Yesterday the forecast here in Santa Cruz, Calif was for rain and wind.
We've been having unseasonably wet weather for over a week now. But I
guess we all figured that once you're wet it doesn't matter so no one
cancelled due to the dire predictions. We ended up yesterday morning
with 12 people riding. The route started with the '02 CMW Saturday
afternoon ride at 'The Forest of Nicene Marks'
(http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=666), followed by a 6 mile
climb on fireroad to Sand Point. Then down 8 miles of fun single track.
This ride puts you pretty much out of sight and sound of civilization
and is super duper scenic. Riding through redwood forests, lots of trees
with moss, misty fern gardens etc with the occasional view over all of
Monterey Bay. Everyone did great even though the ride took 6 hours to
cover over 16 miles. If there's any moral to the story it's to get out
and enjoy riding regardless of anything else.
The only bummer is that this may be the last time we legally ride in
this park as they are renegociating the use terms and it may include
only hiking in the near future. That would be a real shame - I first
rode here on mountain bike 21 or 22 years ago.
Here are some photos:
http://community.webshots.com/album/278982535fqtznH and here's a 'topo
map' (http://www.movaris.com/nathan/maps/NiceneMarks.JPG) of the ride.
---Nathan
--
nathan - BIG rides: Muni & Coker
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