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| Garmin Stats from today's ride |
We left Albertson's parking lot a little after 0800, and warmed up before we climbed Viejas Grade. We ended up riding together most of that dirt section. Downhill on the hard surfaced section, we did meet a rugged looking Asian chic, riding a loaded up Mtn Bike. John said she looked just like she was finishing up the Stagecoach 400 route! We regrouped at the Descanso Store, 40 minutes over control cut off time. What else is new? Store was busy.
After a lengthy stay and a few stories, we were off to tackle Boulder Creek DIRT! One 12% climb before we turned onto Boulder Creek for a nice downhill before the water crossing.. Hardly any water there, but lots of slick algae! A few more climbs and we came to the "hard surfaced roads ends 300' sign". We were noticing quite a few cars and trucks on the road ahead. Must have been a Easter weekend thing going on at Three Sisters Trail-head?
Don was riding ahead, but not to worry, for he was using 700 x 23mm tires. Not that great for downhill dirt roads. Boulder Creek surface was the best I've ever seen it! It had been graded and lots of black gravel was trucked in for fill. A little loosie in places, but quite ride-able. We grouped up with Don before the hard surface section and the creek crossing. More water there. Turkey hunter trucks are tough when you are trying to climb 14% on washboard roads and it was a little close in places. Must have been 25 cars at the trail-head. Snow white dudes were lathering up with sunscreen to impress the bikini clad soft bodied girls before they walked the trail to the Three Sisters Falls with backpacks full of BEER!. It was like a parking lot there. Temps were in the low 80's now.
One dude said he passed us and felt sorry for us, riding all that way and eating their dust. We felt sorry for us too and we hi-tailed it out of there, pronto! More steep climbing ahead, some 14%, but the roads weren't bad at all.. for dirt! We did two regroups and climbed the last section to the Engineers Road Fire Station for cool water and a blow!
Hard surface and tree lined roads were in order during more climbing up to highway 78/79. Then off to Don's fave gas station and market in Julian, among the many touristas and bikers. Too many cars and motos at the station for Dave, as one van kept backing toward him as he was devouring a sandwich pak! Dave hit the Mtn. Dew hard, and I got a can of that too! Tasted like aviation grade gas!
We were soon out of there and took a jaunt down Old Cuyamaca Road, before more climbing toward the Lake. Good spirits for us as John pulled and I took over with a nice tailwind around the Lake and a big ring climb up to the Fire Station, where we hit the cool water at the 24/7 faucet. John led out on the long, fast downhill on Hwy. 79 toward Descanso. Quickly on Hwy. 79 and on to Wildwood Glen Lane and across the bridge.
Nice road with no cars as we hopped the gate and continued down real Old Hwy 80. It got narrower and narrower. Soon we were on a trail, which turned to a rocky path between boulders. No fence to climb this trip and some packed their bikes to the steep downhill walk to I-8. Time for tire clean and exam. Good thing. O-Man pulled out a small wire in his rear tire.
Nice downhill to Willows road and a left past the Viejas Casino, with several disgruntled loosers waiting at the cross walk. Don pulled the train into a slight headwind as we motored into the parking lot... just 17 minutes from cut-off! Whew! Crazy Dave rode in from around HillCrest, and didn't look in too good of a condition to ride back home again, so John and Don coaxed him into a co-op ride and bike lift caravan back to his house. I'm sure he enjoyed the ride home!
Another classic Saturday ride.. Shortie but toughie with 6768' of climbing, a lot on dirt roads. We saw lots of turkey hunters, Harley riders, short short hikers and white bodied college bail-outs!
Thanks to Dave, Don, Osvaldo & John for the nice "camaraderie of long distance riding" Special kudoz to Mike Berry for the route. He couldn't make it on this ride, due to a "mechanical"?
If you missed this one, see you on the next ride,
kellyjay
sandwich pak! Dave hit the Mtn. Dew hard, and I got a can of that too! It's like aviation grade gas!
