Ursa Minor: Route# 2084

I always carry a pak of Chamois Butt'r

OFR gruppo was heading north today (Thursday), so I'll hook up with them later on at Magee Park in Carlsbad. Left the house before 0600 and checked in at the 7-Eleven start control. Forgot my normal pak of Chamois Creme (just in case) so I returned home and picked one up. Headed out a little late now, but the weather was mid-50's and I amped it up some heading the backway to Del Dios Hwy.

Any weekday around 0700 near Del Dios Hwy. past the dam is a heavy traffic morning. No exception today. Couldn't wait to get to Rancho Santa Fe town. Most of the traffic has turned off by then. Finally arrived at Coast Highway, looking for a pick up pull up the coast. Not to be. I arrived in Carlsbad town around 0815, so I stopped at the local 7-Eleven for a ice refill on my bottle. Pulled into Magee Park to a nice OFR Gruppo. As normal, went over to the bathrooms by the church and repacked my arm warmers and had some clear water from the side fountain. Went back and chatted with the gruppo before we left.

Left Magee at 0835 and rode over to the main Pendleton Gate. Group rode the side way around and I took Vandergrift. I was waiting for them at the first climb, where there was a construction stop. Had a small group break-away to the Las Pulgas regroup. Chatted with John Fry about a ride on Saturday  to Hemet. He said it sounded good. I'll send out some email later today. Rode with the group thru the campground and took the neighborhood thru San Clemente. After Doheny Park, I left the gruppo and took the San Juan Bike Path over to SJCapistrano. Had my usual ice cream sandwich, refilled bottles and headed back into a headwind. Arrived at the trailhead early and decided not to wait around for the group. (They usually take 50 minutes to return)

Chatted with John Fry about Hemet ride.

Made good time with the tailwind push along the bikeway and up thru San Clemente. I usually always take the direct route straight up the hill thru town. Big ring and mid-cog worked good today. Made my way back to the campground, where I stopped at #1 for a refill. More good time with the tailwind to the Las Pulgas checkpoint. ( I rode over and checked the "no cyclists" sign on the I-5 on ramp. Later discovered it was meant for night time construction only. Next trip, I'll ride the I-5 and find out.)

Camp was a mess with several stops for construction. They also put in several long sections of new road surface. No lines yet. Cleared the camp and stopped at Harbor Dr. bathrooms. They were under construction. Forget it. Crossed the bridge and hit the SLR Bike Path with a tailwind. Made good time over to Bonsall for a ice cream treat. More smooth riding on Camino Del Rey with lite traffic. The last climb up Champagne was well under 12 minutes with big ring & 24T cog. Good enough today. Made my way back to the finish in San Marcos around 8hrs 30 minutes. The faster time must be due to the shorter wait time for the OFR Gruppo at Magee and at no-wait at Dana Point?


Clear skies
Hi: 83     Lo: 56
Wind: W-8 mph
129 miles



-randorides