Off to Southern California to do Stagecoach 400 again! They've had a lot of rain this year and just got snow in Idy last week, so it all promised to be interesting.
First up was the rider's meeting held out by the flagpole in Idy with snow coming down as Meg passes out a few last minute comments about where to start in the morning, parking, etc, and then off to get some pizza and go to bed.
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| It's snowing during the rider's meeting in Idy |
Got to Alpaca Coffee kinda early, scored a breakfast burrito and coffee and watched everyone else come in. 8 am came really quick, and we were outside, lined up and GO. Up the hill, on an icy road with a bunch of other bicycles, didn't see any crashes as the hill was pretty steep and soon we were on dirt and right into several inches of snow.
The snow got everyone around me off their bikes and the pushing began. It was just a long line of bikes and walker pushing them. We went through an area of fog, then back out into sunlight and more pushing. Fortunately it was downhill, but still hard. And on and on and on. You could see places where some people were riding, still people pushing behind me and in front of me.
There was a very large washout. Guy in front of me was already down in the hole helping a couple of others and I handed my bike to him. Then I tried to get down in the hole and slipped and landed on my butt and left arm in the mud and muck. He scrambled out of the hole and I picked up my bike and put it on the bank and then scrambled up through the snow on the other side. More snow, more walking, more mud.
There was single track. Might have been nice to ride but full of mud, I walked pretty much all of it. I waded the creek where the Sideshow bunch from the week before had made a bridge .. looked too slippery and my feet were already wet. Close to Hurkey Creek I could ride and rode to the Hemet store, and got a drink and a quick snack.
Rode the double track that had been added ... went a little too far, figured it out and made a u turn and told 4 other riders they had missed the little trail at the bottom of a switchback. Got to Hwy 74 and saw those guys take the pavement and I went down the CRHT, saw a guy coming back the other way looking for his tracker. Finally got to Sunshine Market ... like 1 pm or so, we've been at the thing for 5 hours and have covered about 25 miles.
Bike making horrible noises mostly from brake pads with dirt in them as I headed south towards Warner Springs. Was a bit tired, not nearly as strong riding this as last year. More riding, just exhausting this year and got to the pavement by Warner Springs well past the gas station closing hours. Dan, Pat, Nik and I. Wind was blowing, I was freezing and while they were chatting I setup my tent and got inside and changed my socks. Went to bed. Got up at 1 am, heated up a can of soup that tasted really good and went back to sleep. I think 52 miles for Day 1.
Saturday morning rolling at 5 am in fog, Deep fog, Climbed up Mesa Grande in fog. Loved the ride down Black Mountain road, that was so much fun! Getting to Ramona and decided to go for breakfast, was starving and wanted real food and it absolutely hit the spot. Ran into Randy and Dan as I left and rode down Hwy 78.
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| Above the fog on Mesa Grande early Saturday morning |
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| Trail angel cooler full of goodies with a chair and a muscle roller |
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| Yum and it's right on the route! |
Different route into the San Diego area to avoid mud. Couple of steep hills, a deep water crossing, finally got to Del Mar, ran into Dan and Randy again who had passed me while I was eating ( I had passed them while they went to Escondido I think ).
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| Ocean Beach, Saturday night by the Deli |
Didn't spend much time at the Ocean, headed right toward UCSD, got lost in the forest for a bit and pretty soon was at Ocean Beach. Crazy busy on a Saturday night, Stopped at the same deli as before, great roast beef sub and over the hill ( slower than last year ). Missed a turn on the downhill, rode back uphill a bit, back on course, and scored a hotel room. Maybe 110 miles for Day 2.
Early up, went to McD's and they weren't open yet ... past the Midway and on to Chula Vista. Turned on Palomar Street and hit the McD's there.
Some good street sections, traffic not too bad, long stop lights and I hit a lot of them. Some pretty walking paths and trail sections interwoven in the Otay area.
It was a good day, a nice dirt road with almost no traffic on it, and we by passed the whole Sweetwater trail section with the pagoda and all.
