This AM I drove back to the Hub in Idyllwild as Brandan said if I liked the Hurkey ride to come back and he would give me another ride. I arrived but he didn’t, Simon filled in for him. Shortly during our conversation we connected that we met in Sedona this spring. That connection made a connection. I mentioned Thomas mtn and he concurred. I shopped for groceries in 3 stores. Not much for choice in this mtn town of 3500.
I drove out rt 74 to Ramona TH where I would start and end. A rider yesterday told me about this ride. First up was 3 miles on paved st highway w/ no shoulders. Headwind on mostly flat pavement. I needed better road riding skills to sit and spin. Next up was 7.3 miles of gravel logging road climbing 2328’in 1 hour 24 mins. I stopped once near the top. Simon told me I would see the ocean which I must have, it looked flat gray. Back @ the van I studied the map and I was able to see the ocean. Found Ramona trail. 5.93 miles and 43 mins later I was back @ my van. Trail up high went thru tunnels of chaparral oak, their leaves littered the tread. Decomposed granite gave way to fractured rock. Lots of switchbacks, almost all w/ some kind of h2o diversion from dinosaur spines to worst the stiff rubber baffles. I enjoyed myself on the way down after all the work I had no desire to hammer the goods.
Yucca in bloom:
Back @ the van the chilled beer went smoothly down. Next up was a drive back to county XG for a shower. They didn’t charge me admission. Again, the first 0.50 went to get the hot h2o to the nozzle. Drove back to camp spot but someone else has it. I checked out the remaining site which was full on sun and not level. I drove a little further and found a non camp site location that was flat. I just need a level spot.
Tomorrow is LA driving to visit Turner then head N up to Santa Barbra unless Dave throws something to me.
Back into the world of riding a logging road up to the single track downhill. 10.45 miles to get5.93 miles of single track. That ratio stinks. Sedona was so great as many dirt single track miles could be ridden w/ little road.
Flower stalk is a Desert Spoon, also called Sotol. Succulent lily like yucca but differnet family. The stalk makes an excellent, free, disposable walking stick. As it thickens from tip to base you can have any thickness and length you wish. Tough and light.
Thanks Abe for correctly naming the pretty flowering plant.