Wind & Fire 202

Regular rando Hemet route

Mild temp Santa Ana scheduled for today. What a great time to ride north to Hemet! DUH? Cool temps and light winds from the east as I left San Marcos in the dark and headed northward. Triple layers and knee warmers were adequate for the cool Champagne Blvd. downhill. Quick warm-up as I slogged up over I-15 and finally the fast downhill on new road surface to Hwy. 76. A little breezy sidewind as I climbed past Nessy Burger on Old Hwy. 395 and made my way up past Rainbow.

The sun was up as I looped around Temecula on Wolf Creek Dr. and managed to do a little gravel on DePortola before it passes the vineyards. Time to strip off some layers as I turned on Benton instead of the knarly DePortola via the quiet narrow road I sometimes take. My 28mm tires on the road bike don't like that gravel downhill.

Winds were picking up as I crested Sage Road and starting to gust on the quick downhill toward Hemet. State Street was a real chore into Hemet, so I opted to "get out of Dodge quick" and turned left on Domenigoni Pkwy westward. Weeee! A free pass on the speed as the winds were pushing me along at max speed.

Detour fire route back to San Marcos

A turn on Antelope Rd. landed me on Clinton Keith and California Oaks into Murrieta. Wind blocked Jefferson Ave led to Old Town as the dust, dirt and leaves were blowing everywhere by now. Next stop was at The Bike Shop, where my buddy Joe Morgan was now working. Time to check out gravel bikes. Thirty minutes later, Joe had my list and I was on my way south.

Everything was blowing now as I stopped by Wolf Creek Park. Filling my bottles, I looked at the hills
to the west, sun baked and dimmed by blowing dust. I thought: "Boy, a fire would go right up that hill with nothing to stop it". Palm branches and blowing leaves greeted me as I started the climb up Rainbow Canyon. Big winds were blocked by the surrounding hills. I was in the mid 30mph as I passed Rainbow.Wow, what a fun trip to Escondido on Hwy. 395 with this tailwind! NOT!

My turn southward after crossing I-15 brought unmanageable speed. With the side gusts, I had to brake hard to get the speed down to 12 mph or I'd go over the side. A lone fire truck passed me and then I noticed some smoke to the south. OH, OH. With few options, I decided to continue down Hwy. 395 to the junction with Hwy. 76 (Nessy Burger). There is was.

From the north, I could see smoke on the route

Fire burning from I-15, under the 395 bridge and up thru the mobile park and hills above. Also the fire was raging westward down the San Luis Rey River Valley along Hwy. 76. Option time. Go West! I did at super speed. I left the fire behind but not the smoke. Traffic both ways on Hwy. 76 was heavy. After a few stops, I made it to Bonsall McDonald's were I got a water refill and some fire chat.

Smoke was high above by now and time for me to plan a route back to San Marcos. Lilac Rd. and Camino del Rey wouldn't be an option as fire/smoke looked to be heading that way. Bonsall intersection was a mess with fire trucks, police cars, horse vans and car traffic.

OFR Group ride picture from Las Plugas           -Paul Nevin

I finally made my way west and turned south on N. Vista Way. Into Vista town, I followed Santa Fe Avenue eastward back to San Marcos. The smoke was all north of me now. Late afternoon and the smoke covered the sun... but I was home at last!

Yes, I left one bottle at the Temecula Wolf Creek Park water fountain! 

- randorides