15 October 2011

Saturday harbor ride

It was overcast pretty much throughout, with hints of drizzle when I started out. There was a tailwind for the outbound part, especially on Soquel and San Andreas. On San Andreas, a cop car blipped its siren a few times before going by the pack. At one part, the pack slowed to go by a slow tractor on the road. A little before Sunset, I couldn't keep up and fell off the back. After Watsonville, a decent size group of at least 20 went on to Casserly, where pack was held up by another slow tractor on the road. On the steep bit of Mt Madonna just before Hazel Dell, I was at the back of the pack and was further behind by Hazel Dell. On the Hazel Dell climb, I was in a small group for before falling behind at the part where the right side of the road had collapsed in a slide, and went into Corralitos by myself. It was briefly sunny on Browns Valley going towards Corralitos. I continued over Hames and Day Valley and Valencia to Aptos. There was a headwind for the rest of the way back, and it remained overcast.

8 October 2011

Solo ride

It was sunny and cool when I started. As I headed north on Hwy 1, dark clouds loomed and there was a slight headwind, and it seemed to get colder. At Bonny Doon Rd, I turned right and headed up. It became sunnier and warmer. In the shaded parts, the road was still wet from the week's rain. I continued up Pine Flat to Empire Grade, then turned right and headed back down.

1 October 2011

Solo ride

It was sunny and cool. There was heavier traffic on Hwy 9 than there had been over the summer. I took Glen Arbor into Ben Lomond. Around the Boulder Creek city limits, an old Honda came by, spewing massive amounts of toxic smelling air pollution. When I got to the Hwy 236 intersection, the Honda was being pushed down the road. I continued on Hwy 236, and started up Jamison Creek at 12:27. Although it was cool, I had to deal with sweat running into my eyes throughout the climb. I got to the top at 12:51, for an estimated time of 24:52. I remember encountering only one car and no motorcycles on the climb, which would be less traffic than usual. I headed back down Empire Grade. I had to stop at the red light at the new traffic light at the UCSC west entrance which turned red as I approached, which was an annoyingly common occurrence.