Bautista Conservation Camp 36

aka Wind Beat-Down From Anza

SOMA with 32mm Panaracers tires

Haven't ridden this unique "mini-mixed terrian" route in a few years, so today looked like a good shot. Weather was forecast for the mid 60's around the route. Rando Keith Olsen was mildly interested in riding also, but lacking the option of wider tires would make it a hike-a-bike for sure. Some of these dirt roads can go from OK to "awful" in just several days.

I put my old Panaracers 32mm Urban Max on the SOMA, added the medium rear seat bag and other normal stuff, leaving the house after 0500. Opted for a long sleeve under-layer,optional vest over my jersey, along with arm warmers, woolie hat and wool mid-calf socks. I decided to start in San Marcos instead of the Deer Springs AM/MP up the road. It would add some miles, but I'd miss the "iffy-safe" ride in to the start up Deer Springs Road in the early commute traffic. Mostly cloudy and mid-50's temps. I wouldn't be needing my helmet light for long today. Gets lighter earlier every day and by 0600 my light went to blinkie mode.

Colorful balloon over wine country

Made my way up Old Hwy 395, over the toughish Day-Lilly hill climb and cool plunge down into San Luis Rey River Valley. No wind to notice as I crossed I-15 on the way past Rainbow. Route takes a jog around heavier Temecula traffic  and offers a nice stop at a rando favorite Wolf Creek Park. From there it's a nice ride up and thru residential streets, finally crossing Hwy. 79 to DePortola Road. A small park there offers only water before the lite dirt track passes several horse farms.

DePortola Road changes to hard surface again and climbs past more horse farms and large wineries/vineyards. Grape vines are growing green and starting to show small fruit clusters now. A colorful multi flagged hot-air balloon was dipping and rising here, so I stopped for a picture or two. Only a slight breeze from the SW now. Soon the road changes to dirt again, with a 9% uphill slog, mixed with soft sand. Too close to the road edge and you're bogged down in sand. After the increasingly dangerous downhill to Benton (yes, it get worse each ride here with sand, holes and broken asphalt chunks. I was sliding around on the 19% downhill), the hard-surface road resumes again. Narrow-tired bikes have the option here of turning right and going to Hemet via Sage Road. Not me! I'll climb up thru Oakridge Ranches instead.

DePortola Road knarly downhill ahead

Great rando route now, as the road is almost "trail-like", splitting around trees, dipping and diving along. No center line,no fog line here! After climbing up to the "Private Road" sign, the road changes back to dirt again (today it was covered with patches of 3/4" rock). Passing a desolate winery on the left, the road plunges downward toward Hemet. Riding the brakes and getting behind the saddle are part of surviving this 20%+, rutted, sandy downhill. After several miles of this, the road becomes more sandy and washboard as it levels and passes behind the Diamond Valley Reservoir. Turning on Batz St., I watched as farmers disc'd under soggy crops! A white 4x4 was also watching and swung way over, nearly taking me out! I was waiving my arms and shouting out a few things. Smooth riding on State St., as I cruised into Carl's Jr., looking for solid food.

BCCamp 36 entrance. Dirt road ahead.

Two-dollar Biscuit omelet and banana was my fare today. After a brief reprise, I watered up and anticipated the fun ride to Anza ahead. Riding eastward on Stetson St., past Hemet High School, I again noticed the weathered sign: "Little Lake". I was determined to get a look at this elusive lake. Main gate was closed today, so I motored ahead and turned on a lonely road. I could see some water off to my right. Not close enough, I made another turn and finally stood on some rocks to get a picture of  Little Lake. Yep, it's little alright!

Thousands of acres of citrus trees ahead. I managed to get a few good pics of large grapefruits drooping on the limbs. After the "Bautista Convervation Camp-8 miles" sign, the road turns upward slightly as it follows a river bed up Bautista Canyon. Met a older guy cruising downhill, later followed by 2 rugged MTB'ers. Nice peaceful riding all the way up the to the Camp. Maximum grade to this point was 6%. I noticed a 3E43 trailhead sign. Need to check that out someday on a MTB ride. I managed to stop at the Camp entrance for a few scenic pictures. From here, the road turns to dirt as it climbs up to 4100' toward Anza town. Fun time ahead.

"HOT" cargo lost some wheels in the dirt

Road was a mixture of loose stuff, washboard and ruts. I picked my line carefully, and stopped several time to let trucks pass by. Some tough climbing here with several double digit climbs mixed in with mostly 6-8% stuff. Out-of-the-saddle sometimes worked, but even with 32mm tires, slipping was easy. No water crossings today, but road was damp in several places. Police were checking out a boat trailer, which lost 2 wheels and was buried in the soft road. Looks like some ding-dong was trying to move some hot boats to Hemet on Batista Cyn Rd. Once passing the "Leaving San Bernardino National Forest" sign, it's less than 2 miles to hard surface again. Soon I reached the route hi-point and was wind-aided flying down into Anza town. Everything was flying here...flags, papers and dust! Time to seek shelter in the sun.

Nice views here. Forested mountains to the north, plains to the east. Stopping at Circle K on the edge of town, I grabbed a hot chocolate and cuddled around the corner by a storage container, eating my almond butter crackers and ProMax bar. Sun was full out, but the wind made it a lot cooler. Before leaving, I put my arm warmers and vest back on. Flags were straight out in my direction. Time to grab the drops and grind southward.

5 kool San Diego guys cycling to Canada!

Just south of Anza, there was a long wait for road construction. Pilot car finally gave me a head start on the line-up of cars. Down the road, I noticed cyclists northbound off the side of the road. I rolled over and had a chat. Seems they started in San Diego the other day and stayed last night in at the campsite just west of Warner Springs (before the Glider Port). Today, the 5 guys are heading toward Idyllwild. Moderate loads on mixed bikes. A few Surlys, including a Orge, a carbon Giant and several other steel bikes. Said they were heading for Canada! Good luck guys.

In the drops, I made good time down to the Wilson Valley turn. After the turn the wind picked up more. I stopped to take off my vest and noticed a trash pile with a prosthetic leg sticking out! Long 14% downhill in to the valley, followed by a much shorter 10% uphill to get out. Sort of a laid back attitude down there, with a few mobile homes mixed in with some ranch homes. Nice riding down the ridge-line over to Sage Road. Feeling better now, I made good time up the long climb to Benton Road. Back toward Temecula wine country now.

Wilson Valley: leg in trash!

Wind really picked up now from the SW. Those Benton Rd. downhills were under pedal power! For some reason, I made it up the crappy 19% dirty climb DePortola Rd. More dirt downhill followed by riding the brakes to miss the washboards and soft stuff. The normal 20mph past the vineyards was replaced today with slogging in the drops, crawling along into the wind to Temecula. Wolf Creek never looked so good. Trees there were dancing!

Well, I knew Rainbow Canyon Road would be a wind-fest... and it was. I was already cooked, but didn't know it. Hwy. 395 downhill was into the wind too. In fact, it kicked my butt all the way to San Marcos. Felt like I just did a 200 miler! Pulled in to home before dark, tired and dry. Good thing I had pre-made my protein laced fruit smoothie earlier today. It sure tasted good!

2012 route video.

Partly cloudy
Hi: 68     Lo: 52
Wind: SW to 20mph
147 miles


-randorides