Coffee At Peet's Permanent + Trail recon

Boys chit-chat at Swami's Park

Rando trail bike time. Left home at 5:30 to get an early start. Riding the C'dale Trail bike doing a road route! This will take longer, for sure. I'll check some missing trail sections on the way back, sort of a 2'fer! Plan to meet up with the Magee Park boys at 8:30!

Cruised over through Bonsall, then met up with a older rider "Rick" on the San Luis Rey Bike Path. We chatted and I gave him a rando card for trail stuff. He rides with the older rider group every Thursday along the coast.

Magee Park had Al, Phil and Steward Sales waiting. Picked up a few more riders at Ponsettia Ln. Bruce and Troy were there. Swami's Park showed a lot more riders. Probably 20 total. They chatted around for a long time. Finally left. I cut off at Carmel Valley Rd. Eric Rix seemed lost and rode that way too. He stopped and ask where his buddy Ben was. Well, Ben went up Torrey Pines with the group!.

Trail bike overlooking Lake Hodges Dam

I stopped at the Circle K on del Sur before hitting the dirt stuff. Rode a few optional trail routes on Lusardi Loop, then did the Santa Fe route. Took many pics, including the swimming hole. Took the long way around to Artesian Rd., then up around the dam by Lake Hodges. Awful warm out. Garmin showed 109 face temp. I was low on water and cut off onto Del Dios Hwy. and terminated at the 7-Eleven by Auto Pkwy. Took the Sprinter back to San Marcos. Good day. Hot.

happy trails,
-
randorides

Montezuma Mesa Express Permanent

Time to roll out a 200km+ before the end of the month. Looks like another R-12 is in order.. yearly thing.

Decided to do the Montezuma Mesa Express, instead of another "Ursa Major". New route owner Steve Elliott is still figuring out that it's OK to email the waiver first, but then you must snail mail it to him! Huh. Guess his printer doesn't work anymore or he wants you to spend 50 cents on a stamp. Figure that one out! I'll probably just make up another same-o route, maybe starting in San Marcos instead.

Non-eventful ride today. Still can't breathe properly. Started the route at 5:30. Coughed and hacked out the lungs in good order by 8:00 AM. After that I could ride OK at 1/2 effort. Not many riders out too early. Did see NCCC Joe and Dee as they were riding northward in Carlsbad. Lots of beach goers on the beaches today, even under cloudy skies. Did have big headwinds coming back up the coast. Stopped by Nytro to see Joe Morgan about Crank Bros. pedals he has lying around. Did manage to order some disc brake pads for the Niner. Semi-metallics still to much chattering. Did get home to San Marcos before 5:00 PM.

That's it,
randorides

Daley Ranch-recon

Daley Ranch recon loop map

Saturday recon route. Started early from home in San Marcos. Took the Inland Rail Trail to Escondido and jumped on the Escondido Creek Bike Path out to the Valley Center Rd. Caballo Trailhead. Tough climbing the first 1/2 mile up the Caballo Trail. Horse country here and the trail was chewed up. Minimal traction with several hike-a-bikes. Saw only one old lady hiking.

Turned on Sage Trail. More hikers and bikers here. Easier trail. Went over to the Ranch House for a banana break. Went north on the Loop, then hooked up with the Engleman Oak Trail. Ask several riders for a trail over to Valley Center.. Nope. Had a slo flat. Never found the cause. Met hard-core rider Dennis on his older Klein. Also met  Moots local rider and he took me on several side loops looking for a way to Valley Center. Still looking.

Serine section of Caballo Trail

Ended up at Cougar Rd. Trailhead. Fixed a guys tube. Rode over through Mountain Meadows with Moots rider to his house. Pumped my tire and headed downhill to Deer Springs Rd.. Took some local San Marcos horse trails to 7-Eleven on Twin Oaks. Bought Zaharah a 3-pak of cc cookies. Rode north across the creek and home. Home by 11:30. Bad left ankle in pain. Too much steep hill walking with bike.

happy trails,
randorides

Poway Trail-recon

Poway Trail recon map

Picking up from the Tuesday Old Coach Trail ride, started in Garden Road Park. Had a hellva time finding the trail from the residential streets. Finally went to the fields by the horse areas and rode around and over the hill near the water tank. Down the other side and finally found the trail start area where I wanted to start form. Some knarly climbing involved. I'll leave that hill off the route.

Picked up the pre-plotted route on the Garmin 500. Went here and there, took a few extra loops on single trak trails. Several monster hike-a-bike climbs in there, mainly on access roads. Great tunnel riding over to the Metcalf St. trailhead. Had to pack-a-bike, after missing a gpx turn. Rough country in there.

Hidden waterfall off trail

Eventually, picked up some manicured trails, passing under roadways, I-15 and on to Los Penasquitos Canyon . Took a trail north to a park and rode over to JIB for a refuel choc. shake. Two big hike-a-bike up to roadways in there. Have to drop them.

End of recon. Rode down Black Mtn. Rd. to SR-56 Bike Path to the coast. Then up to Nytro for a order out of some Ergon grips and ends. Long day. Got home at 5:00 PM.

happy trails,
kellyjay

Old Coach Trail-recon

Map of Old Coach Trail recon to Poway map

A dirt trail from Mule Hill Trailhead to Poway. No more Bike Path Bridge across Lake Hodges and Pomorado  Road. Trail bridge is out, so portage across a ravine in necessary. Took lots of pics and will make some mods to the original route layout. Dirt trail down north side of Poway.

