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Bike Picture Albums 2006
East Dunne Ave., Morgan Hill, October 2006 - I rode from home down to Morgan Hill, then up East Dunne Ave. to Henry Coe State Park and back to Morgan Hill before returning home. This album includes photos only from the ride up and down East Dunne Ave.
John Peckham Memorial Ride, September 2006 - On Friday Sept. 8, a drunk driver speeding northeast on Old Page Mill struck and killed John Peckham, 31, who had ridden slightly ahead of his group on the Noon Ride heading in the opposite direction that day.
This memorial ride, in honor of John, started at the VA Health Care Facility in Palo Alto. After everyone was gathered in the parking lot, several hundred altogether including John's mother, we made our way slowly and silently to the place he was killed on Old Page Mill Rd. to leave flowers and wildflower seeds in his memory. Afterward we all continued on a short or long ride in the nearby hills.
Kings Creek, September 2006 - I rode from home in Sunnyvale and climbed directly to the highpoint on Skyline Blvd. near Mt. Bielawski. Then after making a quick detour to the top of Mt. Bielawski I rode down Kings Creek Truck Rd., (a.k.a. Smead-Damond-McDonald Rd.), past the Buddhist retreat, Vajrapani Institute, then down Kings Creek Rd., and returned home on routes I have documented in other albums.
Kings Creek Truck Rd. is steep and rough, but appears to be seldom traveled. The road passes mostly through Castle Rock State Park, although it passes through at least two inholdings: one owned by Isaacson near the top, and the other the Vajrapani Institute at the point where the road reaches Kings Creek.
At the institute I stopped to chat with some folks, Lisa and Venerable Jangchup, a Buddhist monk, who were cleaning up around the stupa following a festival the day before. They suggested I ride around the stupa for good luck. (The proper chant was provided by Lisa, the photographer.)
The weather was very warm at lower elevations: 87F, but relatively cool on the ridges, 62F, an unusually large temperature spread.
Return to Freedom, September 2006 - A group of nine recumbent cyclists and two unicyclists started at the Easy Racers Factory in Freedom, CA and rode out to Sunset State Beach, then south to Moss Landing for lunch. We returned through the hills of Prunedale, stopping at Gizdich Ranch for apple pie before returning to the Easy Racers shop through Corralitos.
Hollister, August 2006 - Ron Bobb and I met in Hollister and rode a couple of out-and-back routes on Comstock Rd. and Lone Tree Rd. in the hills to the east of town. We finished the ride with a loop up Santa Ana Valley and then Quien Sabe Roads to Tres Pinos and returned to Hollister on Southside Rd. along the mostly dry San Benito River. (61.6 miles; 5230 feet climbing)
Old Stage Road, August 2006 - Ron Bobb and I started at his place in Watsonville. We rode over to San Juan Bautista through Aromas, then we rode up the Old Stage Rd. (dirt and closed to motor traffic) over the northern tip of the Gabilans, then down into Salinas for a break. We returned to Watsonville through the artichoke fields of Castroville, then through the hills of Prunedale and Las Lomas. (67.2 miles; 3760 feet climbing)
Shoreline Park, August 2006 - This was a short ride with Zach and Noriko from home to Shoreline Park in Mountain View. What's unusual about this album is that it features Zach riding an upright bike.
