Adam Paul » Bicycling

In and around Point Reyes

Adam R. Paul — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 15:59:36 +0000

Sebby & I headed north to Point Reyes Station yesterday morning to view Stage 1 of the Tour of California pro bike race. This was my first time spectating a stage race, although I’ve seen numerous criteriums. After a delicious breakfast at our favorite diner, the Pine Cone Diner, we walked up the hill north of downtown Point Reyes Station and perched ourselves along the road.

Basically you mill around and wait for the pack to near (you can tell by 1) the police escorts clearing the road in front of the riders, 2) the race vehicles and 3) the helicopter that flies above the peleton to relay TV signals). Then they blast past you at 30+ MPH, and then it’s over

It was very cool being so close to such a large pack of riders – the pavement rumbled as they flew by literally inches from me – when the race marshall told everyone to step behind the fog line, they weren’t kidding! Due to the nature of the race I didn’t get very many photos, but a few were keepers.

After the race we went to the main Point Reyes National Seashore visitor’s center at Bear Valley, where I picked up the 5th edition of the National Geographic Field Guide to North American Birds, which is the textbook for my birding class (I have the 4th ed., but they rearranged things a lot in the 5th, and it’s hard to follow the teacher while fumbling around in the index trying to find the bird under discussion!).

Since we didn’t have a ton of time, we decided to do two short hikes that we hadn’t done before. First we hiked the Earthquake Trail, a 0.6mi paved path east of the main parking area. This granny trail was peppered with interpretive signs explaining rudimetary plate tectonics. Probably the most interesting thing about this trail is a fence that had a 6-foot gap created in it by the 1906 SF earthquake. Other than that there wasn’t much to see. A pair of deer grazed in the shadows near the trailhead, numerous Turkey Vultures soared overhead, a lone Black Phoebe flitted about for insects, and 3 accipiters called incessantly as they caught thermals and vanished above us.

The Earthquake Trail is nice for the less mobile and families with strollers and the like, but I don’t think it’s a trail I’ll be hiking again anytime soon….

The Woodpecker Trail, which we hiked next, was lovely, however, despite our not seeing any of its namesake birds. Heading southeast from the main Bear Valley Trailhead, this unpaved 0.7mi mini-loop climbs through a douglas pine forest, and is also dotted with interpretive signs about forest habitats and common woodland denizens.

Although we didn’t see any woodpeckers, I did hear some calling at a distance as we left the pine forest and crossed a small meadow before entering a verdant grotto with moss-covered trees and ferns galore. Some early wildflowers were starting to bloom: asters, milkmaids, forget-me-not, and a yellow holly-like bush that I haven’t ID’d yet. There were numerous poisonous-looking mushrooms along the trail, some a brilliant crimson, some orange, and some interesting shelf fungii was growing on fallen trees.

We emerged from the forest at the Morgan Horse Ranch, the only horse breeding ranch operated by the National Park Service (they breed horses for the rangers). We wandered around the horse area and saw a large group of fallow and axis deer, a controversial species in Point Reyes.

The controversy is due to both being non-native deer brought by settlers for hunting, but over the years they’ve proven very successful and are multiplying and encroaching on territory needed by the native deer & Tule Elk. Some advocate exterminating them, which seems a little extreme, other want to let them be, which doesn’t seem like a good solution either. Expense aside, sterilizing the population and letting nature take its course seems like the best thing to do, but of course that would be cost-prohibitive, and the controversy goes on.

Walking back to the car we stopped for a few to watch a Great Blue Heron stalking rodents in a field. I just love the intensity with which they look for potential prey. This one didn’t catch anything while we watched, however.

Although it would have been nice to do a more substantial hike and/or more intensive bird-watching, it was nice to get away from landlord duties for a day, and any day spent in Point Reyes is a fine day indeed!

