Night Ride: Why Do Tarantulas Cross Kitchen Creek?*

NOTE: Arachnophobes BEWARE!

Garmin Stats from Kitchen Creek night ride.

John Mestemacher had posted up on the SDRando Message Board a night ride up Kitchen Creek. To be more specific, it was Boulevard/Kitchen Creek Figure Of Eight Populaire #537, Thomas Reynolds route. With a 5:00 PM start time, John offered me a ride out to Pine Valley. Sounded good. A chance to see some night-time Tarantulas! ( A few years back on a night ride up Kitchen Creek Road, I saw hundreds of moving Tarantulas... quite a sight!)

John cruised by to pick me up in San Marcos a little after 3:00 PM. We chatted on the way out, didn't miss a turn and arrived early at 4:15. I prepped up and took a short ride around Pine Valley. John was chatting with Dave Horwitt. Soon, other riders arrived including Tim Sullivan, Dave Danovsky & Tim Knowles. Six riders total for this one. Thomas Reynolds showed up and handed out cards and said he and wife Tina would be providing limited support at the controls, since things would be closed tonight. Good deal.

Temps were around 83F leaving Pine Valley. After the first climb, the long downhill thru the INS checkpoint blasts you into the valley below. Used to be a town of Buckman Springs there, site of a famous alkali spring water. Now a few skeletons of years past as we flash by. Dave D. joined up with Tim S. just ahead, Dave H. and I were riding together and John and Time rode together down LaPosta Road to the INFO Control car by the RR Tracks. After watering up from TR's car, we headed up a nice quiet climbing section on Hwy. 94. A few unusual rock formations line the roadway.

Super Moon Eclipse from Dan Phillips telescope!

At the top of the hill on Terra del Sol, Dave H. and I pulled over for a nature break. Of course, a pickup with no lights did also to take a shot of the Super Moon Eclipse tonight. Quite a sight! Fast downhill took us into the Boulevard Store (closed). A risky gravel entrance awaited before TR's car and water. Seems Tim S. took a spill turning in here! OUCH!

After a short break at the car, Tim & Dave D. rode ahead, while the rest of us slogged up the rough Old Highway 80 toward Acorn Casino. I was playing with my helmet light and new Cygolite 720 as we climbed. Tim Knowles dropped off a bit, taking some pictures and stuff. Full lights now as we hit the downhill toward the Kitchen Creek turn. Weather was still warm and my choice of just a single under-layer with jersey was perfect. No arm warmers tonight!

John M. said "Are we here already?" as we turned into Kitchen Creek Road and started climbing. Night climbing is nice, as you can't see the grade ahead. I was on the lookout for Tarantulas, swerving around checking things out. Dave H. pulled ahead a bit and John was riding with me. I finally noticed several bike lights ahead leaving the INFO (first gate). Tina had her bean soup ready and Thomas was signing our cards. Still nice and warm out as we passed around the gate and continued our elusive hunt for the road-crossing Tarantulas.

Rode with Dave a bit before pacing back with John. Nice little section before the second gate, with mild climbing and one short downhill too! Carried my bike around both gates to avoid picking up any goat-heads from the dirt. From the second gate to Sunset Highway the road became gradually worse. Big potholes, some road width, had us moving around on this climb. John said: "Hey, I just spotted a Tarantula!" We quickly turned around and hit it with all our lights. Nice brown furry bugger, just sitting there in the sandy road. Well, at least we saw one on this ride! Made my night for sure!

Spotted only one elusive Tarantula on Kitchen Creek

After a 7-8% section, we stopped after the cattle guard at Sunrise Highway. Full light-on for the plunge down to Pine Valley. John had warned about some dangerous sections of cracked roadway ahead. Off we went. Still nice and warm at the top, but partway down, I was in cold trouble. Almost shake-time on a cold section. I tucked behind John here and fortunately, it warmed back up again the rest of the way down. Rolled into Pine Valley behind Major's Cafe. Nice. dark and quiet. Thomas Reynolds was there signing off cards. After a bit of chit-chat with Dave Horwitt, we were off... back to the bright lights again.

Nice little 5 hour ride tonight with a small group. Saw some interesting things in the Super Moon Eclipse, wind-farm at night and the elusive Kitchen Creek Tarantula. Not bad at all!

Clear skies for Super Moon Eclipse
Hi: 93     Lo: 59
Wind: nil
58 miles


*ANS:
Well, no, not just to get to the other side.  In the fall you can often see male tarantulas crossing Kitchen Creek Road. They do so in the cooler night time temps.These guys are looking for a mate. GO dude, GO!

Fall in the desert is the time of year when male tarantulas go on a “march” to seek out females.  It’s not that they particularly look for roads to cross, but because there are so many of them in such a large expanse of territory, there are bound to be some of them that come across roads.

At about three years of age, males mature and molt for perhaps the final time, becoming darker in color.  If they escape being eaten by their mate, as well as predators and the cold, the males may go on for a few more years.   Females can live 20 years or more, and produce 500 to 1000 young at each mating. WOW!

-randorides