This ride turned out to be more difficult than expected, part of that was my fault for not paying more attention to what I ended up signing on for. I woke up quite early and didn't go back to sleep (<!>). Went down into the garage to adjust my rear disc brake, which was rubbing slightly on the rotor and causing some frictional noise. Then I changed and packed my stuff into the Kia to drive over to the meet-up spot to start the ride with Rob. On the way, I reconsidered why he had suggested meeting at Scripps Ranch, so I called him to verify and he told me he planned to meet at the Sabre Springs transit center. I'm glad I called, would have been a mess if we were at different places. Went to Sabre Springs and unpacked my bike, got it ready. He was, of course, a little late, so we started riding about 5 minutes later than planned. We rode over to the 56 bike path and took it down to Carmel Country Rd, where we were supposed to meet the others. Rob got ahead of me before this, so he overshot the meeting spot, and I had to push really hard to catch up to him and get him to turn around. We rode back to the spot, waited several minutes, then Paula and Catalin showed up. We ended up waiting for their friend Ihab to show up, and eventually he did, after he had been waiting nearby for us to show up. Then the ride officially started. It was in celebration of their 22nd wedding anniversary (they got married on 9-21 22 years ago on a Sunday). We rode to the top of Carmel Country Rd, I pushed my own pace a little hard and got some separation on the rest. Gathered up at the top and turned left onto Carmel Mountain Rd, taking it the reverse direction of the route I had ridden on Saturday. Over to Del Mar Mesa Rd, turning there and riding back down to Carmel Country Rd. Took some photos at the overlook spot, but it was overcast and hazy out in the distance. Stayed overcast on this entire ride, and we occasionally had to ride through light rain that never got really heavy. We took Carmel Country Rd to Carmel Mission Rd, turning right there and then left onto Carmel Center Rd. I think Paula and I had ridden a similar route previously through this neighborhood. Right onto Carmel Creek Rd, then a left on McGuire Dr to get back to Carmel Country Rd, where we took a right and crossed Del Mar Heights Rd. On the early part of this ride, it was Rob, Paula, and I in the front, with Ihab (on a gravel bike with wider tires) and Catalin bringing up the rear. To Hartfield Ave, turning left onto Half Mile Dr to get over to El Camino Real. We started down the hill, and I overshot the next right turn onto Derby Downs Rd to get to Old El Camino Real, where we turned left. I hadn't been on this road before, and it will likely be part of a future Bisikleta route, since it's an interesting way to get to San Dieguito Rd. It basically dropped down to this road, will be steep and a little challenging to come back up. We turned right at the bottom, and the three of us made pretty decent time across the flats to El Apajo, where we turned and waited for the other two. To Via de Santa Fe and then a left onto Calzada del Bosque to get over into RSF. We turned right onto Los Arboles, followed it around until taking another right onto Via del Alba, followed by a left onto La Gracia. This got us into RSF village, where we took La Flecha to Avenida de Acacias, turning left there and then left again onto Linea del Cielo, heading back out of the village. We took a right onto Ave Maravillas, which I don't think I had ever been on, and then a left onto El Secreto. This road has a very nice downhill where you can build up some speed, taking you to Rambla de Las Flores, where we took a right. Down to La Granada, turning left there and riding up the short climb to Los Morros and staying on Los Morros by veering off to the right at the split with La Bajada. We stayed on this road all the way to Via de Fortuna, turning left there and left again on El Mirlo, with its nice descent to RSF Rd, where it turns into La Bajada. We climbed a little bit before turning right onto La Noria, which turns into El Camino Real, and rode until turning right onto Highland Dr. Ray had taken us on this road before, so I remembered its short, steep climb but overshot the next turn onto San Marlo Dr. Left on Santa Petra Dr, then another left onto Santa Victoria, riding on this road for a while before turning right onto Santa Carina. Paula was slowing down by this time, so I rode with Catalin providing turning directions. Left onto Santa Florencia, another left onto Santa Rosita, then a right on Santa Helena to get us down to Lomas Santa Fe, where we turned right and rode to PCH. Around this time was when the rain was most steady, but it didn't last long, and it never made the streets puddled. We headed south on PCH and enjoyed a relatively straight shot for a bit with no turns until we got into Del Mar. Then Paula took us on this convoluted route through the streets of Del Mar east of PCH, I won't even try to describe all the turns. But it was steep at times. My legs were starting to feel tired from all the climbing on this day, on top of the previous day's exertions. Eventually we got up to Crest Way, which is essentially the eastern border of this part of Del Mar. We stopped there for a short break and some pictures before getting over to Del Mar Heights Rd, taking a left, and riding down to Portofino Dr, where we took a right and rode this nice downhill over to Carmel Valley Rd. Then it was to the 56 bike path the normal way, and the home stretch back to the meeting point along the bike path. Rob and I got out ahead on this stretch, both of us with tired legs but more left in the tank than the others. We split up back at Carmel Country Rd, Rob and Ihab had to get back home while I rode with Paula and Catalin back across the 56, turning left on Del Mar Trails Rd to a little park by Mona Lisa St, where we had cake and sparkling water to celebrate their anniversary. They both told me about their Havasupai trip, which sounded marvelous and quite successful for everybody in the family. I was not looking forward to the ride back to the car after this break. When it started to sprinkle, it was time for me to start riding before the rain got worse. I retraced my route back to the 56 bike path and rode all the way back to the Sabre Springs transit center. The little climbs were no fun at all. Legs were tired, and so was I, along with being a little irritable. But I made it back without major incident and was really glad to ride into the parking garage, to put my stuff in the car and drive home.
Avg speed = 13.8 mph. Total mileage = 54.9 mi
Avg power = 120 W. Weighted avg power = 153 W
Total elevation gain = 3880'
Avg heartrate = 119 bpm (Coospo)
Relative Effort = 90
Training Load = 234
Intensity = 70%
Had a light lunch when I got home, bread and cheese followed by peanut butter crackers. I watched an episode of Dark Winds, then had a nap in the afternoon, brought on by fatigue from the ride and jet lag. Felt much better after the nap. Dinner was good, our first big meal since returning from our trip. I cleaned the kitchen and had a quiet evening, reading and watching a little TV.
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