Walkin' The Dog-OFR Birthday Ride

Walkin' The Dog route today with sidetrack to Nyto Bike shop

Dee Wells posted up on the OFR Blog of a birthday ride today. A couple of the ladies had birthdays this week and they were riding down the coast to San Diego and taking the ferry over to Coronado for birthday lunch. After a long break, they're off around on the Bayshore Bikeway and would jump the Coaster back up north. Mmmm, sounds like a hook for a rando route to me. San Marcos to Ocean Beach and return would work just fine. That equals "Walkin' The Dog" Permanent.

Left a little after 0700 and checked in at Albertson's store on Woodland Parkway & Mission Road in San Marcos. Yesterday, I had emailed John Fry III if he wanted to join in. He said he would meet me en-route or at Swami's. Traffic was heavy along Mission Road, but became nil after the turn onto Linda Vista Dr. This is the back way to Palomar Airport Rd., missing all the downtown traffic past the new SMarcos High School at class time! Palomar was busy, and eased off after the turn south on El Camino Real. No cyclists at all along LaCosta Ave and even the quiet Vulcan Ave had only a few. Pulled into Swami's at 8:45, just in time. Tom and John were there, that's it!

Waited around a while before the other riders came in. Near 0900, our little group of 10 left for the trek southward. Chatted with John about his knee injury a while back. Said he tore a knee ligament in a bike crash way back and it kept him from his strong running quest. We took the outside route up Torrey Pines climb. I hit the head and water fountain at the top. After a regroup, the group proceeded through UCSD and down the Rose Canyon Bike Path. Rose Creek Path is usually a mess and today was no exception. Ladies stopped at De Anza Cove for a bathroom break before proceeding along the Bay toward Old Town. I mentioned to the group about the OFR ride next Thursday up in Orange County. Hi-lite of the day was when we stopped at a red light crossing Sea World Dr. Along side us was the running great Mebrahtom "Meb" Keflezighi out for a training run along Mission Bay. He took time to give us all a personal hi-five. Meb is just back from winning the 2014 Boston Marathon. What a great guy! We parted company with the group as John and I took the Ocean Beach Bike Trail toward the ocean. Next stop was the turn around control at Bacon St. 7-Eleven.

2014 Boston Marathon winner "Meb" stopped to give us high-fives today!

Control receipt was worth 79 cents. We filled our bottles and short order made the turn-around. Nice easy riding under cloudy skies and no wind! John had put the cue sheet in Excel and modified the format to view better while riding. Seemed to work good for him and easy to see. We made our turn near Sea World and were soon back on Mission Bay Dr. for the return loop. No race pace for us as we made our way through UCSD on the steepish Scholar Dr. and on down Torrey Pines. John was crankin' in the small ring to save the knee while I was doing pace work. Decided to go off route and stop at Nytro to pick up some more spokes. After checking the weather forecast, Joe decided maybe he would show up for work tomorrow instead of the Wounded Warriers ride from Santa Ysabel. I was thinking about joining them while riding the rando permanent "Camels To Yaqui Pass". Not to be with the possible rain ahead.

Took the back way from Encinitas to get back on track again. Around Garden View Road over to Leucadia Blvd. to save John's knee. He mentioned he did get the RUSA packet in the mail and liked what they sent. Good deal with the book and all. I mentioned the RUSA jersey and he said he had to "earn" it first. OK? After the fast downhill, a short easy climb prompted more climbing on Rancho Santa Fe past the new La Costa Ave. shopping mall. We turned off at Melrose Ave., where John headed for home and I continued climbing up thru San Elijo town. With a blistering 8mph pace, I welcomed the 45 mph downhill to the CSUSM Ralph's Store. My final receipt ended up with some ProMax Bars on sale for $1.

As I was headed back home on Twin Oaks Rd., four young racer boys came up and passed me. I thought I could catch up, but with the grocery bags flying, it wasn't to happen. Seems like I am getting slower and slower these days.

Walkin' The Dog video

Cloudy skies all day
Hi: 73     Lo: 59
Wind: nil
86 miles

-randorides