Don't Forget "Forgotten Roads"

"Forgotten Roads" Map

A few weeks back, rando John Fry asked about Boulder Creek Road.. the part-gravel road from Descanco up to near Julian. I mentioned why not do a Rando route called "Forgotten Roads"?. I mentioned this to my buddy John Mestemacher and soon posted it up on the SDrando board for a 0800 start today.

John picked me up around 0630 for the drive up to Alpine. We some how managed to work my SCOTT gravel MTB into the back of John's Honda Element next to his gravel bike. John didn't get lost on the new way via Hwy 52 either! Plenty early, we saw Mac Imacsing getting ready, along with Jim Robinson. Soon Dave Horwitt rolled by on his heavy laden, fendered bike. After some chit chat, mini muffins from Mac and a trip to the local McDonalds, we were off before 0800. Temps were supposed to be 58F at the start and warm to the 70's today. So it was!

Viejas Grade Road look-back toward Casino

Stiff legs on the downhill were met with the short 13% climb up to Willows Rd. Soon Mac & I were chatting about how long it was since he cycled last.. Ya, ya.. heard that before. Nice roads and no traffic thru the Viejas Reservation were soon interrupted by breezy winds and gravel climbing up Viejas Grade to Descanso. The road was in excellent condition and we only met a few cars and one construction crew. The headwinds were picking up around each corner as Dave was out ahead.

Our little gruppo of 4 was motoring along on the 4-7% grade when Jim hit some loose gravel and slid down as a SUV approached. All dusty, no loose skin and a little embarrassed, Jim rode on with no side effects except "caution ahead". SUV driver stopped to see if all was well. Of course it was. Finally we reached hard road and some pleasant fast downhill to Perkin's Store, Descanso. Time for a mini break.

Descanso Perkin Store. Last stop for a while!

Dave was outside eating chips, John over by the Post Office nibbling his carry-along sandwich, Jim wiping off his dusty shorts and Mac was stretching out his sore back. I stole away inside the store for a little chit-chat with the grumpy looking lady about some water from her sink. She was quite nice and offered better filtered water/ice at the cola machine! Great. Getting ready to roll, several visited the porta-potty/wash station by the gas pumps. I offered Mac some "White Flower" Chinese medicine, but he indicated he had a hot/cold pack on his lower back already. Go figure. Away we went for more climbing.

A few steep rollers greeted us on worn out Oak Grove Road. Then it was a whole lot of fast downhill on Boulder Creek Road. The water crossing was dry, but the wind picked up to full headwind style as Dave and I fought it off the front of the pack. We had a regroup at the transition to gravel. Up and down we went on washboard and soft sand corners. I made a stop near the working ranch to chat with a deer hunter getting beer out of his roadside truck. Chug-a-Lug time.

Typical climb up Boulder Creek Road: Good condition today!

More gravel climbing with a few hunters trucks before we regrouped at the Three Sisters Trailhead. John and I had a short flashback to another ride thru here when he was lying on the dirt under the sign, sick as a dog! We were soon off with Dave out front. I was full out on the gravel downhills with my 3" tires biting well. A few more double digit climbs before the final assault up to the junction of Engineer Road. We stopped at the Forest Service Station there and I finally found water around behind one of the buildings. Looked like the vintage fountain out front hadn't been used in years.

Mac's back was really hurting by now and I offered the solution: Chinese "White Flower". The only problem was I didn't pack it in the bag! DUH! A couple of Vit. B-6 would have to do. More low digit climbing as we were on smoother roads now... Eagle Peak over to Pine Hills. A nice downhill as Dave was almost taken out by a deer herd scampering across the road. A final regroup and the last climb up to Julian on Hwy. 78. Tourist time!

WOW! This place was packed, as usual on a weekend. Thirty person line-up at the pie place and Harley's galore. Dave picked up a sandwich at a shop as the rest of us cruised over to Cozen's Station. Water, Dr. Pepper and Vitamin Water was the liquid of choice. After sitting around for a while, most hit the outside porta-pottys and we finally left the crowds behind.

John was zipped-up from the caffeine kick and led out up the busy Hwy. 79 toward Lake Cuyamaca. Near the Lake, the gradient eased and the pace picked up. I was geared out on my 30x10 ratio, as Jim and Mac slipped away. I was sucking wheel @ 120 cadence. Passing the Cuyamaca Store, I pulled up to John and ask him "where the fire was"! Final regroup at the Ranger Station at the top before the quick downhill back to Descanso on busy Hwy. 79.

Dave, Jim, Kelly hike-a-bike!

Dave and Jim were long gone as I shadowed Mac on the way down. Spin-O-Rama time! Soon we were back together and cruising on Hwy. 79. Fun time ahead as we turned onto Wildwood Glen Ln and crossed the bridge. Old Hwy. 79 ends up with a gate. Riding around, we soon noticed  the old Hwy. deteriorates to a path as it passes several San Diego wells. Then to a rutted gravel path and finally the fun part of a hike-a-bike down a embankment to I-8. Dave managed a butt dirty, slip-slide down the dirt to cap off this section.

Following a short clean-up, it was mostly all downhill past the Viejas Casino, over I-8 on Willows Road and Old Hwy. 80 back to Albertson's parking lot. After a few slaps on the back on how great we all were, John, Mac and I wandered over to McDonald's for the reward. I'm buying!

As I walked up to the counter to order, John was ushered over to the digital kiosk and promptly persuaded to order. Shake time: vanilla for John, strawberry was Mac's choice and I opted for chocolate. Mac & I were chatting as John dialed home. Suddenly a woman leaving the bathroom, slipped and hit her head on the metal corner wall-edging on her way down. John was up quick offering assistance as we waived McDonald's staff over. Some old lady was quick to point out one tile was a bit higher than the others and might have caused the fall. The lady was rubbing her head and didn't know where she was. Looked like the makings of a lawsuit. We vacated the premises in due order!

- randorides