Catalina Ride

Full route from San Marcos to Catalina Island

After the recon ride earlier this month, all looked well and interest seemed high for the inaugural "Dana Point XP" route. Several riders expressed interest in doing the up and back, while a few wanted the train option either way. So Friday it was. ( Weekends are poor for train connections)

Plenty of emails later, we ended up with just 4 riders at the early San Marcos start. John Mestemacher rode in from down the hill in Carlsbad, Mac Imacseng had the wife get up early to bring him ( originally scheduled for Keith to pick him up), Dave Horwitt drove in from San Diego and I just rolled in a few miles from home. Ready well before the 0300 start time, we waited around for Mac to load his bike and put on reflective gear (neat handy "Y" vest). We were off to a groggy start.

We stopped to see if Mac's uncle really worked here?

Due to no traffic this early, we managed to deviate from the route a bit and took some main roads over to Champagne Blvd. Chit-chat was in abundance as Mac's rear light was mounted parallel with the seat stay and offered a blinding vision from behind. After a few jeers, he was tool-less and unable to move the light, but soon discovered his other light hidden up under the seat. John was on a hi-speed lead-out on Camino del Rey over to Bonsall. Weather was just perfect.

Bonsall AM/PM had locked out the adjacent McD's  bathrooms as we refilled our bottles and were soon off to the San Luis Rey Bike Path cruising along and arriving in Oceanside near 0515. Traffic was backed up at the main Camp Pendleton Gate, so the I-5 option was in play.

Dana Point Harbor lin- up for Ferry Boarding Passes

Mac sped away on I- 5 and narrowly missed a tire just before the Rest Stop exit. Traffic was heavy and even the Rest Stop was full with drivers napping in the early hours. Good speed as we paced thru the San Onofre Campground. Time for headlights off entering San Clemente town. I mentioned to Mac about his "uncles donut shop", so we made a stop to see if the owners were Cambodians like Mac. Mmmm... the old lady was from Laos and the younger one.. we never did find out. A donut later we soon entered the new bike way to Dana Point, arriving at the Harbor before 0700. Time to line up to get ferry boarding passes.

Leaving Dana Point, Dave & Mac enjoy the view

John picked up my passes as I relaxed by the dock, taking pictures and stretching out. Overcast morning along the coast as early boaters motored by. We watched as passengers started boarding the ferry. Dave got a little antsy and lined up, but soon returned for a "last on, first off" boarding. We strapped our bikes in and were soon underway right on the advertised 0745 departure time.

Excited passengers were moving about, so we mostly stayed put in the fantail near our bikes. Great chance for some pictures and different views as the Catalina Express made way @30 knots toward Catalina Island. No dolphins this trip, but Mac & I spotted a "whale" in the distance (unconfirmed, of course)!

Cycling Permit required for riding inland on Catalina

I was expecting bright sun as we approached Catalina, but alas, slight clouds covered the island. We debarked in a minute and hit the dockside bathrooms first. This place was a buzzing. A few cranks later, we were at the Catalina Island Conservancy to pick up cycling permits for inner-island riding. (These are required to ride or hike on little traveled inner island roads/trails). Cost is around $30 for a year use and offering discounts on camping and other special uses.

After jutting around several side streets, it was all UP! Leaving Avalon toward the inner island is nothing but pure elevation gain. After 1.5 miles, there is a junction, gate and zip-line entrance. Traffic almost ceases beyond the gate (permit needed) as we continued our upward trend, stopping at several overlooks for photo-ops. A few Eco-Tour vans passed as we finally made it to the top overlook, 4 miles later.

This MW tower looms over all of Catalina Island

Gate with crawl-thru hole awaited, as I opted to half-ride around the fence on a little trail. Dave & Mac passed their bikes thru, as John took the side path around. Soft sand as we started our gravel ride up to the tower. This MW tower can be seen from most of the island, so we figured we were at the top and nothing left now but downhill. Wrong again! Divide Road was in good shape as we followed the up and down rollers and soon passed a 2-man crew putting the roof on a small roadside pit-toilet. Good idea for hikers and bikers up here.

