John's spot and had the wrong gear for the short climb. Hike-A-Bike in effect. What else is new today. Weed trimming along the trail using correction workers. A few joggers along the trail as I quickly moved along back to the Chevron finish. Not a bad day with the blood loss, crash out and other stuff. Not feeling too bad today, with a few scratches and redness. Also can't raise my left leg to put on socks! Soaked in the Epson Salts, helped a little.

-randorides