Our Labor Day

Our bike club organizes one large event each year, the Tierra Bella. It takes a lot of volunteer labor, behind the scenes and on the scene, to stage that well. Traditionally, the club thanks us with a pre-event ride and barbecue, giving us the opportunity to check out the route with snacks along the way. When that was rained out this spring, a new plan was hatched: out-of-the-area routes leading to a barbecue (and, more importantly, fresh fruit pie!) at Gizdich Ranch.

Eager to explore some hills without following the same course we had ridden last May, my ride partner and I included a loop that is part of the Strawberry Fields Forever century route. I covered 63 miles, with 4,070 feet of climbing, to earn my slice of olallieberry pie (á la mode).

Eureka Canyon Road has been in poor condition for years. One option would be to fix it, but perhaps the county exhausted its road maintenance budget rebuilding the segment that slid out a few years ago. Instead, they have erected permanent "Rough Road" signs at both ends of the road. The conditions make for a treacherous descent on a bicycle, so I was surprised to see a few riders on their way down. Maybe if you are the type of rider who never releases the brakes on a descent? Broken pavement ... potholes ... poor visibility in patchy sunlight under the towering trees ... deep piles of loose gravel. Climb it to savor the views, descend at your peril.