Montevina, August 2006 - I started in downtown Sunnyvale and headed out to Los Altos Hills, climbing Moody and Page Mill Rd. Then I rode south on Skyline Blvd. and descended Gist and Black Roads. Then I took the reverse direction of the usual traversal of El Sereno Ridge by climbing Montevina Rd. and descending Bohlman Rd. I returned to Sunnyvale by riding through Saratoga on a portion of The Maze and by climbing over Sarahills, Pierce, Mt. Eden, and Stevens Canyon Rds. (58.3 miles; 6500 feet climbing; 2780 kJoules)
Aptos Creek Fire Road, July 2006 - After getting a new sock pole made for my bike at the Easy Racers factory, I and Ron Bobb headed out for a late afternoon ride up Eureka Canyon Rd. to Buzzard Lagoon Rd. We then rode through the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, over the top of Santa Rosalia Mountain (2600ft) and down the Aptos Creek Fire Road into Aptos. We returned to Freedom on Soquel Drive and Freedom Blvd. (38.9 miles; 3860 feet climbing; 1550 kJoules) Fort Ord, July 2006 - Ron Bobb and I rode from Watsonville south to Marina and then into Fort Ord via Reservation Rd. and East Garrison. We then toured through the reservation grounds on a zig-zagging course that included paved and unpaved roads. We stopped in Marina for a late lunch and returned to Watsonville through the Elkhorn Slough. (75.6 miles; 4190 feet climbing; 2588 kJoules) Chalk Mountain, July 2006 - I started this ride in Sunnyvale, CA and rode over the hill to Big Basin Redwoods State Park. From the park headquarters I rode west on Gazos Creek Rd. to Sandy Point. Then I rode south on Whitehouse Canyon Rd. to Chalk Mountain Rd. I rode Chalk Mountain Rd. up to Chalk Mountain and beyond to the western peak, where the views are less obstructed by vegetation. I returned to Sandy Point and then continued west on Gazos Creek Rd. as far as Cloverdale Rd. From this point I rode home on the usual roads. I only included pictures from the Big Basin segment as the rest of the route is documented in various other albums. (95.1 miles; 8770 feet climbing; 4107 kJoules)
Montara Mountain, July 2006 - I rode from downtown Sunnyvale north to Pacifica, then up Montara Mountain where the temperature climbed from a low of 59F to 94F once I got above the fog. I then rode down to Half Moon Bay for a late lunch. I returned home up the Purissima Creek and Borden Hatch Mill Trails, Tunitas Creek Rd., Star Hill Rd., Swett Rd., Skyline Blvd, and then descended the Spring Ridge Trail through the Windy Hill Open Space Preserve. (96.9 miles; 7720 feet climbing; 3885 kJoules)
Lyresa's Hills Candid Group Picture, July 2006 - Candid picture of most of the participants of Lyresa Pleskovitch's ride in the hills of the south-central Santa Cruz Mountains on July 4, 2006.
Olmo Trail, July 2006 - Ron Bobb and I started in downtown Sunnyvale and headed out one of the usual routes to Big Basin Redwoods State Park to the top of China Grade Rd. and halfway down the South Butano Fire Trail.
At the junction with Olmo Trail we turned left and descended Olmo Trail over the bumps and dips of Olmo Ridge before descending into Butano State Park. We returned to Sunnyvale on the main roads after stopping for a snack at the store in Loma Mar.
The pictures include only the portion on Olmo Trail as I have documented the rest of the route in various other albums.
South Butano, Old Haul, and Alpine east, August 2005
Gazos Creek and Old Haul Roads, November 2005
Johansen and Gazos Creek Roads, November 2005
(78 miles; 8350 feet climbing)
San Benito, Clear Creek, and Idria, May 2006 - Ron Bobb and I started near the store in Paicines, CA and rode a loop that went south on CA25 past Pinnacles National Monument, detoured through the San Benito Valley on Old Hernandez Rd., rode Coalinga Rd. over the hill to Hernandez Reservoir to the Clear Creek Management Area, used primarily as an off-road vehicle recreation area. We rode Clear Creek Rd. up to Clear Creek Summit and then descended the steep and dramatic road down past the site of the New Idria mine. We returned to Paicines via New Idria and Panoche Rds, stopping for a small meal at the Panoche Inn before arriving back in Paicines. A complete write-up can be found here. (115.9 miles; 8200 feet climbing; 4364 kJoules)
Tour of the Unknown Coast, May 2006 - Ron Bobb and I rode this loop through a remote corner of northern California. The route starts in Ferndale, CA and heads southeast along the Eel River through some magnificent old redwood groves, up along Mattole Rd. over Panther Gap, down into Honeydew, CA, along the Mattole River to Petrolia, then north along the coast to within spitting distance of Cape Mendocino before climbing up The Wall and the Endless Climb, the pair of which can best be described as Stage Rd. on steroids, before returning back to Ferndale. A complete write-up can be found here. (95.8 miles; 8010 feet climbing; 4145 kJoules)
Mission-Allison-Monument Traverse, May 2006 - This ride was a traversal of the ridge that includes Mission Peak, Mt. Allison, and Monument Peak, the ridge immediately east of south Fremont and Milpitas. I also added a climb up Felter Rd. and down Sierra Rd. before returning home. A complete write-up can be found here. (61.7 miles; 5000 feet climbing; 2824 kJoules)
Mt. Hamilton Loop Clockwise, April 2006 - I rode the classic Mt. Hamilton Loop in reverse of the usual direction, riding first north on Calaveras Rd. to Sunol, then to Livermore, then south on Mines Rd. to the Junction and up San Antonio Valley Rd. to the top of Mt. Hamilton before returning home through San Jose. A complete write-up can be found here.
