Ursa Minor-R Permanent

Ursa Minor-R route on Garmin

Keith Olsen & I left the San Marcos 7-Eleven at 7:00 and rode through residential streets up and around to Old Hwy. 395. It warmed up quickly from the low of 42F as the sun rose above the eastern hills. Feelin' good on the plunge down Champagne as a few golfers were already out on the local links there. I told Keith I was riding at a "400K pace". It seems he was riding at a 100K pace! Nice early riding around Camino del Rey as we met a few riders along this stretch. Short break at the Bonsall AM/PM. Big line there for some reason. No headwind and maybe a slight push as we hit the Hwy. 76 speedo run to the SLR Bike Path in Oceanside. Keith stopped at the College Ave. Park for a short one. No draftees on the SLR for the run in to the coast. ZERO wind and best of all no headwind on this stretch.

We stopped at the Harbor Dr. bathrooms for a break and water. We took the Hwy. 5 route up to the Las Pulgas Exit. Many riders out today through the base. We hooked up with a buff chick on a first-ride new Focus/Dura Ace with deep dish carbon rims. As we were sucking her wheel on the slight climb to the campground, I chatted a bit and she asked if she was "holding us up!" Looking down at her Power Tap rear wheel, I thought what a nice view looking at her rear-end! She was really pushing the wattage trying to pull the train so we eased up a bit in the campground area. We stopped at #1 for a breather. As we left, Keith almost took out some TT boys racing by! Dude in a yellow jersey made some asshole comment and I fired back as they raced by. Keith procrastinated by listing the uses of this campground area for family activities and not for racing! BE ALERT KEITH!

Chinese White Flower kept me moving

Rolled though San Clemente via route and soon we were up and onto the San Juan River Trail. Rode a bit with a pleasant lady riding a road bike. Said her husband left early and went home to do stuff and she was finishing out the ride on her own! Detour on the other side of the bridge into San Juan Cap. Took the parking lot route to Carl's Jr. Ice cream sandwich this trip. We chatted a bit too long and left at 11:30 for the ride west.

We opted for the Camino Capistrano route instead of the SJRTrail and the detour. Slight headwind to the coast and a side breeze on the bikeway to San Clemente. I did the slo-pace thing up the hill into town and waited at the turn for Keith. On to the Trestle Bike Path where they were having a surf contest today and had cyclists routed around the parking area. Chatted with a plump rider on a newer Giant with aero bars riding south, shadowing us. Said he was out for a 30 mile ride to Las Pulgas and return. Stopped at the restroom #1 again and Keith instructed some lonely rider lady on how to get to Camp Pendleton. I think she was looking for a "hook-up". Keith likes those ladies and rides good with the likes of Elaine Perry. Made good time with a NW tailwind through the busy campground and the Las Pulgas turn onto I-5 southbound. Quick riding there with a tailwind to Oceanside. No flats and the bike lane seemed somewhat clean for a change. Took Harbor Drive past the long pier. Stopped for a water break at Magee Park in Carlsbad.

Racer group passed us on the way south along the coast. A few stragglers behind finally grouped up with us and some nice older guy with a UCSD jersey. He was almost taken out by car on several occasions! Grumpy girl rider in black was complaining about her cramping on the hills to Encinitas... HONEY, what hills? We did stop at the Solana Beach park and got some water there. Busy place. I found a kiddie sand roller and used it on my legs. Also applied some "Chinese herbal medicine" to the right knee. Can't hurt.

I was feeling like crap as we headed inland to some rollers on the way to Rancho Santa Fe. Keith was his heavy self and dropped off on any hill. Nice riding through "Rancho" as the wind was at our backs, even on Del Dios Highway climb. I stopped off to give location info to a biker pulled off the side of the road near the dam. Harley clone broke down and he was calling AAA for help.  He wanted a cross street. LOL. "Del Dios Highway, 1 mile south of the dam" was good enough as I turned around and headed up the dam climb. We finally made it to Escondido and the route takes us over to Harmony Grove Road, then up Andreason past the hospital climb. We blitzed the Nordal yellow light and soon were on the last bit on Mission Road heading to San Marcos. One last paceline behind a young racer capped off our day and nearly blew him up!

Nice ride with full sun and good tailwinds most of the day! Knee held up with a few Tylenol, one ice pack and some Chinese medicine. More later on that.

-randorides