It’s been way longer than I thought, longer since I’d made the trip out to Pescadero than seemed reasonably possible. But Strava doesn’t lie, right? I’m going to recheck though, because early October just doesn’t seem right. Wow. Just verified it; Oct 2nd was my last time out there.

Kevin and I have been to the coast quite a few times, but via 84 or, last week, an out & back using Tunitas. There were opportunities, but rain resulted in altering the routing.

Just me on my own today; Kevin was spending time with his girlfriend. So, time for me to just get out there and do it. I knew it wouldn’t be pretty, but hey, no witnesses! Didn’t work out that way; about halfway up Old LaHonda, Billy Innes, former employee, Pro bike racer caught up to me. Probably did help to speed me up a bit, although we did stop twice, first to kill the podcast I was listening to (I do that sometimes, when climbing and alone), and the second, when we arrived at the one-lane section with the traffic light. He rode on after crossing Skyline, not sure where to. One of those guys whose Strava rides are private.

I survived the Haskins climb, only 25% slower than my best time since 2008 (when I began uploading rides to Strava). And I was actually enjoying myself, noticing things as I rode, and when I check out the video I should have both peacocks and turkeys to show. In Pescadero I had a 12 oz coke (on hard & fast days, it would be a 20 oz Mtn Dew) and a single chocolate croissant. No half sandwich today. I was getting in miles, yes, but not at a pace where I’d need much fuel.

Next, time to check out the missing chuck of Stage Road. Ohmygosh. Even worse than Old LaHonda! You don’t ride your bike across the narrow strip of pavement, like you can on West Old LaHonda! The three photos at the top show what it’s all about. Quite a bit of that hillside slid down, almost to the road below!

So, at least for now, at least on Sundays, you can still get through. For how long, don’t know.

I returned via 84 instead of Kings, wanting to take advantage of the tail wind and not eager to push myself too much harder. 6 months!!! 6 months since Pescadero. Exactly. That still just doesn’t seem right. Can’t imagine we did a ride without a working bike computer though.