The bird list du jour was:

- Accipiter sp.
- American Crow
- American Kestrel
+ American Robin
- Black Phoebe
- Brewer’s Blackbird
- Great Blue Heron
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Turkey Vulture
+ Varied Thrush

And the wildflower list, short though it is, was:

- Aster sp.
- Forget-me-not
- Holly sp.?
- Milkmaids

Pilarcitos Bay Area Super Prestige Cyclocross Race #4

Adam R. Paul — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 17:25:29 +0000

S & I went to the above race on Nov 18 and had a fun time watching the race. It was the first time I’d been to a ‘cross race, and it was interesting to watch, especially the juniors race – those kids were riding their hearts out. If they keep it up, no doubt they’ll be formidable riders as adults.

Lighting was mostly poor/dark, so many of the photos I took came out blurry since even at ISO1000 I couldn’t get very high shutter speeds. I should have brought a wide-angle lens, as my 70-200 f/4L was too long to get any panning shots, which left the remainder a bit static for my liking. Oh well, live and learn – sports photography is a subject that I still have a LOT to learn about!

More photos of this event on my Flickr site

Bike Route: Fremont to Mt. Hamilton

Adam R. Paul — Thu, 03 Mar 2005 17:22:35 +0000

Fremont to Mt. Hamilton & Back
Total Distance: 85mi

Total Climbing: 6150′

Start at Alameda Creek Isherwood parking lot (just east of Paseo Padre Parkway
on Isherwood).

Dist.	Turn	Road	Leg Dist.
0	L	Paseo Padre Pkwy.	2.3
2.3	L	Peralta Blvd.	1.0
3.2	L	Mowry Ave.	0.8
4.0	R	Mission Blvd.	4.1
8.1	X	Mission San Jose	2.0
10.1	L	Paseo Padre Pkwy. >> E. Warren	1.6
11.7	L	Warm Springs Blvd.	1.8
13.5	L	Scott Creek Rd.	0.7
14.2	R	Green Valley Dr. >> N. Park Victoria Dr.	1.7
15.9	L	Jacklin Rd. >> Evans Rd. >> Piedmont Rd. >> White Rd.	6.1
22.0	L	McKee Rd.	1.2
23.2	L	Alum Rock Ave	0.3
23.5	R	Mt. Hamilton Rd. (SR 130)	8.0
31.5	X	Grant Ranch Park (water)	0.0
31.5	S	Mt. Hamilton Rd. (SR 130)	11.1
42.6	U	Summit (bear right at “50mi to Livermore” sign to get to observatory & water)	0.0
42.6	S	Mt. Hamilton Rd. (SR 130)	11.1
53.7	X	Grant Ranch Park	0.0
53.7	S	Mt. Hamilton Rd. (SR 130)	8.0
61.7	L	Alum Rock Ave.	1.4
63.1	R	White Rd. >> Piedmont Rd.	3.4
66.5	L	Sierra Rd.	0.7
67.2	R	Morrill Rd. >> Park Victoria Ave.	3.9
71.1	L	Jacklin Rd.	1.1
72.2	R	Milpitas Blvd. >> Warm Springs Blvd.	3.4
75.6	R	Mission Blvd.	1.0
76.7	L	Paseo Padre Pkwy.	8.6
85.3	R	Isherwood Wy.	Done!

Bike Route: Boulder Creek Mauler (65mi)

Adam R. Paul — Thu, 03 Mar 2005 17:20:14 +0000

Start at Boulder Creek Post Office on Hwy 236 just past Hwy 9.

Do NOT park next to or across from the store on the corner – you will be towed!