We wanted to go left, but had to go climbing right instead

Junction ahead with sign. Left was downhill ( I believe to the Botanical Gardens ), No Bikes! RIGHT was uphill and said "Avalon-6 miles". Only 6 miles? No problemo we thought as we started more climbing. Dave with his triple chain-ring and me with 10-42 cassette driven by a 30T ring up front had enough gears for this one. Mac had cross-gearing on his Ibis and even John with his gravel bike had traction slippage. A little HIB encountered on the 17% section and with a few rocks thrown in made for a tough climb. When finally reaching the "top", time for some photos & deep breathing.

Mac & John find it hard to restart on steep gravel slopes!

A few miles of gravel downhill weren't the easiest with scattered rocks and loose stuff. Dave tipped over after sliding in loose gravel and had a few scratches. A long time later, we reached the gate and smooth riding again on the tourist looped Wiggly Road. A few marked photo overlook stops for views of the harbor before we looped down and were back near the water again. Time for lunch.

Dave hit a small roadside shop straight away. Mac and John rode around and found a deli across from "Von's Express" store. We ended up sitting dockside in the shade gulping our overpriced colas from a nearby machine. Later on, I suggested a short ride around Lover's Cove to check things out. On the wind aided ride back, we could see our return Ferry coming into Avalon Bay. Line-up time.

Leaving Catalina Island, John reflects on a good day.

Deploying the same "last on, first off" theory, we waited for the return crowd to clear before boarding. Soon we were departing the now sun-drenched island for Dana Point. Thirty minutes out, we were all relaxing and enjoying the hum of the engines. Smooth passage all the way back, arriving at 3:15 to partly cloudy skies and warm temps. After a bathroom break and water refill we were off to San Clemente.

Mac & I decided to jump the Metro to Oceanside. John rode with Dave via the busy I-5 down toward Carlsbad, where they parted company as John rode home and Dave went back to San Marcos. With all the hub-bub stuff in Oceanside, I split with Mac as he rode south to Solana Beach and I took the SLRBike Path back to San Marcos, arriving well before dark.

With the early start, ferry ride and unique cycling on the island, this day was a good one. More adventures to come.

Full Ride Video

- randorides

San Marcos To Santa Catalina Island Recon

Map of the full 225 mile route

Always looking for another "different" sort of rando route, I figured Catalina Island would fill the bill. Take the ferry from San Pedro, land at Two Harbors, cycle across the Island to Avalon, jump a afternoon ferry back to the mainland and continue on the rando route to ?. To be all inclusive, you would be adding 4 hours(ferry time) and no credit for the ferry miles. Add to that the big climb out of Two Harbors on "gravely" roads (included in route distance & time) and a rando shorter route wouldn't work at all (200km or shorter). I surmised it would have to be a longer route of at least 300 km. to have enough cushion to finish within the time parameters established by RUSA.

Bike Pass, Membership Card and Catalina Express info.

Rethinking my priorties, I decided on a route start from San Marcos for sure. Change the ferry to one leaving from Dana Point. 204 km with a time limit over 13 hours! Leave San Marcos, ride to Dana Point, ferry to Catalina, ride to the Island Airport and back, ferry to Dana Point, ride back to San Marcos. Take out 3 hours ferry ride time and the non-ride time on Catalina and that leaves around 8 hours to ride a 200km+ route. A flat tire or bathroom break and you're done!

I finally settled on a San Marcos to Dana Point route (102km). Reverse it for the ride back. Leave out all the things on the Island and just ride around and enjoy yourself there. Submitted and approved, it became RUSA Route #3392, "Dana Point XP". Next up was the full recon ride.

