Rincon Del Diablo Wannabe

Theme for the day was WIND

Whenever you ride from the ocean down into the desert, it's nice to check the advanced weather forecast. That's basic stuff, nothing new about that. No problemo. Hi of 88 and winds from the NE@7 in Borrego Springs. Good day for the Rincon Del Diablo Permanent. I made this route up years ago and have never done an info video of the route. Today looked like a good day for the 160 mile jaunt to warmland with clear skies.

Loaded up the lighter Fuji bike with the HERO, slung the Canon around my neck and rode up to the start on Deer Springs. That could be a perfect rando road if it had a bike lane up to the top. Local rando knowledge came into play here, as all the early AM traffic is heading in the other direction. I was sucking wind when I got to the top. Not a good breathing sign for today. Sun was almost coming up as I checked in at the AM/PM around 0600. Iced up the bottles and away I went.

Valley Center Toughrider

Haven't climbed up Old Castle Road in years. Don't go this way much anymore due to getting "brushed" by a Casino bus a while back. Never did liked getting blow-pushed off the road. New road surface now on Lilac Road into Valley Center. Too bad it never got any wider OR new bike lanes. That road is the main route from I-15 to the Valley View Casino near Valley Center and get big traffic at times. Leaving town, you pick up the straight shot section of VC Road toward Harrah's Casino down in the Rincon valley. This road has sucked for years being rough and bumpy.

Bumping alone, I came up on a big red-faced MTB guy riding to work at the VC Middle School. Guy is riding from Brooklyn To San Fran in 3 years time, when he retires! Great news. He will be getting a new pseudo-touring bike for the journey. We said our good-by as I plunged down Rincon Grade. Now this road really SUCKS! Been this way for years. You can't ride in the bike lane because it's full of trash and loose gravel. The road surface gets worse every year with the cracks, bumps and rough surface. Heck, I always take the middle of the lane till the cattle guard. After that it gets rougher with the expansion bumps. Can't wait for a 7-Eleven stop today.

New Hwy.76 resurface: What bike lane?

Nice clean bathrooms in this place. I took a pic for proof. Freebie water and ice with bananas 2 for $1. I was saying 6-letter words bumping along after leaving the stop. Seems to me with all the Casino & Rincon Reservation money plus influence, at least this road should be good. My ass was already hurting and then it happened! Smooooth. Yep! Hwy. 76 has a new surface. Unfortunately, they put a rumble strip on the bike lane side. This leaves little to cycle on. Then add a 6" curb and that spells cycling trouble. The "bike lane" soon narrows to nothing. The good news is that it ends in a mile.

I could feel the headwind already on the way up. I was slogging along, sucking wind and waiting for the S-backs ahead. Always liked that section. Finally made it up to East Grade turn. Stopped by the fence for a blow. Sucked some water and continued on to Lake Henshaw. Been a while since I had to pedal downhill! Time for the drops and grind it out. Almost took out 3 turkeys that flew across the road, just missing me. Those suckers are huge. Made it to Henshaw and pulled around back to Mike Berry's old office. He left a can of beer on the lid! Thanks Mike!

Mike Berry's Henshaw branch office.

Wind was blowing real good by now. It scooted my bike along the store wall. Must really be howeling toward Borrego Springs? Plowing eastward on 76, it was time for a banana. I reached around back to my handy seat bag, unzipped and got my banana. Forgot I put my helmet light in there too and it came out, bouncing along the roadway in pieces. DUH! Stopped, turned around and rode back. OH, OH. Here comes a car and the light is lying in the middle of the road. Pleeeease.... miss it! Whew! Now to find the pieces. 3 AAA rechargeables, light and back plate were scattered along the dirt and grass roadside. For some good reason, I found all the parts and put it back together. One AAA was flattened out a bit. Must be a sign?

Time for a change of plans. Turned up Mesa Grande and ground up the steep part. The wind was blowing good at the top. Stopped at Black Cyn. Road and reflected on the good MTB rando routes that went there. Finally made it into Santa Ysabel against a strong headwind. Don's Market is doing some remodeling inside. No water jugs by the bathroom anymore but the bananas are in the same place. Sat down outside and ate a ice cream sandwich with added GU. Didn't feel that chipper, but awaited the ride downhill. 15 minutes later, I was back on the road.

Great mailbox row near Ramona

The strong headwinds now turned to favorable tailwinds. I was flying along besides the bending roadside grass. That's fun. 40-mph near the Old Julian Hwy. turnoff. Speedo run thru the curves and new vineyards. Power crews were doing replacement lines, so a quick slo-down for the flagman. Decided on a stop at Ramona JIB via the alley way in. Wind was blowing flags straight out here. Sat at the outside tables for a shortie stretch. Temps were near 90 now. Ate a bar and hit the road.

Stopped to take a few pictures along the way. Always liked the line of mailboxes on the dirt side road & especially the professional "RAMONA" artwork sign at Highland Valley Road. Of course, the traditional headwinds were now in effect. More great riding thru the rollers to Bandy Cyn. By the tree nursery, a water pipe rupture started a roadside pond. Sitting nearby, workers in a San Diego Utility truck. No MTB riders around Lake Hodges or the Mule Hill parking lot. Made a short stop at the Chevron for ice refill.

Escondido historical home

Basic stuff now as rode up Bear Valley past the High School and soon turned up the hill on Sunset. Juniper St. is a nice ride past several restored historical houses. Broadway goes straight thru Escondido and I made a dead-meat stop at the Jesmond Dene Park for water. Finally made the climb up JD and cut over I-5 to the Deer Springs AM/PM. Really windy here and I stopped to take a few pics of the fruit stand canopy blowing around. Workers were tying ropes to car bumpers and trees to save it. I was soon off flying down Deer Springs and commuting back home.

This day was a real hum-dinger. I was sucking wind all day. You start out with great expectations and have to alter your plans mid-ride. Guess that what make randoneering so much fun.

Clear skies all day
Hi: 94     Lo: 56
Wind: Strong
114 miles

-randorides