Dist	Dir	Road	Leg
0	R	Hwy. 9	3.1
3.1	R	Alba Rd.	3.6
6.7	Stop	Top of Alba Rd.
6.7	R	Empire Grade	4
10.6	R	Jamison Creek Rd.	2.8
13.5	L	SR236/Big Basin Way	1.4
14.8	R	China Grade Rd.	5.3
20.1	Stop	End of China Grade
20.1	U	China Grade Rd.	2
22.1	R	SR236/Big Basin Way	3
25.1	Stop	Big Basin Store
25.1	R	North Escape Rd.	2.1
27.2	L	SR236/Big Basin Way	5.7
32.9	L	Hwy. 9	6
38.9	R	SR35/Skyline Blvd.	0
38.9	Stop	Saratoga Gap
38.9	L	SR35/Skyline Blvd.	10.4
49.3	R	Zayante Rd.	8.4
56.6	Stop	Zayante
57.8	R	Quail Hollow Rd.	2.1
59.9	R	Glen Arbor Rd.	0.9
60.8	L	Brookside Ave.	0.1
60.9	R	Hwy. 9	3.6
64.5	Stop	Finish!

Bike Route: Mt. Diablo/Morgan Territory (no left turns!)

Adam R. Paul — Thu, 03 Mar 2005 17:15:10 +0000

100K Mt Diablo/Morgan Territory Ride (no left turns!

63.6 miles, 6229.feet of climbing

GO  TOTAL TURN ROAD NAME
START AT BLACKHAWK RD.

0.0      CAMINO TASSAJARA

0.0   0.0   R  BLACKHAWK RD.

3.5   3.5   R  SOUTH GATE RD

6.8  10.3   R  SUMMIT RD.

4.4  14.7   U  MOUNT DIABLO SUMMIT

0.0  14.7   S  SUMMIT RD.

4.4  19.1   R  NORTH GATE RD.

8.0  27.1   R  OAK GROVE RD.

1.1  28.2   R  YGNACIO VALLEY RD.

1.5  29.7   X  SUMMIT

2.6  32.3   R  CLAYTON RD.

1.5  33.8   R  MARSH CREEK RD.

0.5  34.3   R  MARSH CREEK RD.

3.2  37.5   X  SUMMIT

0.8  38.3   R  MORGAN TERRITORY RD.

9.2  47.5   X  MORGAN TERRITORY PARK

0.4  48.0   X  SUMMIT

5.2  53.1   R  MANNING RD.

0.8  54.0   R  HIGHLAND RD.

4.7  58.7   R  CAMINO TASSAJARA

5.0  63.6  END BLACKHAWK RD.

R=Right, L=Left, X=Cross, U=Uturn, S=straight

Bike Route: 100k Boulder Creek Mauler

Adam R. Paul — Thu, 03 Mar 2005 17:11:40 +0000

Start on Highway 236 just past Hwy 9

(do NOT park across from store!)

Dist	Dir	Road	Leg
0	R	Hwy. 9	3.1
3.1	R	Alba	3.5
6.6	R	Empire Grade	3.9
10.5	R	Jamison Creek	2.8
13.3	R	Hwy. 236	2.7
16	L	Hwy. 9	0.2
16.2	R	Bear Creek	8.9
25.1	L	Skyline/Summit/Hwy. 35	9.7
34.8	L	Hwy. 9	6
40.8	R	Hwy. 236	7.5
48.3	Stop	Big Basin Store	0
48.3	R	N. Escape	2.1
50.4	L	Hwy. 236	1.1
51.5	R	China Grade	3.3
54.8	L	Hwy. 236	4.1
58.9	Stop	Hwy. 9 & 236	0

Bike Route: Los Altos Hills jaunt

Adam R. Paul — Thu, 03 Mar 2005 17:07:35 +0000

Start at Page Mill Park ‘n Ride just west of I280 on Page Mill Rd. and Arastradero

