Dark-Early Ride Down -Walkin' The Dog

Dog Beach: First leash-free dog beach in the US!

Seems the SD Randonneurs were having a Ocean Beach Mini-Brevet today starting at 0600. Sounds like time for a unusual ride down opportunity. Sent out a few last minute emails to local randos and planned a 0230 start from San Marcos. Populaire "Walkin' The Dog" would work OK.

I rolled out with light blazing at 800 lumen at 0215, forgot something and returned home again. Bill Stevenson was waiting as I arrived at the Twin Oaks 7-Eleven at 2:40! No arm warmers for me, but Bill was talking about going home and getting his jacket! Not to be as we were a bit late on starting. No traffic on San Marcos Blvd and the turn to So Rancho Santa Fe brought more of the same. Different story as we plunged down by Melrose Dr. John Fry couldn't join us here due to foot pain. Heavy fog as we climbed up to LaCosta Ave. and I luckily found John M. house thru a maze of fogged out turns.

Sandcastle Bruce missed the hook-up

Now the three of us needed a short cut to the coast. Bill had his usual ideas so we followed him. After a big climb, we were on Vulcan Ave to no traffic. No fog along the coast as we approached Solana Beach. Saw a light approaching... it was Mac Imacseng to join up. Bruce Phillips was supposed to show up also, but misread the email and was in chase mode on his Salsa Cutthroat~!

Mac was in race mode as we pulled ahead for a short break at the top of Torrey Pines. Easy riding thru UCSD and down the Rose Canyon Bike Path for our small group of four. We were ahead of schedule and arrived at Dog Beach 7-Eleven with 20 minutes extra. Time for some chit-chat and bottle refill. Guy at 7-Eleven was nice enough to let us use his bathroom, only after I mentioned "Dr. Bill...". Soon a few other rando arrived for the 0600 Brevet start.

Old Mel Cutler and Keith showed.. I call Keith "Stormy" after well, you know! Robert Abraham from Escondido and "Neon Dion" was there too. Neon had some recent heart problems and would ride only 10 miles today, which was excellent. Some short, older guy form New Zealand via Irvine shwoed. John M. and I sat on the sidewalk as RBA Dave gave a few instructions. Maybe 5 or 6 riders for the 200 K Brevet. One guy from Yuma, Oliver, was a doctor. Soon the 4 of us and the few 200K riders were off on the bike path eastwards, full chat in order.

Not a difficult route as the group rode past Miramar Base and cut over on Pomerado toward Poway. Mac and I were far off the front on the climb and waited up at Scripps Poway Road. Soon the full group was there as we made our way over the pedestrian bridge over Lake Hodges and to the control at the Mule Hill Chevron. Ice refill and more chit-chat here. Our group of four broke off and headed westward as the others proceded northward thru Escondido to Rainbow.

We hit the Escondido Channel bike path as Mac soon cut off for Del Dios Highway and home in Solana Beach. John cut off at Harmony Grove for the ride thru San Elijo as Bill and I went to the finish in San Marcos. Nice little ride and we got home early!

- randorides