Ursa Minor 209

Ursa Minor Permanent route from San Marcos

Going for a 6:00 AM start from San Marcos today, but missed it! Used the headlamp and the Planet Bike rear blinkie. Didn't really need the headlamp as it was plenty light as I left the 7-Eleven start. Riding the SOMA rando bike today with some wool arm warmers, woolie hat and long fingered gloves. Only choice, as the SL-1 has the brifters removed and I'm checking into repairing them (or at least taking them apart and checking the innards out with borrowed Shimano tools). Wish I could but down-tubes on that one too!

Hoping to meet up with the OFR gruppo and say hello at Magee Park in Carlsbad at 8:30 AM. Usual heavy commute traffic going down Del Dios Hwy. to Rancho Santa Fe. Had the pee-boy thing going as I took some hot blackberry tea this morning. Don't know what that does, but it sure loosened things up for extra stops today. Didn't check the time at all as I motored northward on Coast Highway. No one to ride with as temps warmed up quickly. Got into Carlsbad town at 8:00. Went to the 7-Eleven for a bottle of Vitamin water for a receipt and went over to the Magee Park bathroom. Chatted with a TREK rider there who I see often around the chapel there. Guess he goes there every morning? Had a strong German accent. Rolled over and saw Alan and Stuart just leaving. I cut around and met them on Coast Hwy to say "hello, I'll be riding north today".

Dana Point: Sampson Gazebo overlooking the harbor

Took the I-5 route up to Las Pulgas Road. A few riders on the bike path through the campground. No wind
in that area. Took the neighborhood route through San Clemente and up the coast. Decided to continue on Harbor Drive instead of going on the San Juan Bike Path to SJ Capistrano. There is a big ass climb at the end there, which goes up to Hwy. 1. I dropped down into the 34 chain-ring and plodded up... 14%, 17%... I dropped into the 30T cog and paced up. Some dude was trying to pass me near the top, so I got out of the saddle and the cog slipped a little. Guess I didn't have the DT shifter all the way over OR the cogs are worn out?. Anyway, rode over to the Dana Harbor Overlook overlook for a bit, reading the plaque there about the harbor founding in 1818. After, rode down Hwy. 1 to JIB for a receipt and a shake. Nice option for a change.

Dana Point Plaque Monument

Time to head back. Took the longer "neighborhood route" through San Clemente again. Some tight bodied chick passed by on her tri-bike at Trestles, so I hooked on to the Campground, where I stopped at #1. Also decided to ride through Camp Pendleton instead of the usual noisy I-5 route. Lots of action there, as 3 ships just came in from a 6 month deployment to SE Asia. Stopped at the Harbor Drive bathrooms, where someone had filled up a urinal with shit! Nice. Some older biker and I had several comments to make on that. Gross!

Took the back way through Oceanside in case the Bike Path was closed for spraying again. Didn't stop at Bussey's Auto to see Dan Phillips, but thought about it. Nice tailwind to Bonsall, as expected. Signs along the Camino Del Rey road denoting the "cycling event" this weekend. Must be the San Luis Rey Road Race where I saw AT&T Joe on Tuesday doing practice laps. Rolled back into San Marcos around 3 PM. No cookies to take home today. Weather was good all day.

-randorides