I like riding the recon routes best of all. No racing, peer pressure to keep up or rushing the clock. You can take your time and wander off track, taking a few pics while exploring new areas. Today, I'm doing busy work on another way up to the Orange Chevron Control from San Clemente AND an alternative way back vs the old Crusin' The OC route.
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| San Clemente Beach Tail skirts ocean |
Looked like a good day as I hopped the 0600 train over to Oceanside. Bikes were stacked up like cordwood on board, rusted chains, ripped seats and give-a-shit attitude. Mounted up the Panaracers 32mm tires on the SOMA last night, anticipating some dirt work today. Lowered the air pressure to 80/75 psi. Wore my cool evening riding kit which included SS under-layer shirt, arm and knee warmers, woolie cap and reflective wind vest. 49 degrees when I left home, but warming up to the 70's today.
Checked in to my favorite Oceanside 7-Eleven before heading north. Chatted with the Pakistani manager. He has a TREK and always asks me about my riding. Sun was rising and the stiff-flag wind was blowing good from the East. Jumped onto the I-5, as the Pendleton Main Gate was packed with cars. Litter-free bike lane as I felt like I was pedaling in mud. Must be poor recovery from the late hammerfest on Saturday's ride. Soloed up through the San Onfre Campground and stopped at #16. No riders around on this Monday. Still slogging as I stopped at Carl's Jr. to ice up bottles and take a whizz.
Turned off the "neighborhood" route and went down to the San Clemente Beach Trail. Slow but pleasant riding here. Even dogs have the right-away over cyclists! Not many joggers out for a Monday. Did the loop around and went up Cove Road followed by several short Bike Paths before a 1/4 mile jaunt on Hwy. 1. Turned off near the Monarch Beach Golf Course and entered the Salt Creek Bike Trail. Stripped down and neatly packed the clothes on the HB bag. A few joggers and many dog walkers along here. Several short double digit climbs and spots where the Trail was bumpy and rough. Since leaving the coast, it's slowly climbing for the next 5 miles with ducking through 2 bike tunnels. After a brief downhill on Nigel Road, my carefully plotted route enters Laguna Nigel Park, where I picked up the path again.
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| Sulphur Creek Resevoir has fish! |
Sulphur Creek Reservoir is skirted by the Bike Path. The water level looked high and it was packed with family fisherman. Looked like fun to me. I almost stopped to ask this guy carrying a bucket if they actually catch any fish here. The path winds around the park, crossed busy Alicia Pkwy. and picks up northward on Alsio Creek Trail. Many women hard-bodies jogging along here today. Four miles later, I stop at Sheep Hills Park for a photo op after missing a .gpx turn. Now for the longest road ride on this plot, 4 miles on Moulton Pkwy. with a jog over to Research Dr. I was a little nervous about this section, but car traffic was surprisingly sparse at best along here. This led to a hook-up with the San Diego Creek Trail westbound.
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| Cute San Diego Creek Trail bridge |
Took me a while to hook up with the SDCT as I had several "Off Course" notices from my Garmin. Finally back on course, this Trail crosses over San Diego Creek 3 times. Without previous route knowledge, my Garmin came in real handy to sort out these turns. (I set it to " 200 feet" on the screen as this seemed to work best.) A little slow at refreshing when I was riding over 14 mph, esp when a turn was upcoming. All downhill now as this Trail dips under several roadways and through some neat tunnels on it's way over to Harvard Ave. Here the route picks up the regular "Crusin" route and shortly connects up with Peters Trail. I left this side of Peters Trail after a mile and turned left over Bryan Ave, where Peters Trail (West Irvine Trail) resumes again.
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| Totaled car that hit lamppost. |
This section of trail has both a hard surface and a dirt surface (for joggers and horses). It soon loops over for a section along Jamboree Ave. Police were there in force. Seems a driver veered over into the bike lane, jumped the curb and took out a light pole. Totaled! ( I took a few pics of this, just to remind me how nice it was to be on the bike trail.) The trail goes through Valencia Park then jogs over to Cedar Grove Park. This led to the dirt riding through Peters Canyon Regional Park. Some trail were for MTB's only. Met several hikers through here. Standing water where I had to carry my bike around. Tires worked OK on the mild dirt climbing required. This leads to a sidewalk path up to the Chevron Control. I was 6 hours into the ride and only half-way there!
