Normally on the second and fourth Sundays of every month I migrate by bicycle out to the Partners in Recovery meeting at Serenity Knolls, but this weekend I’m hanging close to home to be with Tugboat. He’s the most important thing to me, and he has an abscessed Carnassials tooth. He’s going in for surgery Monday morning and I worry about him in the interim as the swelling has worsened. Argh.So I rearranged my plans, but in the end, even those plans changed after I had received a couple of Emails this morning. One was a cancellation, an the other was an invitation. It’s funny how that happens. The invitation came from a couple of friends from Pegasus Bicycle Works. They had decided to make a break for it this morning and drove over here from their East Bay homes. The problem for me was that by the time that I had read the Email invitation, they were already over here and riding on the mountain, so I had to somehow contact them, and then worse yet, catch up with them.
Contacting them turned out to be an easier task than I thought since “C” had his iPhone with him. We made some arrangements to meet at the intersection of Hoo Koo E Koo and Blithedale Ridge fire roads. That's a well known location for us locals, and it seemed pretty clear to “C” and “D,” but oops, they ended up going the wrong way! So we talked by cell phones again, and they tried to describe where they were on the mountain. After some trial and error, I finally dialed-in their location and headed down Coasters to where they were waiting for me on the last of the rolling hills. Finally, we were riding together!I told them that if they’d do just a little more climbing, that I treat them to some really great hidden and legal single track. They were up for doing the extra 1,000 ft of climbing in order to enjoy some epic trails. Off we went.
We paid our dues while climbing the very steep fire roads while on our way over to the nicely hidden trail that I'd promised them. I seldom ever use the four high gears while in my middle chainring, and it’s an even rarer thing for me to get into my “granny” gear, but these fire roads are gnarly and I was having an off day in the saddle. Thank you granny! After the main climbs, we traversed across the ridge for about two miles before diving into the single track that I'd told them was outstanding.I think that they were surprised by the sudden transition from being on fire roads all morning, to now being on a very narrow and swooping single track trail. The trail is such a hoot, and it messes with your mind since it's so darn narrow, and with big obstacles to tangled in, like trees! We made our way through the meandering trails that are tucked away in a hillside that's full of Oak, Bay Laurel, and of course Redwood trees.
We popped out very near to town. Once that we were back at their car, we talked briefly while we summarized the day’s fun. There were concerns about getting home on time, since both of my riends have families. I told them to blame the single guy for their tardiness. "Poor John, he needs company," or soething like that. ;-) I hope that their wives aren't reading this...
Days like today remind me that if I can make it through this winter’s many days of riding in solitude, rain, and the cold, that I’ll then be able to make it all the way to June 18th. Riding with friends, and having the sun soaking into my body, while being outside on an absolutely gorgeous day, brings life back to me. Thanks for the ride guys!
Distance: 15.86 miles
Calories burned: 2,266
Time: 1:50:49 hours
Elevation gain: 3,469 ft
Garmin Connect ride details: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/24187369
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