Crusin' The OC

Peters Bike Path along channel

Time to head north. Took the earliest train over to Oceanside for a near 5:00 AM start. Still working on the fit for the SOMA. Arm warmers, woolie cap and RUSA jersey with cut-off shirt underlayer. Still too cool at the start, as winds were 12mph from the east. Rode I-5 northward, with one Blaze headlight and the small, but powerful Dorcy helmet light. Strong Planet Bike rear blinkie, with extra rubber band to secure it on the seat bag.

Once riding along I-5, it seemed to warm up. From Las Pulgas north through the campground, no bikers, either way. Too early. Got to San Clemente around 6:20 for a refill at Carl's Jr. A little too much early traffic in spots northward on Hwy. 1 and I couldn't wait to get off of that and onto some bike paths at Newport Beach. Stopped at the Chevron on Bayside Street for a receipt. Followed some big guy with a sign on the back of his carbon seatpost "Iggy". Dropped him on the short steep climb at the end of the Bay bike path. Looped around and joined the San Diego Bike Path eastward. Lots more bike traffic on this on. Looked like workers and students use this a lot early in the AM. Also many Asians walking along this route with their dogs!

Fiber One Chocolate Bar packs power!

Peters Bike Path would be real great, if they would connect both parts up together. Instead, we need to go out on Harvard for a mile and then rejoin the Bike Path northward. Saw 2 riders ahead on Jamboree, but needed to hit the bushes first and by then they were long gone. Stopped at the Orange Control Chevron at Chapman. Got 2 Fiber One bars for $1.20, ate a banana and hit the road.

Deceiving climb right away on Santiago Cyn. Rd. before the long downhill. Plodded up the few climbs into a breezy headwind. Did see a few riders riding northward. Also encountered a truck pulled off to the side on the road. Their dog was running loose among traffic. Real nice looking dog too! The dog disappeared through the trees and into a downhill field. Lone gone and scared!

Aliso Creek Bike Path route

I opted for the Aliso Bike Path instead of the Live Oak Canyon/Antonio Parkway route. This Bike Path is the
last part of the Santiago Peak Trail Permanent. I needed to check it out anyway. It takes you through Lake Forest and past Laguna Hill High School before you're back on the roads for a bit. Then it's another bike path through the Mission Viejo Train Station before you're on Camino Capistrano heading for San Juan Capistrano. All looked well for a short stop at SJC before heading to San Clemente Carl's Jr. and the bike paths and I-5 again to Oceanside.

Sunny day out after a cool start to the route. Turned out the mileage was the same doing the Aliso Bike Path way.

-randorides