Looks like a long day as I sat and finished off my last tuna sandwich. My cashew butter/crackers, bananas and energy bars were long gone. Prices inside were a joke. I finally opted for a bottle of Vitamin Water to get back on track. Sat outside a bit and mixed some powder in my bottle. Lots of downhill ahead with a few 6% climbs AND all the new trails to check out. Added some ice to the Vitamin bottle and put it in my bag for additional liquid along the way. Added the OC_2 route to the Garmin Courses. It loaded up and I was ready for more. Stretched out and soon was back on the SOMA. Met a racer guy with a nice black Colorado jersey at the stoplight. He was going north, I was riding down Santiago Canyon.
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| Santiago Cyn riding buddy didn't like hills! |
No hurry now as the 32mm Panaracers felt like it. Came up on a big guy riding a carbon TREK. He was going back to Cook's Corner. Rode with him a while and had a good chat. I asked about local trails and Santiago Peak. Unfortunately, at the first 6% climb he was quickly gone out the back. Later, I felt I should have at least said "good-bye", but the more I slowed up, the faster he dropped!
I started to feel good now after reaching the high point on the route. After the quick downhill past Cook's Corner, the fun was just ahead at on the Aliso Creek Bike Trail. The Aliso is not only downhill, but winds around, under roadways, over cutie bridges and through parks. 10 miles later, I was at Laguna Hill High School. Following the Bike Path along Paseo de Valencia, I needed to decide if my recon was over for the day. A couple of hours of daylight left... not enough time to track the new plot, record the hi-lites, climb the trails and drop down into San Juan Capistrano. I opted to follow Valencia down to Cabot Rd. then hit the bike path through the Mission Viejo Train Station and follow Camino Capistrano down.
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| Snake sign changed to Sasquatch |
BACK ON RECON! Decided to take the dirt Oso Trail to SJC instead. Jogged through Camino Capistrano Church and onto the trail. Opted to take the loop route, since I hadn't tried it before. Still muddy in spots. Garmin led me through several turns to save time. Only one old man with a cane and a tough looking jogger. Tires performed well in the muddy places. Pulled into San Juan Cap and headed to Carl's Jr. Ordered some Sweet Potato Fries and sat outside. Refilled my bottles. Two BMX'er were chowing down a burgers at the next table. Good day so far. Needed to get back to Oceanside in due order. Sun was getting lower in the west now. Cooling off too.
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| Free Oso Trail scooters! |
Cranked up the Panaracers and headed straight down Camino Capistrano to Dana Point. Took the fastest way through San Clemente up Camino Real. Stopped at Carl's Jr. too add clothing and water. Rear blinkie was real bright. (It's the one I found along Coast Hwy. 101 a while back. Made by Portland Design Products.) Helmet light worked good with 3 new Energizers aboard. Met 2 cyclists through the SO Campground. Decided to go on I-5, since I didn't know if the Las Pulgas Gate would let me through. Tough time dodging the trash to the Rest Stop. After that, it was clear sailing. Big, deep fog bank was moving in as I approached Oceanside. When I pulled into town, it was wet roads and heavy drizzle. Not good for a headlamp. Whew! Pulled into the Oceanside Transit and boarded the 6:03 headed east. Bike-O-Rama again. I used to like riding the Sprinter, but not with the ding-dongs who don't know what bike transit is all about.
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| Lithiums seem to work better. |
Good day today on the bike. Felt tired when I left home , but much better as the day went on. Got in half of the necessary recon work I had planned on. Mud filled cleats and dirty shoes were the norm. Need more food along next time. Dressed good. Headlamps never work good in the fog unless you like the vertigo effect of the drizzle in the light. Took over 200 pics documenting the route today. Need to make a video of this route. ( That makes near 300 pics and a few videos from the same set of Energizer Lithium batteries! Might make them more cost efficient than regular Energizer Max?)
Clear skies
Hi: 74 Lo: 49
129 miles
-randorides
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