Familiar landscape as I
begin the climb up Old LaHonda. I started my ride alone, but figured
I'd probably come across people along the way.
And, of
course, I did. At the top of Old LaHonda a decent-sized group was
organizing itself before continuing to San Gregorio. My original
plan was to ride into Pescadero (and get some shots of the famous
"Flamingo" house) but it was a bit foggy and riding with others
seemed both safer and more fun.
Sunday, October
24th- Woodside/Old LaHonda/San Gregorio/Tunitas Creek/Woodside
Nice roads, nice day
(every day is a nice day when you're on a bike!), nice people. Not
too much more you could ask for. --Mike--
The climb
up Stage Road from San Gregorio, where a PayDay candybar and Welch's
grape juice refueled me for the miles ahead. This wasn't a
particularly long ride (about 44 miles), nor a particularly hard
ride (just two major climbs, Old LaHonda and Tunitas Creek). But it
was a particularly nice ride, at a pace that seemed pushed a bit
more on the flat and downhill sections than on the climbs. And it's
always fun to ride with others who aren't normally part of your
group (nobody on this ride has been on one of our Tuesday/Thursday
morning rides up King's Mtn). Of course, being the world's worst
with names, the only person I can identify in the photos is Heather
(but hopefully someone on the ride will email me with the details).
As is
often the case, the weather was markedly nicer along the coast!
Temps in the upper-50s and even a bit of sun shining through from
time to time. Above we're descending on Highway 1 towards Tunitas
Creek, at about the highest speed I feel comfortable taking photos
while riding (about 40mph).
Heading
across the bridge, just before the right turn onto Tunitas Creek.
So close to
the crazy urbanized world of Silicon Valley, and yet so totally far
away! Farms, cattle, old beat up pick-ups and barns about to fall
over dot the landscape.
Shortly before the climbing begins you
pass a pumpkin farm, way out in the 'sticks. One wonders how they do
any business, being so far removed from any main roads. I guess we
should be thankful that it's not getting overflow crowds from the
jam-packed pumpkin festival in Half Moon Bay!
Soon, the road tilts
upward and we being our ascent to Skyline. Fortunately, a
civilized group that rides at a civilized pace.
I'm still
looking for the ultimate Tunitas Creek photo for our website.
Unfortunately, the very thing that makes it such a beautiful climb
(the trees that shade every inch of the climb, for which you're
especially thankful during the summer) also makes it difficult to
get a fast-enough exposure to take pictures while riding.
The guy in the sweater (lower-right photo above) wasn't looking like
the most-stylish guy on a bike today, but he made up for it by being
one of the fastest. Or at least the fastest guy out there wearing a
sweater!
Looks like
somebody was moving fast! Look how blurred the cyclist is,
sprinting to the top of Tunitas. OK, maybe it was a slow shutter
speed, and the car didn't blur because it was heading straight
towards the camera...
I was
thinking... 25+ years of going up King's Mtn
twice/week means that I've climbed it over 2,500 times... and
descended it maybe 50. Normally I'd head south on Skyline and head
down 84, but with the fog moving in on Skyline, it seemed like a
better idea to jet down King's.
We
regrouped at the base of King's, actually right at the timing point
for the climb (Tripp Road). It looks a bit more like a
7th-inning-stretch though.
I'd left the house around 8:10 and got back home by noon. Almost
exactly 3 hours riding time, 14.6mph and 44 miles. For today, the
perfect ride.
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