Mark's Cycling & Hiking Blog
  • Home
  • Mark's Cycling Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Boulder Canyon Posts
  • Cycling Event Meet-Ups
  • Home
  • Mark's Cycling Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Boulder Canyon Posts
  • Cycling Event Meet-Ups

Day #2 in Solvang, California

3/20/2011

4 Comments

 
Picture
I can't sugar coat it...I am beat, cold and wet and beat and tired and somewhat beat.  Cloudy at the start and a grim forecast.Hopefully the rain would hold off for awhile despite the sky suggesting otherwise.   

The Planet Ultra touring group was riding their last day so I headed to Buellton to hook up with them for what was promoted as a century ride, starting at 9:00am. I walked into the hotel and announced I was taking Cindy B's spot, who had quit the tour the day before.  Crickets chirping to my announcement,  Then I said, she was the Shorty from Ohio who fell climbing up Figueroa.  Suddenly everyone knew who she was.  A woman said Cindy was kind of a strong rider and I confirmed she had trained all winter for this and they caught Cindy at her peak, having watched Richard Simmons workout tapes all winter.  This got quite a laugh. Unfortunately, the century riders changed the start time to 8:00 so I missed them but it was only 1-2 riders.  What was left intended to do only 45.  So, I headed out with them.  We headed west on #246 and a right on Drum Canyon, the world's roughest road that gains around 800' before descending into the small village of Los Alamos.  There I left the group and went north on Cat Canyon and another big climb before finally getting into Garrey and the store there, where I watched part of a movie while drinking a Monster and eating a Fig Newton.  It don't get no better and the rain had held off, so far.

Picture
Then the rain stopped holding off but it was mostly a sprinkle with temps around 52.  Headed east on Santa Maria Road and then hung a left onto Tepsequet Road (the above image is at the top of Drum Canyon Road with te road at the right and quite a view down canyon). This is a canyon road that gains 1000' as it reaches the top but it is a gradual climb of 9 miles.  What I noticed was very pedal stroke brought more rain.  Closing in (slowly) to the top it was raining hard.  I reached the top, turned around and began coasting down.  First thing I noticed was, DAMN it was cold and soon I began shivering uncontrollably.  I braked to a stop under a tree, took off the rain jacket, put on that trusted wind breaker and then reapplied the rain jacket.  That should do it and off I coasted.  Soon, I began shivering uncontrollably.  A very long 9 mile descent but hey, as I closed to the bottom through "Riverbench Vineyard" it stopped raining.  I turned left on Foxen Canyon Road and was greeted with a blast of 20+mph wind. 

The sign said 18 miles to the end of FCY.  That stretch would qualify as a "Mother of all Longest Days" award.  I remember being on a 3% incline and being in the 26 and thinking, "Gee, I suck" but you have to understand the wind and my outofshapeness to fully comprehend the situation.    All along, trying to be positive, I kept thinking, "At least it isn't raining"....and then....it began raining.  Drizzling at first then harder.  This is a stretch, first by Foxen winery then Zaca Mesa winery that is a gradual up hill until you reach the brute of the road, a 400' climb which is ok because after reaching the top, there is a huge runout down hill.....except....I began shivering uncontrollably.  Remember passing the Fess Parker winery on the left (yes, that Fess Parker who played Daniel Boone and other characters as a somewhat successful movie star but who passed away last year) and then hitting a stretch of road that is so rough that one has to rise from the bike seat and coast, allowing the bike to absorb the punishment. Then another 400' climb before descending into Los Olivos. 

From there, up Ballard Canyon Road, joining the official Tour of California time trial route, and after 6 miles, coasting back into Solvang with 85 miles and 5500' of climbing.  I was soaked, cold and did I previously say beat?  Yes, 25+ miles into a ferocious head wind with driving rain will do that I guess.  But amazing how great a hot shower feels and then out to Matties Tavern to watch some basketball and eat.


4 Comments
JR
3/20/2011 10:54:13 am

I guess you can say since it didn't kill you, you are now stronger!

Reply
kenda j
3/20/2011 10:59:27 am

sounds brutal mark. you're gonna be fierce when you return to your beloved state of ohio. :)!

Reply
db
3/20/2011 07:59:57 pm

A bad on the bike is not always better than a good day at work....This soundd like a good day to work.

Reply
Cindy
3/20/2011 09:50:35 pm

Hard ride without the rain... He isn't kidding about the rough road, that's all true.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Mark is a long-time cyclist, hiker, golfer and plays some table tennis...ok, it's ping pong.

    Categories

    All
    April
    California Riding
    Grand Canyon Backpacking
    March
    The Characters

    Archives

    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.