Saturday, Oct 6 2012
Chris writes:
Only six for breakfast in Redwood City this morning, Groeger, Zunkel, Grass, Hendricks and Weld, plus the ‘new guy’, Scotty. Scotty and Joe went back to the shop to tear-down a crank shaft from an R69. Bill Grass couldn’t ride (dog-sitting), but Weld, Hendricks and Zunkel, well, they could.
Where? Good question! Given the time’o year it was agreed to stay away from Half Moon Bay, due the ‘pumpkin craze’ they so earnestly support. It was suggested and agreed, Old La Honda Rd to Hwy #35 SB, for Hwy#9 SB, to Hwy #236 (which runs into Big Basin St Park). It was here, at this intersection, where we took a break. Map shows a 3-way intersection, but there’s a fourth, Mill Creek Road. We weren’t familiar with Mill Creek Road but ‘our plan’ was to descend #236 for China Grade and into Boulder Creek for coffee and conversation. However, here’s this nicely paved road with signs discouraging passage (the ‘Not a Through Road’ sign doesn’t phase friends of WWWobble), nor do the ‘Private Road’ signs when there are multiple mail boxes here’n there. We rode this paved road about two miles to a fork. Mill Road passed through a gate with chain, but not one ‘connected’, the other ‘fork’ was a different name and was left for future exploration. We did a ‘wendy’ about 2 miles down Mill Road and returned to the Hwy. 236 and Hwy 9, for Hwy 236. It’s some 16 miles into Big Basin State Park, but at about ten miles, China Grade intersects. China Grade connects Rt #236 with (drum roll please!), with Rt#236, this above (W.) of Jamison Creek Rd. We rolled into Boulder Creek for the aforementioned coffee.
It was here, in front of the well-stocked local drug store that Chris scored a B-day card for the wife. (While any card would normally ‘do’, my requirements [as explained to me..], had to be ‘mushy’,’ frilly’ preferred.) $5.81 later I had the card in hand and the custom coffee house across the street provided the two ‘dark roast’ and one Arribica ordered drinks.
Weld had in hand a catalogue from ‘Cycle-Gear’ who were having a sale on accessory plugs, half-off too! After some discussion of exactly where in San Jose this shop was located (no Dick, not at Meridian and Moorpark, but Meridian and Parkmoor), Dick said he’d lead us as GPS said no such intersection. So, it was Bear Creek for Lexington Reservoir via Bear Creek. GPS agreed! However, the #$%^&#@ bicyclists were having a race and Bear Creek was closed at Summit Rd. We had been following two girls in a top-down new Mercedes who were making real time on Bear Creek. They too, took our alternate route but shortly pulled aside and we passed. They were never to be seen again.
Dick got us to Cycle Gear and we all shopped. I paid $10.81 for the $19.95 priced (+tax) sale item ands we strolled the store. Thereafter Dick headed home leaving Randy and Weld to find their way to IS #280 NB (easy!). Randy didn’t want Hwy #92 given the ‘pumpkin craze’, so he and Chris rode for Hwy 35 and Sharp Park Rd, where the parted ways.
Interesesting side-bar, neither Zunkel, nor Hendricks were familiar with China Grade. That’s a big ‘score’.
saturday riders
@ Rt 236 & Rt 9, Mill Rd