Lake Henshaw Century (Option)

Gamin Stats from today's ride.

Undecided about the route today, so I'll opt for the Palomar/Henshaw start. When I get to the So. Grade turn, I'll decide then. Same start route. No fog today, so early riding was much easier than last trip. Sort of a hurried start as I loaded up the SOMA for a 10 hour day. Double standard rear blinkies and just a helmet light for the 2 hours of early darkness.

Left around 0400 and rolled eastward on Mission Road. No traffic and all green lights! Should be like this all the time. Arm warmers were rolled up and down several times depending on the terrain. Just a glint of sunrise as I encountered the Rincon Grade downhill. It gets rougher every time I go down this. Maybe with a early start, I'll do Cole Grade and the short run on no-bike lane 76 to start the climb next time? Hard time blowing out the "plugs" in my lungs to clear them out as I was climbing up toward So. Grade. It usually takes me around 45-50 minutes to get up there, and today it was 43 minutes. Decided on the Lake Henshaw route as I passed several Davis Tree Trimmer trucks parked at the So. Grade turn. The guys were out planning their day with a map laid out on the hood.

Nice riding this early as the sun was up and I was riding in the shadows. No wind to speak of here, but today's forecast was for higher wind out here. Felt as though I was riding in mud on the way to the lake. Saw several campers along SLR stream roadside. You can hear the water rustling down the rocks as you ride by minus the road traffic noise this early. Finally made it to Lake Henshaw Store. Rolled up to Mike Berry's green office and had-do there. Packed my arm warmers and ate some almond laced ww crackers and a carry along banana. Only one truck out front with 2 guys chatting about something. Stayed 5 minutes and slo-paced eastward under clear skies and temps in the 70's (Garmin).

Santa Ysabel's favorite Rando stop

Mesa Grande is a tough little climb when it's hot out. Not today, as the temps were great and lots of shady shadows on the way up. Still no clear lungs, so I opted for a drag on the Albuterol Inhaler I always carry. That didn't help much as I wound my way through the trees on the Mesa. I stopped to count the mailboxes at Black Cyn. Road. Of course, some rancher had his truck parked right there with the door open. I nixed that idea and slogged along the mesa. Nice downhill and soon I was headed for Santa Ysabel with no headwind at all! I was flying now at 20 mph!

I like Don's Market. Parked in the shade by the big wooden map outside and picked up some water, a banana and iced my bottles. Sat by the water machine and stretched out a bit with a banana in hand and some more almond crackers. Munched on my Chocolate Power Bar too. Just after 0900, I rolled out. Noticed the Garmin temp was now 87F. Warming up quick.

Lots of "Construction Ahead" signs on the way down the hill. I think they were working on the road shoulder. Be nice if they would add about 2 feet to the bike lane the whole way. Not much wind as I turned onto Old Julian Hwy. and more downhill ahead. Saw a group of 5 riders scattered out as they were climbing up toward Santa Ysabel. Later on, met one older rider with miles of climbing left ahead. After the turn onto 3rd Street, met a Mac Imacseng look alike in a pink kit. He was too proud to wave back. Stopped at the normal Ramona 7-Eleven stop for a GU laced Smores IC Sandwich for 99-cents. Sat outside in the shade while breathing in second-hand tobacco smoke. I was there maybe 10 minutes. Finally left to light traffic through Ramona on Hwy. 67. The after shade Garmin temp was 95F now. Warming up fast for 10 AM.

The turn onto Highland Valley Road brought instant tailwinds and I was soon cruising at 22 mph past the penned buffalo! Not to last, as after the Archie Moore turn brought the normal headwind. I was down in the drops and sucking winds till I hit the rollers. Used the 34T chain-ring now as I never seemed to have the right big ring gear for those 2-12% bumps ahead. Feeling much better now as the last S-curve downhill was car free for a change.

Gamble Lane climb from last rando ride.

Along the HV river bottom I noticed these new 2-foot wood sticks with black plastic cups on them all along the road. I finally stopped and rolled over to check them out. Empty black 2-1/2" PVC with clear caps on the bottom and open on the top! I figured they were to catch insects or something? Noticed my tires were filled with thorns, stickers and goat-heads now. Nice. I lifted my bike to the road and carefully picked them all out, front and rear. Then used my brush on the rotating tire. Clean now and hope I got them all. Did the loop-e-doop over the Cable Bridge and made a stop at the Mule Hill Chevron for ice. Chatted with the young attendant there for a bit. Temps were now in the mid 90's and warming up some more.

Off I went, saving up all day for Gamble Lane. First off, I took the Kit Carson Park Bike Path to the bridge. Gee-whiz! They need to shave off those bumps and resurface that thing soon. After the short El Ku climb, I cut off and took the first road that crossed Centre City Pkwy. Then a right on Old CC Parkway which comes out a bit up the Citracado climb westward. Logged that shortie at 19%. Kept it in the 34T ring as I looked ahead to Gamble Lane. Last time, it was a tough go with camera in hand. This time it was no problem on the 14% grade. Rode the normal route from there via Harmony Grove, Country Club Lane and Barham Drive to the finish.

 Weather was warming up all day with light winds. This ride would rank 2/5, due to the slow feeling start, probably due to no proper stretch out warm-up. Oh well.

Clear skies all day
HI: 102   Lo: 59 (Garmin Temps)
100 miles