Coffee Video Recon Ride

Met rando Mike Shaw on Old Hwy. 395.
 Stopped for a chat.

Lite rain forecast for the entire weekend ahead. Time for some GoPro testing on a square-loop route today. Also be packing the trusty Canon Powershot A1100 for stills and side-action video clips. No need for warm clothing at a late 0900 start. I'd just be crusin' along and making up a route video made up of short clips.

Cruised northward along Country Club Dr. 15 different dog walkers out at this time. Made my way up the little climb on Nutmeg and then on to Old Hwy. 395 north. Saw Mike Shaw on the other side and looped back for a chat. Mike will be riding the BW-300km on Monday and follow that with the BW-400 on Friday. He looked fit in his well fitting NCCC wind vest. Proceeded on Hwy. 395 with a stop at Lawrence Welk Resort for a few pics.

Classic Old River Road Bridge.

Turn onto westbound Camino Del Rey brought early headwind and lite traffic. Nice for video this time of day. Pulled into the normal Bonsall McDonalds for a refill. Grabbed some shots and headed west on Hwy. 76. No 23mph cruising today. NOPE! Stiff headwind and I was in the drops crawling along. Stopped on the bridge to take some video of the old River Road Bridge to the north. Slogged my way over to the San Luis Rey Bike Path. Surprise! More headwind.

Passed by a train of racers flying along. Just happened to catch that on video. Thought about hooking up.. but could
never hold that pace today. Sun was popping thru from time to time. Stopped at the Skate Park for some more video action. After forever, I followed a hot chic off the bike path and on to Cleveland Street. Made a photo stop at the Circle K, before riding over to pick up the route near the pier. More pictures there as the wind was now out of the SW and into my face again! Stopped by Chuck's Pacific Cycle and checked over the Salsa Fargos. What a perfect bike for dirt bikepacking. Saw Mike Shaw flying along northward with the tailwind. Boy, he had his route dialed in today, unlike me!

Windy times at Oceanside Pier

Stopped into Magee Park bathroom. Next door church had a Toastmasters meeting and the A-N Academy must be having open house today. Cars were parked everywhere! Worked my way down the coast, stopping for a few beach pictures in the wind. Kite surfers were out in abundance today. I managed several video shots, but upon review they were all a long ways away. Used the telephoto setting on the Canon and it zoomed great, but at the cost of clarity. Most kite-surfers were at Cardiff Beach. Wind was really whipping there. No surfers in that stuff. Rolled into Solana Beach and dropped by Revolution Bike for a Fargo check. I like looking at new bikes with rusty cassettes!

Wind was blocked thru Del Mar which brought some relief. Made the turn on Carmel Valley Rd. to some tailwind. Everytime I ride the SR-56 Bike Path now, I expect to see the banana stand at Camino Del Sur. Not today so I stopped at the handy Circle K. Skies were becoming full overcast now and not super great for pictures.

Wind blown kite-surfers at Cardiff Beach

After a brief reprise, made my way north with the help of the wind. Housing construction has moved closer to the great MTB rando route on Lusardi Trail under Camino Del Sur. bummer. Couldn't pedal fast enough as the skies were getting darker in the SE. Cameras were still rolling up through Rancho Bernardo and over the Lake Hodges Bike Bridge. Wind was blowing real good across there.

No short cuts today up Gamble Lane. Legs were feeling the early wind. Followed the Inland Rail Trail back to San Marcos into more headwind. Gee Whiz! Been a good day for reverse route!

Partly cloudy to cloudy
Hi: 68     Lo: 54
Wind: SW-15-20 mph
83 miles




-randorides