Ursa Minor Permanent... american flag day for me

Found flag on Del Dios Hwy. Attached to seat bag

After the cook-out Tuesday on Palomar Sampler, I noticed the OFR Thursday Gruppo was riding north today. Time for a Ursa Minor run to hook up part way along the cool pacific coast. Ya, right!. Used rechargables batteries in my helmet light and rear blinkie. Also had time between rides to deep soak clean the chain on the Fuji carbon. Using Beoshield for lube this week. Started the ride from the listed 7-Eleven at 0540. Just dark enough for helmet light.

Did a swing around Escondido at the start and hit W. Valley Parkway to light traffic. Maybe the odd-ball start time is just early enough to miss the migration on Del Dios Hwy. too? Yep, not much going on there. Saw a 6x4" American Flag alongside the road and reversed to pick it up. It had a little stick on it so I attached in under my rear seat baggie! Nice and light now as I rolled through the quiet Rancho Santa Fe town. Coming into Solana Beach pulled in behind 2 Swami's riders who came out from a side street. They were at a nice slow comfortable pace so I followed them up the coast. Another soon joined the ranks as I tagged along. . They turned around before the Carlsbad power plant They soon picked up the pace to 18mph and tried to drop me on the few short rollers into Carlsbad. Guess they were off today or just out for a easy ride? With the higher speed pace, I had time to stop at Oak St. 7-Eleven. Then went to sit by the ocean for 15 minutes. Rolled into Magee Park at 0825 to a nice OFR group of 15 riders.

Swami's riders pulled me up the coast.

Andrea drove in as we were leaving, so I helped her get ready. Group rode north and through Camp Pendleton. I hung back with the older boys for a bit before surging ahead to the main group. The usual regroup at the Las Pulgas parking lot. Rode over and chatted with this heavy short guy on a older MTB. He was sucking air while waiting to return northward to San Clemente. His cotton singlet was soaked. Said he had lost 60 lbs and was down to 220 lbs now by riding every day! When he hits 180 lbs., he'll get a road bike! Good effort!

Group stopped at bathroom #11 for a bit and continued on to San Clemente. Split up there and 5 riders stopped there and the rest of us carried on toward Dana Point. Started chatting with a 60-year old guy on a nice green Salsa with canti brakes. Looked like a retired fireman. He was telling me how great he was riding 2x a week for 30 miles. After explaining where we were riding, our ages and about randonneuring, he didn't feel so good anymore. I mentioned that his goal of riding across America would take him over 100 days at his present training rate! He chatted with Kiwi Stuart for a bit and was then motivated to to pick up his distance.

Power break topped with GU!

Left the group and rode over to San Juan Cap. Had a choc shake with added GU Gel on top! Yummy! Ate my sandwich and rode back to meet the group for the ride back. Waited around for 15 minutes while stretching out at Dohney State Park. Ride back was a race. 24mph through the campground for a short break there. Hi-speed run through Camp Pendleton. Left the group at Oceanside as I turned off onto the SLR to Bonsall. Eased up a bit as the tailwind pushed me along. Stopped at McDonald's for a cola refill and was buzzed up for the assault up Champagne. Geared down and paced up to save energy for another day... not that I had much left now. Nice and hot up that climb. Finsihed up the ride feeling good and rode home.

Clear to partly cloudy skies
Hi: 86   Lo: 64    High humidity
127 miles

-randorides