Full sun as the Ferry approaches Avalon

Leaving San Marcos early in the dark (start time is predicated by the Catalina Express Ferry departure time from Dana Point) the route follows a non-traditional path around Palomar College before hooking up with the well ridden route to Champagne Boulevard. Weather was overcast and I had my arm warmers pulled up on the downhills. Standard fast section to Bonsall, where the McD's wasn't open but the AM/MP was. Then a few very fast Hwy.76 miles (smooth and nice) before departing for the quiet San Luis Rey Bike Path to Oceanside.

Depending on early traffic thru the Base, I opted for the I-5 speed run up to Las Pulgas Road. As usual, some interesting things going on a the mandatory Rest Stop ride thru. See VIDEO for some fun things. Lots of campers at San Onofre Campground but didn't meet any early cyclists. Bathroom #1 seems to be always open year round and water refill was in order there. Normal Trestles Bike Path surfer traffic. I see more and more of them riding electric fat bikes with surf-board mounts!

Up on top, half-way to the airport

After my normal donut stop in San Clemente (where they always throw in a few free donut holes), I was off to easy riding on the newly finished bike way along Coast Hwy. and arrived at Dana Point Harbor well before Ferry departure time of 0745.

I had a reservation, so got my boarding pass in short order (one for me and one for the bike). Rode around checking out boats and ended up sitting on a bench, relaxing and talking to several passengers while others boarded the Catalina Express. The "Express" was built with it's sister ship in 1994 at Greys Harbor, WA. Plenty of horsepower from it's twin engines drive this mono-hull up to 32 knots.

Once underway, I spent most of my time in the fantail near the bike or wandering around taking
pictures. This trip was sold out, but there were a few empty seats as others were up top in the wind or in the bow taking pictures. Ferry slowed while a pod of Pacific White Sided Dolphins darted under and around us. Approaching Santa Catalina Island, the sun broke thru and it felt like the South Pacific!

Some bad buffalo rutting around this pond.

After landing at 0915, it was a bit of a scramble. Hit the dockside bathroom, refilled by bottles and rode over to the Island Conservancy to pick up my inland cycling pass. I had registered online last week and handed a copy of that over to the clerk. Within a few minutes had the permit in hand and after a quick chat with some hikers was soon off. Went down by the waterfront and soon found out it was blocked off to cyclists/cars. Found an alternate route and within 3 minutes was into the climb out of Avalon. Up, up and away! Started out with several double digit "gasper"s!

Mile 1.6 has a junction. Right is the "tourist" scenic one-way road back down to Avalon via the Zip Line start. Left has a gate. Travel beyond requires a permit. I rode around the arm and continued climbing on the deteriorating hard surfaced road. Around mile 4 the road levels out and turns to gravel. Also there is a gravel road to the left called "Divide Road". It's supposed to circle around Avalon. I'll check it out next trip. Continuing on, the road was off and on gravel with several scenic overlooks. Passed a small park like setting that looked to have outside water but was filled with buffalo! For sure, I didn't stop there but continued up and down to the airport.

Super view of "Little Harbor" near Avalon Bay

Interesting little airport at mile 10.2 with a restaurant and water. Didn't linger long as I wanted to get back early enough before boarding the 2:00 PM Ferry back. Off and on gravel rollers on the way back which turn into a rough hard surface as the downhill grade increases. Couldn't wait to get to the junction where there is only one way to go (one-way... the way I came up earlier). This narrow road was smooth and I stopped for a few zip-line action shots. Then followed a cart down the steep scenic hill as the 2 lovers came within inches of going over the edge (no guardrails here). 

With a few minutes to spare, I sat by the kiddie park and watched the excited tourists pass. Had a
short wait in line before boarding the return "Catalina Express". Same boat as earlier, different crew. Much quieter and smoother ride back to Dana Point, where we arrived at 3:10 PM. After washing up & filling bottles, I was off for the long haul back to San Marcos.

Managed a short stop in San Clemente for some calories, as I was a little "off kilter". I figured it was the fresh salt air and the ferry vibration? After Oceanside, the route goes south and then inland back to San Marcos. Didn't want the route more redundant than it already was. Arrived home with lights on the last few miles. Good day and managed lots of video and still shots.

Route Video

- randorides