The day started out overcast but we were sure in true Southern California fashion, the sun would soon burn through our June gloom that started in April. We met about 9:30, so we could not have to be up so early and make the driving trek to Doheny State Park in Dana Point. Jeri picked up Theresa and Karen and we met Pat and Stacy in the parking lot. Tires pumped and off we went.
We elected to take the bike route through the neighborhood instead of the more direct route on Camino Real with car traffic. It was a beautiful ride up and down the hills through gorgeous neighborhoods. Jeri immediately learned how her new shift levers worked and spent the first five miles of our ride, shifting up and down her rear cogs. She did a fabulous job, no one would be able to tell that it was her first ride on a road bike.
The cloud cover never did clear and the marine layer was so thick that we wished we had windshield wipers on our sun glasses as we rode along the gently breaking waves along the beach route. We traveled South paralleling the train track and could wave to the metro riders as they passed by.
Soon we were on Old Highway 1 that was the main car route to San Diego prior to the completion of the 5 fwy. As we rode through San Clemente old surf town we joined the bike/surfer access trail separated from the freeway. Watch out for the surfers with their boards running to catch the trail down to the beach. We joined back up with the highway and rode through San Onofre. I didn't feel any hairs raise on my arms, but I heard there was some excitement there recently. We finally came upon the San Onofre campground after a few fairly decent hills. Jeri decided to take a break and enjoy the scenery as Karen, Pat, Stacy and Theresa headed on to the end.
It was a fast ride through the campground and it was great to see so many other road cyclists out getting a work out and enjoying being on the road. Karen said it was certainly easier than her last attempt at this ride.
We exited the chain link fence at the end of the Campground and again picked up Old Highway one (Pacific Highway) continuing to make our way toward the Marine Base. As we traveled through the tunnel, you could see the scrapes from tanks that had made their way through previously on their way to maneuvers. There was a mock marine battle camp set up, that look like it was part of a movie set.
We finally made it to Las Pulgas road where Stacy shared her cashew-pistachio crunch bits. Pat described the Amtrak rest stop that would be set up here in September and we began our trip back toward the campground to pick up Jeri.
The heavy mist never really did let up, but we did not overheat. As we made it back to Doheny State beach we noticed more and more beach goers decided to brave the overcast and enjoy a day at the beach. Now on to find Wahoos tacos for lunch and plan our next ride.
If you weren't able to make this ride, you missed a great one. See you on the road!
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