Mud In The Tank Tunnel?

No mud Pendleton Tank Tunnel today!

With my normal clamshell of Tylenol and Vit-B3, I headed out early today for some miles and a possible hook-up with the OFR leaving Magee Park in Carlsbad. COLD was the word. Temp was 31F as the knee warmers, long wool socks and triple layers only partially blocked the wind-chill factor. I timed it close, as I arrived at Magee before 0830 for a bathroom break and some time in the rising sun.


OFR group was sparse today. After days of rain, they didn't want to get their bikes dirty riding thru the tank tunnel on Camp Pendleton. Pete showed up, as well as Tom, old Dale, Dr. Dan Marks and a few others. Some would drive up to Las Pulgas gate and start there. Pete used to ride with Sam Thomas on the seasoned Wednesday ride out of Bonsall. Said he was hammered and didn't finish the ride yesterday. I updated him on Sam T.  moving up to Sun City.

"James" cycling "Ride For Hope" at I-5 Rest Area

I left the group and took I-5 northward in lieu of going thru the Camp today. Needed to check out the roadway for future rando rides. All clear... fast, dry and noisy. The "No Bike on freeway sign is still there by the on-ramp. Stopped by the Rest Area and met "James" riding for "Ride For Hope". Charity for African kids, AIDS, etc. Chatted with him a while before heading northward to Las Pulgas exit.


Paul Nevin was there, and soon the ladies arrived. Never did see the other OFR gruppo. I heard some turned around. Rode with them to bathroom #1 break. NO mud in the tank tunnel. Dee said she got a new Di2 equipped Obrea carbon bike because she can't use her left wrist much to shift now. Really likes the shifting and I would concur after testing the Cervelo  C-5 last summer.

Animal Kingdom film crew at Trestles Bike Path

Got stopped by Park Rangers entering Trestles path. Animal Kingdom was doing a movie shoot there. Chatted a bit with the staff before riding on. Ladies went to Carl's Jr. I continued on north thru San Clemente.


Later on, came up on a Surly LHTrucker rider. Blue bike with a few in-frame bags on it. Said he was training for a ride across Australia this Fall. Trans Austraila Cycle Stage Race. 3000 miles in 24 days.  We had a nice chat about his training and we parted as I turned off on the San Juan Bike Trail to San Juan Capistrano.

Surfer type panhandler at McDonalds drive thru. $78/hr!

Path was all clear, after years of section work. You can go straight onto the gravel or turn across the bridge to SJCap now. A tie-laden dude had a table set up near the channel. Doing a press release for San Juan Watershed Project. Putting rubber dams across the channel to retain some water. Didn't want to answer my questions, as him hi-end caterer arrived to unload the food for the politicians.


Took my turn-around break at McDonalds, where I watched a young panhandler take in $34 from patrons leaving the drive-thru. Yep, he counted each "donation" before stuffing back into his pocket. At that rate, he'll be good for $75/hr! Left and took the fast was back to the coast.

San Juan Watershed Project display table. No hand-out here!

Slight tailwind now as I rode southward. Came up on the James "Ride For Hope" guy again, as he had collected his buddy and another young fixie rider and were riding to Carlsbad for the night. Had a nice chat and thought about riding the I-5 with them. I said "adios" and paced ahead for the tailwind assisted blast down I-5 to Oceanside.


Nice riding south along the 101, with a short stop at Magee Park bathroom. Another stop in Encinitas for a refill before soon turning inland, up the hills and back to San Marcos.


Managed some good longer miles today and after a roll-out and Epsom Salt soak, felt relaxed and tired. Go figure.


Sam is hawking up doing some riding this weekend around here. We'll see about that.

- randorides