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| Looking back at the puddle that came all the way up my inseam |
At the old bridge I went north and hit the Carl's for a burger. Back on course after lunch, up the highway toward Dehensa, onto Sloan Canyon and back up the California Bike Pushing trail ( actually not that horrible, the majority of the road had been dragged by someone and was smooth, just the upper 1/2 mile or so was a lot of pushing ).
I get to Alpine, sit at the Shell and think it's really chilly here and the sun is out, and why not just stay here? So I call the hotel and they have a room and it's back to the hotel for the night, Mexican food in the little strip mall next to the hotel and off to bed. Dan and Randy had the same idea. Day 3 is about 50 miles or so ,,, we're at mile 203 now,
Day 4, Monday, Wind Alerts from the Weather Service, Windy up Viejas Grade .... I can see the wind blowing the dirt around wiping out Dan and Randy;s tracks in front of me. They disappeared over the hill, and down Boulder Creek we go.
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| So much easier when I rode this in 2013 |
10 years ago, I rode Boulder Creek on my road bike doing something called the Dirty Devil. The road looked completely foreign this time ,,, I sure went fast on it back then, this time, I'm pushing into wind, It was really, really hard. Had lunch under some oak trees in a really pleasant little place, but the wind was just howling. Rode Engineer Pass fairly well as the mountain blocked most of the wind and finally got to Lake Cuyamaca and it was open and Dan and Randy were getting ready to leave,
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| Salton Sea and Desert awaits |
Had food, headed out, down Oriflamme ... rode the top part, walked most of the bottom and then got to the big wash out where the creek has turned what was a sandy road into a river. Wet feet, into the water and back out of it over and over and over,
Freezing feet again, dirty bike making all sorts of noises. Dark out and I get to Vallecitos and camp for the night. I wash my shoes and socks out, change into dry socks, stuff the shoes with paper towels ( I paid $24 for the tent camping spot ,.. used several of them! ). Was a chilly night, stars were out but my plans for riding on were kinda busted by the chill. 60 miles I think for Day 4.
Day 5 ,,,, the desert. Ranger lady was lowering the flag to half staff ,,, another school shooting, I hadn't heard any news. She says "I'm glad I'm out here"
Lost my rear blinky on the road. Turned into the desert, Rode well to Diablo I think, Fish seemed much harder than last year and I was getting some saddle sores, probably from riding in wet shorts ....
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| Getting ready to turn into the desert |
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| Fish Wash ... looks flat ... it ain't, bumpy and washboarded and sandy |
Iron Door is always closed when I go by, I snagged a little recharge for my phone by the Elvis statue, and left, got a couple of sodas at the little store when you turn west at the ATV rental place. First part was ok and then someone turned on the wind. Getting to Borrego was just plain hard, and I was kinda done for the day. Got a room ( lot of mid century furnishings ).
Sleepless night, worrying about the storm coming into the high country. I've been cold all weekend long. A couple of saddle sores, and not looking forward to pushing through the snow up high. So it was either stay in Borrego another day or so, ( which I don't really have because I have to mentor someone back at PACC where I walk dogs ), or look for a ride.
I messaged Rick in Borrego ( after a big zero with Uber and Lyft ), and he pointed me to a guy (Ed Beck) and I messaged him and away we went. Met Wesley at the Fudge place in Borrego, and he was getting a ride too. Going up the mountain to Idy from Palm Desert in the car we went through rain and a little snow and lots of fog ,,, was so glad to not have to deal with the weather ,, cold stuff that I just don't have the gear for. Back to my car at Brendan's house at about 3 pm on Wed. Freezing .... 35 degrees and cold.
Down the mountain ... the sun pops out .. then it rains. The wind howls. I just turn up the heater.
Stopped in Blythe for the night, then home by noon, clean socks in the land of washing machines.
Was a good adventure. Glad to have gone over to do it, would have been nice to have finished but I got 320 miles down.
