Noodling around Southern California
 

Velodiva and I drove to Capistrano Beach last night for a week of cycling in SoCal with as many bikes and stuff as we could fit in the car. Our plan is a bunch of local rides from Long Beach to Pacific Beach in San Diego. We are staying in a condo on Capistrano Beach across from Pacific Coast Highway. Here is the view from our balcony.

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u...n/PICT0003.jpg

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u...n/PICT0004.jpg

We went on a two hour ride to the San Onofri State Beach past the nuclear power plant. 72 degrees and sunny.

However, here is the pic of the day...for all the bent riders.

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u...n/PICT0001.jpg

As I get interesting pics, I will post them up.

Tailwinds! Have fun. Let us know.

May I suggest a ride around the Newport Harbor Back Bay. Irvine has a tremendous series of trails.

You may also wish to ride along Huntington Beach from the Santa Ana River Trail North or South.

This is where the Santa Ana River dumps into the Pacific.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...theBeach-1.jpg

Almost forgot. You are not to far from Dana Point. Nice area and a great trail south from the Doheny State Beach. Dana Point is a beautiful place and there are some nice seafood places: One great fish and chips place (can't remember the name) and a bivy of places along the Dana Point Harbor. Harbor Grill used to be great! Still pretty good my last visit.

Good idea. We plan to ride from Laguna Beach north to Newport and then head inland. Travel south to pick up 133 and ride through the canyon back to Laguna Beach.

When I saw the title Noodling around Southern California, I was puzzled. The word Noodling around here has a completely different meaning.

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/20...d__200x303.jpg

You just dive in the river and go after the fish yourself. Lines and poles are for sissies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biL-QcviQGk

On Thursday we rode from the tandem from San Clemente to Oceanside with our great tandem friends visiting from Minnesota. Had lunch at Longboarder's in Oceanside. We were headng back through Camp Pendleton when we encountered a Marine barricade turning all road traffic back. Just a very short time before there was a fatal traffic collision involving a small car and a military vehicle of sorts. We asked if we could walk our bikes through on the side - the guard checked with his superior via phone and the response was an emphatic "no." The alternatives were to wait unknown hours until the investigation was complete, try to circumnavigate, or head back and ride on Interstate 5. We vetoed the first alternative, tried the second to no avail (we were up for scaling fences but not traversing ravines with the tandems)so Interstate 5 it was. Bicycles are actually allowed on that portion of I5 since that is the only public access through Camp Pendleton. The captains did a great job handling the tandems with all the turbulence from the high speed traffic and the winds off the ocean. The trucks blasting by at 80 mph were a bit unnerving. We averaged over 20 mph for the 8 mile stretch and exited at Las Pulgas Road. What a relief and happy we made it back safely.

The adventure's over?

Our noodle ride turned into a hammer fest. We were joined by our friends from Minnesota. They posted in the tandem section. You may pick it up there.:)

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...41#post6704341