Temecula 600: Ride Up...

Hazy skies

Hi: 72 (Garmin)

Lo: 49 (Garmin)

64 miles

SOMA bike set-up for the ride-in to the Temecula 600

Rode up to Temecula for the start of the Temecula 600 "workers ride" yesterday. The regular Brevet was re-scheduled for Memorial Day weekend, but I got a "OK" to do the ride and some documentation. Left at 1:45 AM and then turned around back home to get my correct glasses! Nice start to the ride!

I took Deer Springs Road from San Marcos with no traffic. Encountered a ash rain at the top of 395 & Lilac Road & another small one after Rainbow near the County Line Sign. I covered my mouth with a wet rag I normally carry. I was sucking wind! It was quite warm on the ride-up, only a jersey and shorts required. I was wheezing pretty good too! Made my normal stop at the Shawn Harrison Memorial at Lilac Road and paid my respects.

I thought the fires were out or way west by now?

I rode around looking for Dave Horwitt before the 4:00 AM start time in Temecula.

Dave had stayed overnight there to be fresh for the ride and to not lose his prepaid room fee.

Told him I couldn't breathe properly for this ride and to carry on without me.

He said he would try it out and had his wife on "standby" at home. I passed along some water refuel spots for the route.

I turned around for home around 4:30. Rather cool now, so I stopped and put on gloves, arm warmers, woolie cap and leg warmers at our usual Seven-11 at Bedford Court.

Several "cold spots" along the way downhill. Also noticed the "ash rain" when I turned on my helmet light! Stopped near Nessey Burger & Hwy. 76. No way I was wheezing up that Day Lilly Hill climb again.

Took Hwy. 76 over to Bonsall. No cars for a change this early, so I felt mostly safe riding with 3 rear blnkies blazing. Stopped at Bonsall to suck some air and then rode over to Vista into some low level fog and much higher temps. Stripped down there and rode back to San Marcos under early morning sun. 64 mile round trip and 2300'. Felt good when I got home... but 1 hour later was dead tired! Go figure?

I might give 'er another go on Tuesday, we'll see how the air quality goes. I think the 3 days around smokey San Marcos before didn't help out much before-hand.

Haven't heard from Dave yet.

OUCH, that SOMA is heavy!

-randorides