10-17-2023 Hike & Ride

After yogurt for breakfast, we went for a hike, walking down to Doane Pond and all the way around it looking for the Lower Doane Valley Trail.  It's the same as the Doane Valley Nature Trail, which was a little confusing.  We got onto the trail and immediately had to cross a small stream, which made Ann nervous. She made it across, and we continued on to the Weir trail.  Most of the early part of this hike was in shade, walking parallel to the stream.  Out to the old weir, where we stopped for a break before backtracking and getting over to the Lower Doane Valley Trail for a short stretch until it connected with the Lower French Valley Trail.  Took this one, which was more out in the open, out to an overlook before turning back and taking the trail back into the park.  In the latter part of this trail, we were again hiking through wooded areas, although it was a little more up and down than before.  Made it back to the trailhead by the park just fine, then hiked back to our campsite and had lunch.

Total distance = 3.78 mi

Elapsed time = 1:29:50

We chilled for a while by the camp, but the bugs were very annoying, so I proposed going up to the Palomar Observatory in the mid-afternoon.  I decided to ride up there, with Ann following in the car a little later.  The climb out of the campground back to the park entrance was not trivial, a little over 2 miles with an average grade of about 6%.  Then there was another 1 mile climb before descending to Mother's Kitchen and on to Canfield Rd.  This road has a long downhill followed by a 2,5-mile climb all the way up to the steps of the observatory.  It was a grind, and I could definitely feel the effects of the previous day's ride.  Wasn't as hot as before, probably because I was already at about 5000' of elevation at the base of the climb.  I got up there in a little over 50 minutes, including a little backtrack to take several pictures of the observatory from Canfield Rd.

Avg speed = 11.6 mph. Total mileage = 10.1 mi

Avg power = 167 W. Weighted avg power = 194 W

Total elevation gain = 1730'

Avg heartrate = 133 bpm

https://www.strava.com/activities/10062804839

https://www.fitbit.com/activities/exercise/59259648460

Ann met me in the parking lot by the observatory, and she was tired, so we just spent a little time, about 30 minutes, in the museum before heading back.  We stopped at the general store next to Mother's Kitchen and talked to the manager, who also manages the restaurant.  It's been closed since the start of the COVID pandemic, and he has had trouble finding people to work there as well as perform the repairs needed on the building.  Maybe he'll open it in the spring.  We drove back to the campsite and had party enchiladas in the Dutch oven for dinner, using Impossible Burger meat.  They were really tasty.  I was feeling a little down and quite tired, so I was in the tent early, reading for a while while Ann built a fire and sat beside it.