Dist	Dir	Road	Leg Dist
0	R	Arastradero	0.7
0.7	R	Purissima	0.5
1.2	R	Elena	2.7
3.9	S	El Monte	1.4
5.3	R	University	0.4
5.7	R	Quinnhill (ouch!)	0.4
6.1	L	Summerhill	0.5
6.6	R	Magdalena	0.1
6.7	L	Hillview	0.2
6.9	R	Fairway	0.5
7.4	S	Loyola	0.7
8.1	R	Granger	0.5
8.6	R	Eva	0.3
8.9	S	St. Joseph	1
9.9	L	Rancho San Antonio	0.3
10.2	S	Cristo Rey	1.1
11.3	L	Foothill	8.4
19.7	L	Page Mill	0.1
19.8	R	Old Page Mill	0.9
20.7	R	Page Mill	0.3
21	L	Arastradero	0
21		Start second loop
21	L	Arastradero	0
21	L	Page Mill	0.1
21.1	R	Arastradero	2.3
24.4	L	Alpine	1
25.4	R	Portola	4.2
29.6	R	Woodside/SR84	2.6
32.2	R	Whiskey Hill	1.4
33.6	L	Sand Hill	3
36.6	R	Alpine	0.1
36.7	L	Junipero Serra	2.4
39.1	R	Page Mill	0.1
39.2	R	Old Page Mill	0.9
40.1	R	Page Mill	0.3
40.4	L	Arastradero	0.1
40		Finish

Bike Route: 40 mile Palomares loop (Fremont)

Adam R. Paul — Thu, 03 Mar 2005 17:03:08 +0000

Start at parking lot on Isherwood just east of Paseo Padre in Fremont

Direction	Road	Distance (est)
L	Isherwood	0
L	Alameda Creek Trail	4
L	Old Canyon	0.1
R	Niles Canyon	2
L	Palomares (be careful of oncoming traffic!)	10
R	Palo Verde	0.2
R	Dublin Canyon	4
R	Foothill Rd	10
L	Kilkare	0.1
R	on-ramp to Niles Canyon	0.1
S	Niles Canyon	6
L	Old Canyon	0.1
R	Alameda Creek Trail	4
R	Isherwood	0
R	parking lot

Total: 40mi, 2000ft climbing

Bike Route: 20 flat’ish miles in Woodside

Adam R. Paul — Thu, 03 Mar 2005 16:59:10 +0000

Start at Page Mill Park ‘n Ride

Distance	Direction	Where
0	Left	Page Mill Rd.
0.1	Right	Arastradero Rd
2.2	Left	Alpine Rd.
3.3	Right	Portola Rd.
6.7	Right	Lakeshore Dr.
7.1	Stop	Searsville Lake
7.1	U-turn	Lakeshore Dr.
7.5	Straight	Portola Rd.
8.3	Right	Woodside Rd./SR84
9.5	Left	Tripp Rd.
10.3	Stop	Old Woodside Store
10.4	Right	King’s Mtn. Rd.
11.1	Left	Woodside Rd./SR84
12.1	Right	Whiskey Hill Rd.
13.5	Left	Sand Hill Rd.
16.4	Right	Alpine/Santa Cruz
16.6	Left	Junipero Serra Blvd.
19	Right	Page Mill Expwy.
19.1	Right	Old Page Mill Rd.
19.9	Right	Page Mill Expwy.
20.3	Stop	END

Bike Route Cue Sheets

Adam R. Paul — Thu, 03 Mar 2005 16:56:44 +0000

Here are a few bike routes that I enjoy – for more, scroll to the bottom to find some of my favorite bike route sites

Flat 20 in Fremont
Flat 20 in Woodside
Palomares Loop (40mi, Fremont)
Los Altos Hills double loop (41mi, Los Altos)
Boulder Creek Mauler I (59mi, Boulder Creek)
Mt. Diablo/Morgan Territory (63mi, Blackhawk)
Boulder Creek Mauler II (65mi, Boulder Creek)
Fremont to Mt. Hamliton (83mi, Fremont)

Other bicycle route sheet sites:

BikeMaster’s route lists (500+!)
Western Wheeler’s route resources (300+)
Grizzly Peak Cyclists’ cue sheets
Valley Spokesmen’s ride lists (270+)