Historic New Almaden

One of my local cycling friends had reached out a while back, wanting to enjoy a ride together. The catch is, she's less comfortable on the road than on mountain bike trails. [Hmm, I should tap her for an easy trail ride one of these days ...]

I had proposed an excursion to New Almaden (with some hills through residential neighborhoods along the way). I offered the option to return by climbing Hicks, but she had declined (fearing too much traffic).

Ironically, when I saw the local Alfa Romeo club heading up one of our hills as I set out, I knew where they were going. [Hicks. Perhaps Mt. Umunhum, too.]

And, I was right—and my friend unnerved—when the parade of Alfas came down through New Almaden (albeit on the other side of the road).

My friend has lived, and biked, in this area much longer than I have. She pointed out one of the historic cottages in New Almaden where one of her coworkers had lived, and happily agreed to continue to the public end of Alamitos Road. There we found a shady glen next to the creek where we stopped to chat and enjoy our snacks.

How many times have I biked past the intersections with Bertram Road and wondered what was back there? Although our club rides have introduced me to so many wonderful backroads, the traditional routes rarely venture off their well-established paths. It's been fun, riding on my own, to be a renegade and go exploring.

And so it was today, when my friend asked if I'd seen the Hacienda Hotel and turned onto Bertram Road.

The early history of the hotel, from the sign:

Built after the tragic 1875 fire destroyed the original 1848 adobe hotel. First two-story hotel in California. Used by the Almaden Quicksilver Mining Co. for unmarried employees & and to house visitors to mining settlement.

Oh, the historic sites I've bypassed, all this time! A social and educational 32 miles with a healthy 1,300 feet of climbing.

Lunch Run

Thinking about a couple of errands I needed to run today, I hatched a plan: go by bike, and pick up a sandwich for lunch!

As I pondered the route, I realized that heading out on the local (mixed use) trail was not only the most scenic route, it was also the best route. It's a popular (and too populated) trail, normally, but maybe not so bad on a weekday? [Haha.]

Well, at least it was less crowded than usual.

Going by bike was also a big win, traffic-wise: road construction has been clogging a local thoroughfare for months (and, months to come). Eight miles, a measly 180 feet of climbing, and a nice lunch to enjoy in my garden. Working from home has its perks.

Hamilton in Recovery

The summit teases: so close, yet still far away.

Feeling strong, I was determined to make good time on my way up the hill. No lolly-gagging for me today.

I tried to commit a few photo-worthy sites to memory, scenes to capture on the way down.

Some trees survived the inferno. Some did not. The slopes seem so barren, now.

The usual 39 miles and 4,940 feet of climbing for the day, though I will say that the uphill stretches on the way down feel less bothersome these days. Gusty winds encouraged me not to loiter at the top and to be prudent in my descent.

It will take time, but the landscape will heal. It will be different, that's all.

Right Place, Right Tom

A lucky day for another trip up Bernal—just in time to admire a couple of wild toms strutting their stuff.

As we continued with the rest of our route, well behind the rest of our group, we found ourselves mixing it up with Too. Much. Traffic. Too Much Fast-Moving Traffic.

I wanted to do this ride today because I expected we'd find the peak of spring wildflowers along the route. (And, we did.)

The wildlife was a bonus. The deer weren't much troubled by my presence.

We were relieved that the forecasted headwind was not as fierce as predicted. A field full of poppies stopped us in our tracks; evidently this was the first time we have taken the trail at this time of year. Now, we know.

I managed to achieve new personal best times on both the Bernal and Bailey climbs today! My after-work ride routine is paying off (last week, more than 137 miles). With today's 41 miles (and 1,500 feet of climbing), I closed out this week with more than 142 miles. Training works.

Bernal Beckons

It was too beautiful a day not to ride. I hopped on my bike in the afternoon and pedaled in search of poppies in their prime. I knew I could find some at the base of Bernal, but along the way I found a better patch.

Along the way I pondered whether to climb Bernal. [Or, not.]

My legs complained as I climbed Shannon. Yesterday's ride wasn't hard, but evidently it was hard enough.

Pretty patch of poppies found, I could have turned around. [Of course not.]

Go the distance, I told myself. [To the base of Bernal.]

There, came the moment of reckoning. How silly, not to go up the hill. It's not that far, I told myself.

I can take it easy, I told myself.

April ascent of Bernal, done: 29 miles, 1,280 feet of climbing. And, oddly enough, a new personal best time for the climb (by a whopping 44 seconds?!). [So much for tired legs.]

High Land

The restorative beauty of wild lands is one of the great treasures of our region. These deep, tree-studded canyons are not in the foothills of the Sierra mountains—they're basically in San José's backyard.

With the promise that today would be one of our first “warm enough” days, my ride buddy agreed to ride through some redwoods.

Warm enough not to shiver in the shade. Cool enough not to siphon off too many vehicles desperate to escape the traffic jam they create on the way to the coast.

The rutted sections of Highland Way are worse than I've ever seen. As in, several places where you need to hunt for strips of pavement between gaping holes. Outbound, I committed a few particularly gnarly spots to memory for a safe return trip. Not surprisingly, the worst stretches are under the trees (which compounds the challenge of seeing them).

The Soquel Demonstration Forest was a particular draw today—busier than I have ever seen it, vehicles lining the road well past the trailhead. Those trails would be far too busy to enjoy them.

No problem for us; we stayed on the “road” and managed to cover 31 miles with 2,480 feet of climbing.