(119.7 miles; 8000 feet climbing; 4460 kJoules)
Panoche and Mercey Hot Springs, April 2006 - Ron Bobb and I started from Paicines at the junction of Panoche Rd. and CA25. We rode east up Tres Pinos Creek, over Panoche Pass and down into Panoche Valley. We continued past the Panoche Inn and veered left where New Idria Rd. veers right. We continued for another couple of miles until the pavement turned to dirt and a sign indicated that the road was closed ahead. Some other day after inquiring locally about the road condition we might try to ride through to I-5.
The unpaved section of Panoche Rd. appears to run along the drainage (Silver Creek) from the New Idria mine, the source of most of the mercury now found in San Francisco Bay.
We turned around and returned up the valley to Little Panoche Rd. that we rode north over Glaucophane Ridge into Little Panoche Valley. We had been anticipating a nice, sit-down lunch at one of the food concessions at I-5 and Little Panoche Rd. Unfortunately, when we arrived at I-5 we saw only a patch of dirt, a couple of lonely portapotties and an overpass. We were so disappointed. It was then I remembered that the food concessions were at Panoche Rd. and I-5, twelve miles to the south. That gave us another reason to explore the unpaved length of Panoche Rd. at some future date.
We would have to settle for Clif Bars for lunch. Fortunately the day was relatively cool, and we had enough water to get back to Mercey Hot Springs, tucked into the far western corner of Fresno County some 12 miles back up the road.
We stopped at Mercey Hot Springs while Ron inquired about camping at some future time. We refilled our water but discovered that the local water supply, while potable, was quite salty, much like diluted seawater. Given that we were exercising, this was probably not harmful. Still I noticed at the end of the ride that I did not crave salty food as I normally do after a long ride.
(108 miles; 4500 feet climbing; 3250 kJoules)
Pescadero, April 2006 - A ride to Pescadero, then north on the coast highway (CA1), then back over the hill on Tunitas Creek Rd. (80 miles; 5500 feet climbing; 3312 kJoules)
Calaveras LDT, February 2006 - I rode from home to east San Jose to meet the Western Wheelers. We then rode up Sierra Rd., down Felter Rd., then north on Calaveras Rd. We did an extra climb up and down (eight miles altogether) pretty and steep Welch Creek Rd. before continuing north to Sunol. I left the group at this point and continued west on CA84 through Niles Canyon, through Fremont, across the Dumbarton Bridge, and back home. (80 miles; 5000 feet climbing; 3283 kJoules)
Tour of California: Stage 3, February 2006 - A 30km individual time-trial, this race started at the IBM facility on Bailey Rd. in San Jose, climbed Bailey Rd., then went south on McKean, Uvas, and Oak Glen Roads before returning to San Jose on Willow Springs Rd. and Santa Teresa Blvd. I took most of my pictures at the top of Bailey Rd. and later at the intersection of Bailey Rd. and Santa Teresa Blvd. as the racers were motoring home.
Tour of California: Stage 2, February 2006 - I rode with Gary Wong from Sunnyvale across the Dumbarton Bridge, through Niles Canyon and onto the race course, taking Calaveras Rd. and Felter Rd. to the top of Sierra Rd. where I took most of the race pictures.
Tour of California: Prologue, February 2006 - A trip to San Francisco with Randall Hull and Debra McMananon to watch the individual time trial from Justin Herman Plaza to the top of Telegraph Hill.
Morgan Hill LDT, February 2006 - A ride from Uvas Reservoir across Gilroy and around the Canada Rd./Leavesley Rd. loop, then north to Metcalf and San Felipe Roads before returning to Uvas Reservoir. (90 miles; 4000 feet climbing; 3100 kJoules)
Winter Ride Around the Reservoirs, January 2006 - We started at the Boulanger in Los Altos and enjoyed a leisurely ride to Saratoga, Los Gatos, and Almaden for lunch, followed by a ride south to Calero Reservoir. The group turned back at Calero, but since I wasn't as far from home I continued south and rode the usual loop past Uvas Reservoir, over the Sycamore bump, and on Oak Glen Rd. past Chesbro Reservoir before returning home. (85.9 miles; 3370 feet climbing; 2750 kJoules)
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