Ended ride at Garden Road Park before riding back via Pomorado Rd. Next time I'll start earlier in the day.

happy trails,
-randorides

RAAM: Solos at the O''side Pier

Colin Stokes on training ride

Went over to see the solo start of RAAM today. Rando guy, Colin Stokes was riding the RAW race to Durango, Colorado!

NOTE: Update is that Colin made it in good order and time to Durango. Successfully completing RAW. What a great acheivement for him and wife, Julie. They lost their crewchief to illness the first day!

Their ride blog is at: http://raw-velo.blogspot.com/

Way to go Colin!~ randorides

Julie Stokes in support van

Aztec Century

Garmin stats from the Aztec Century route

Wanted to ride the Ursa Major today. New route owner switch to Steve Elliott. Big hoopla on mailing in waivers and such. I changed my mind and rode the Aztec instead. Still can meet up with the OFR-Magee Park boys. Won't be riding my fav. route with Steve in charge. ]

Met the boys at Magee at 8:30. They were going north. I was heading south.
Rolled south under tailwind heading to SDSU. Met with Stewart Sales in Mission Valley. He was riding with a few local riders. Stu used to ride with the OFR for years and he rides the RAGBAI in Iowa almost every year. Good to see him. Receipt at McDonalds near SDSU. Not many students around. Must be spring break. Rolled back north. Stopped by Nytro to see Joe. No pedals fixed yet. Tired of switching the Crank Bros. from bike to bike.

-randorides

Trail + Bike Path Recon Rides

Inland Rail Trail in San Marcos

June 4, 8 & 9.
Doing a few more recon rides to confirm several route changes and update the photo database.
June4:
Hit the Lake Hodges Trail again to check out some alternate routes. After the switchbacks, went down to Artisian via the dirt trail. Sort of got lost under the power lines. My Garmin 500 did do a "breadcrumb" path and I finally got back on track again on the Lusardi Loop. Also add a alternate path to Los Penasquitos Canyon. Much better way than on the hard surfaced roads down to the trail-head at Mercy Road.

June 8:

Keith riding Rose Canyon Hiking Trail

On Saturday met up with the NCCC club at Restaurant Row in San Marcos. Did a short ride out with them on the way to riding the full Escondido Creek Bike Path. The Bike Path was cleaned up from years past. Took lots of photos out to Ysabel Creek Rd. Came back via San Pasqual Rd.

June 9:
Met up with Keith Olsen on Sunday at the top of Rose Canyon Bike Path. He had his ol Klein MTB. Was trying to get his Judy fork to work. We rode up the Rose Canyon Hiking Trail to Genesee Road. Then on to Roselle St dirt road downhill and stopped at his new found shop: Quest on Sorrento Valley Rd. Big ol Eric there was trying to sell him a Salso Fargo bike. I think he needs a front suspension bike.
 We rode out to the Wagon Wheel Crossing and chatted with some riders in Los Penasquitos Canyon. Rode back the reverse way, taking some pics along the way.

Made up a video using some new pics. It's for a new rando route called: "Rock & Road Trail".
Greek type music on this video: http://youtu.be/cPb1eegegkE

-randorides

DART: Team Bike Path

DART-Bike Path route

I wanted a DART route on dirt. Made up a route entitled: Rock & Road DART. 1/2 dirt and 1/2 road. Just right. Posted it up and had 2 randos interested. Dave Horwitt & Keith Olsen. Neither had bikes for the route(in my opinion of pre-riding the trails). Scratch that idea. Like last years Dirt 4 DART route, another scratch! Bummer.

OK, made up a benign route entitled "Bike Path". How nice. It's John's Mestemachers "Bike Path X Two" permanent route with the added Torry Pines to downtown section added. 75 miles in 8 hours.

Keith Olsen, Jeff Clark, George Freeman from Michigan and Dave Horwitt showed up at the Oceanside Pier for the 8:00 AM start. We hit the SLR Bike Path hard, with George after some personal record. The on to the Bonsall Control at the McDonalds-AM/PM. Chatted with a few North County Cycle Club members there. Off to Camino Del Rey and up the Champagne climb. Keith lagged back with his commuter bike, geared with 52/42 crank and road cluster in the rear!

Cruising through Escondido and on to catch some dirt at the Mule Hill Trailhead. Stopped at the Chevron for a long refill and trail checkout. There had a mountain bike event at the trainhead. Busy place! Across the new bike bridge over Lake Hodges and on through Rancho Bernardo. Nice cycling here. A few more trail overlook stops along Camino del Sur, before a Jeff refuel at the 56 Bike Path entrance AM/PM. Camped out there for a while and chatted with local riders. Had 2 hours to spare, so cruised the SR-56 Bike Path to the last Control in Carmel Valley. There we waited around for 1 hour. Dave and Keith got into a discussion on the Rando waiver and awards. Jeff Clark called his wife for pick-up. He was a little tired after a no sleep night. After getting receipts, we rolled at 4:00.

Climbed up inner Torry Pines. Keith didn't have the gears for an efficient climb. I paced him up. After Rose Canyon Bike Path, we took the Rose Creek Bike Path and then around Mission Bay on the Bike/Ped marked path. A little crowded there, but we had lots of time anyway. Dave led us around through Old Towne toward downtown. I opted for a SD Bay cruise ride and we checked out a monster yacht . Dave filled us in on the Russian owner details. We rolled into the Santa Fe Station at 4:00. Greg Olmstead was sitting there alone waiting for us. Guess we were the only team to ride. Quite sad.

Looks like we all had a nice time. Keith rode over to his home on Point Loma, Dave rode up the hill to his house. George and I took the Coaster Train back to O'side. For $2.75, we had a nice enjoyable trip back.

-randorides