I wouldn't be part of any club that would have me as a member
 

Yeah I would :)

I'm still getting back into "long ride shape" as I build toward completing a metric by year's end.
The idea today was to do a round trip to Woodside and back for a nice 40 mile ride.
Only 2 more than tha 38 I did last Saturday but it's a different kind of ride.
I knew that, right off, I'd have to climb Sharp Park Road (I've posted about that too many times, I'll spare you the details) just to get started. I've done that as part of a few 25 mile rides so it would be a good test to go for any kind of real distance after that.

So, off I went.
In figuring on this 40 mile ride, I forgot to factor in that th4e ride doesn't start at Sharp Park Road, it starts at my house. I have to get to Sharp Park Road first. I'm doing fine but as I approach the Pulgas Water Temple -which is well short of Woodside- I've already hit 20 miles. Turn around now, go back and bag my 40? Or do I push on to Woodside anyway and see what I can do? Off course, if I do, I still have to make the ride back (or call Mrs S and the sag wagon. That ain't gonna happen; I've got my pride)
So I stopped at the Temple for a bit and thought about it.
The water temple is pretty cool... it's the terminus of the Hetch Hetchy water system which carries Yosemite snow melt across the state and dumps it into our reservoirs which are made up of 3 lakes: San Andreas Lake, Upper Crystal Springs, and Lower Crystal Springs. Not only would today's ride parallel all three lakes, I'd have to cross the San Andreas Dam to get where I was going.

Interlude:
Standing on the San Andreas Dam looking north up San Andreas Lake:
http://home.comcast.net/~96omi/Woodside/IMG_0905.JPG

Just a reminder of where I am and a little history lesson:
http://home.comcast.net/~96omi/Woodside/IMG_0907.JPG

The Pulgas Water Temple.
This used to be a nice place for folks to come and visit for picnics and such.
I guess now, everyone's afraid of terrorists poisoning the water supply so the gates are locked and the place is pretty much deserted.
Except there's an entry for foot traffic (no place to park so there's none of that) and... cyclists!
http://home.comcast.net/~96omi/Woodside/IMG_0909.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~96omi/Woodside/IMG_0911.JPG

Where the water flows into the lake:
http://home.comcast.net/~96omi/Woodside/IMG_0910.JPG

Who's that stud?
http://home.comcast.net/~96omi/Woodside/IMG_0912.JPG

Well, at this point, it's pretty much a no-brainer.
I'm feeling pretty good so I'm going for it

The road behind (where I've been):
http://home.comcast.net/~96omi/Woodside/IMG_0914.JPG

And the road ahead (where I'm going):
http://home.comcast.net/~96omi/Woodside/IMG_0915.JPG

Roberts Market. I must be in Woodside. I made it!
Woodside was part of the route I took for the Amgen Ride with George Hincapie a few months ago.
Nice to be back.
By the way, don't fool around here; the gendarmerie will tag cyclists who run the stop signs in this town.
Woodside has a major stick up it's behind.
http://home.comcast.net/~96omi/Woodside/IMG_0916.JPG

I was expecting something about Groucho, but it looks like a great ride.

Heading back... the road seemingly has no end. I'm still feeling pretty fresh.
http://home.comcast.net/~96omi/Woodside/IMG_0917.JPG

Back at the Temple to fill up my water bottles with that good, pure Hetch Hetchy water.
Here's a look at the area I'm riding through. Sort of...
http://home.comcast.net/~96omi/Woodside/IMG_0918.JPG

The Eugene A Doran Memorial Bridge. Named for a fallen CHP officer.
I've driven over this countless times, here's an view from a different angle.
http://home.comcast.net/~96omi/Woodside/IMG_0919.JPG

The "road" I took down and back is a VERY popular MUP, Sawyer Camp Road that parallels the lakes and the freeway. It's really the only way to get between here and there. You travel along a tree shaded lane full of switchbacks and hairpins. And a speed limits of 15 MPH. They're serious about that, too
http://home.comcast.net/~96omi/Woodside/IMG_0924.JPG

That's not all it's full of.. the air is alive with birds darting about the trees, all in constant song.
And bugs. Lots and lots of bugs. I don't know how many gnats I ate today but I do know that a bug smacking you in the face at 15MPH hurts. As you travel along the many curves, it will open up into sunlight and views of the lakes.
http://home.comcast.net/~96omi/Woodside/IMG_0929.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~96omi/Woodside/IMG_0932.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~96omi/Woodside/IMG_0921.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~96omi/Woodside/IMG_0927.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~96omi/Woodside/IMG_0931.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~96omi/Woodside/IMG_0928.JPG

.....................so................did you get the forty in******************************???


BTW, great pics and ride report

What's with the chain link fence? It's our water supply, remember? Off limits.
http://home.comcast.net/%7E96omi/Woodside/IMG_0930.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/%7E96omi/Woodside/IMG_0934.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/%7E96omi/Woodside/IMG_0935.JPG

Well, by now, I'm not quite as fresh as I was and I have some climbing to do.
After that, I get to ride 5 or 6 miles into a pretty stiff headwind.
Time to just gear down, put the head down and keep a steady (if slow) pace. I'm going to make it!

Or maybe not. I'm getting close to home and I look at the odometer and start doing the math.
I'm going to fall short :eek:

There's no way I'm doing and going through all of this just to end up with 48.5 miles.
Luckily I know an easy way to pad my ride a little.
And here I am back home in my driveway

http://home.comcast.net/%7E96omi/Woodside/IMG_0936.JPG

I can't believe it... I've ridden a half century! And way sooner than I thought I would.
I'm tired and little sore but, damn!, I feel good.

congrats!!

:thumb:

I'm sure there's a metric in the near future.

Congrats! Great ride, great pics!

Nice ride! Good roads, great scenery and a milestone met.:cheers::thumb:

Gosh, that's a pretty ride. Nothing like that around Motown.

Forget the metric. If you can do an unsupported 50 miles and still feel good you're ready for a century.

What a nice ride! Congrats on the half century.

Thanks for sharing your excitement and pictures. Nice going.

Loved your report and pics. Sawyer Camp Road looks like a route of my dreams.... very serene and pretty. Congratulations in your achievement!

Thank you. I knew you'd understand :)

Sawyer Camp Road is absolutely lovely and fun... and busy.
There are cyclists (of all types), skaters, skateboarders, moms and kids galore and just plain strollers (as in "out for a ..."). Luckily they are pretty well behaved and there is room to maneuver. Mostly, if you see someone ahead, ya just... slow... down... what's the rush, anyway. Well behaved includes us, too.

Great report and photos!

Congrat's!!! Nice weather in your part of California and what a great place to ride!

Century - next weekend!

Well done! I'm glad you had so much fun -- and that you survived to post the pics (fantastic!) and the story.

See, you're already ready for a metric. It's a mental thing.

The San Andreas Fault plaque would look more authentic if it was split down the middle.

Great report. Always nice to see where other folks live & ride.

SAY THE MAGIC WORD AND THE DUCK COMES DOWN....YOU WIN $50.00!!

Congrats on the fifty miles, and thank you for posting the pictures. No wonder my wife keeps threatening to run off to Cal! Just beautiful, though a bit hilly for a flatlander like me.