Woke up around 3:30 and was afraid I wouldn't be able to get back to sleep. Was up for a while but did fall asleep again, and my alarm woke me up at 5:00. I got ready for the bike ride, including getting some food to bring with me, as well as bottles of water and electrolyte drink. Packed everything into the Sportage and was moving by 5:40 to meet Paula at her house. Got everything ready for the ride, it was overcast and just starting to get lighter when we started. We headed down San Elijo Rd, and Paula was really riding fast. I was more cautious, my eyesight isn't as good when the light is lower. Made it down into the village okay and continued down to Melrose Dr, where we turned right. We ended up staying on Melrose for quite some time, past Palomar Airport Rd, eventually turning right onto Shadowridge Dr. There were some little hills to negotiate, and my general strategy, for the entire day, was either to slow down on the shorter ones and ride with Paula or push some on the longer ones and wait for her at the top. We turned right on Lupine Hills Dr shortly after and stayed on it as it looped around, eventually turning right onto Live Oak Rd, which we took back to Melrose Dr, turning right and then right again onto Buena Vista Dr. It was around this time that I realized I had left my water bottles in the car. Drat! Took this road, which went through some surprisingly old and kinda run-down houses, until we turned right onto Sunset Dr. Stayed on this road until turning left onto Emerald Dr, then right shortly after onto Lake Blvd. This took us to Mira Monte Dr, left turn and through another older neighborhood before going past a gate in the road and turning right onto Foothill Ave. A short downhill, then a left turn onto Tamarack Ave, which we stayed on for a while until turning left onto El Camino Real. We weren't on there very long before we turned right onto Cannon Rd. This had a little climb before a nice descent onto the flats, which we stayed on until we got to PCH. We took a fairly easy pace heading south, enjoying the coastal vibe. Decided to stop for a break at South Carlsbad SB, took a couple of pictures and used the restroom before getting back onto PCH. As soon as I got on PCH, there was Romeo, on his way to meet a group of fast riders. We said hi, then he was off. Small world. We stopped at the 7-Eleven by Cancun, and I bought a bottle of juice to help keep me hydrated. Kept riding through Leucadia and Encinitas, taking the usual side streets when we got there. As we got to the outskirts of Solana Beach, we noticed the road was closed off, due to the Solana Beach Triathlon. So we ended up needing to take a detour through the side streets of Solana Beach to avoid the bike route. This dropped us at VdlV, which we took past the freeway until turning left onto ECR. That road is in bad shape, and Paula complained about it. The road quality got noticeably better as we rode into RSF. Up that climb to Linea del Cielo, then down the nice descent until turning onto La Orilla, where Paula suggested we stop in RSF and get some more water. We turned left onto Rambla de Las Flores, another road in crappy shape, then took a right turn onto La Granada to ride up into RSF. We rode by the park in town in the hope that there was a water fountain, no luck, so we ended up stopping at a cafe on Paseo Delicias. The owner, Tom, was really nice, he filled Paula's water bottle, and I bought two croissants. We took our second break, ate the croissants and rested up before the real climbing began. Then we headed over to Avenida de Acacias, taking it to San Elijo Ave and turning right there, which put us back on the original route. Over to El Montevideo, turning left and riding up to Via de Fortuna, where we turned right and took it over to El Camino del Norte. A left turn there, and the nice gradual downhill until the little climb to RSF Rd. We took a right there and did the little climb following, then descended until turning right onto Calle Acervo. I really like this road. It took us to Camino de Los Coches. Here is where Paula really slowed down on the climbing sections. I would ride ahead, then several times I turned around and headed back to make sure she was okay. Right turn on La Costa Ave, then another right onto Circulo Sequoia. This is another nice road, gentle grades that were easy on the legs. Onto Camino Junipero via Avenida Amapola, and we then rode back to RSF Rd. Up the little climb, then down to the turn back onto San Elijo Rd. We turned right on Dove Tail Rd and then got onto Shadetree Dr, which turned onto Weatherwood Ct. This took us to Fallsview Rd, where we turned and got back onto San Elijo Rd. Up that climb into the village and a right turn onto Elfin Forest Rd, taking it to Calistoga Way, where we turned left. I waited for her at this turn. The road dead-ends, but there is a service road we took to get over to Genoa Way, which also had some climbing in it. To Baylor Dr, had to go through the pedestrian gate to get to Questhaven Rd, where we turned right. Paula had talked about cutting the route short around this point, but she was feeling good, so we continued on the original route. We stayed on Questhaven Rd until turning left onto Attebury Rd, which has a short, steep section before leveling out somewhat. We followed this road all the way to a turnoff for a parking lot by the public school. I rode up to the school and then turned around to ride back to where Paula was. Then we rode together to San Elijo Rd, where we had another little climb to the top before descending to Double Peak Rd. I was close to 4500' of elevation gain, so after the turn I continued on Double Peak Rd for a bit before turning around and riding back to her house on Atherton St. Legs felt fine throughout, although my left quad was a little sore, presumably from the combination of this ride and the previous day's ride. Catalin was in the garage when we got back, and he got me a beer, which tasted wonderful after the long ride. Paula sent some potato salad home with me, turns out I could have stayed a little longer, since Ann ended up having lunch with Emily. In any case, I was ready to go home.
Avg speed = 13.3 mph. Total mileage = 59.1 mi
Avg power = 109 W. Weighted avg power = 143 W
Total elevation gain = 4570'
Avg heartrate = 109 bpm (Coospo)_
Relative Effort = 58
Training Load = 212
Intensity = 65%
Ann was still gone when I got home, I had cheese and crackers for lunch, along with some of Paula's potato salad, and watched a little TV. I tried to reserve the rental car for France, no luck, so I sent a note to their email help line. Fingers crossed. I looked into potential places to stay for one night on my way up to the backpacking trip in August, Crowley Lake seems like a decent bet. There's a BLM campground there, but they don't accept reservations. I'll probably leave super early and try to get in right around noon check-in time to have the best chance of snagging a spot. In the late afternoon, we went over to Old Poway Park and watched the Pomerado Community Band perform at the gazebo, getting a beer at the Hop Stop beforehand. They were billed as "big band," but they were just a big band. Won't need to go see them again, but the picnic and the weather were nice. Was a quiet evening.
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