Ride with Dave from home out to North County Fair and up BVP to Sunset Dr, which we took over to Escondido Blvd and then to Centre City Pkwy via Felicita Rd. Out Centre City Pkwy all the way to Gopher Canyon Rd. On this early part of the ride, Dave was riding slow, not really motivated to push the pace, either in the flats or gradual climbs. Going up the grade on Gopher Canyon Rd was tougher than I had remembered. It's probably 6% grade for a little less than half a mile. We turned on Vista Valley Rd, which has a private entrance gate, and headed up into this golf course community. After we had gone about a mile in, it looked like there was no outlet, contrary to what I had mapped before the ride. So we turned around and continued on Gopher Canyon Rd out to E. Vista Way, where we turned left and headed toward Vista. Got into Vista on Vista Village Dr, but I was kind of lost by this point, trying to figure out how to get back. Went over the 78 and turned right on Hacienda, then left on Melrose Dr, which I knew connected with Palomar Airport Rd. It took a fair distance longer than I suspected to get to this connection, and we had slowed down by this time, knowing that the route was going to be quite a bit longer than originally intended. Headed back toward San Marcos, turning on Discovery and taking side streets (Bent Ave and Craven) to get to Twin Oaks Valley Pkwy by the university. Went back into Escondido via Barham Dr to Mission Rd. Connected via the usual way to E. Valley Pkwy, then turned right on Quince to 13th St and back onto Centre City Pkwy, where we headed back to the freeway. At the turnoff, Dave headed home up Pomerado, while I went by the park and the normal route home. I was tired going up the final two little climbs but not cramping up, which was a good sign. Finished feeling fine, tired but not too sore.
Average speed = 16.8 mph. Total mileage = 51.4 mi.
Average heartrate = 148 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1760'
http://beta.mapmyride.com/route/detail/21072116/
