Best Buddies 2020 Challenge: Stage 11

Wow, look at that view! We can see the hills of the Diablo Range clearly again!

An alternate title for tonight's stage would be “The Hummus Guy.” At the end of last week, I found myself in a serious food funk. After more than six months of my largely repetitive, go-to recipes, I had no idea what to eat. I was tired of it all—even, strawberries. I skipped my visit to the weekly farmers' market.

I got over it. And missed the berries. Then I remembered that my preferred strawberry vendor has a booth at a farmers' market in a nearby town on Wednesday afternoons. Bonus: it's a smaller site, likely to be less crowded; but without a basket on my bike, I couldn't stock up fully. Still, some is better than none.

As I surveyed the rest of the booths, rolling my bike alongside me, the hummus guy called out to me. “Hey, you must eat healthy, you ride your bike!” I smiled, which (of course) he couldn't see behind my bandana-shrouded face. A few minutes later, as I was eyeing some peaches (surely I could fit a bit more in my bike bag, it expands), the hummus guy appeared—holding out a container. “Here,” he insisted. “You probably eat hummus, right?” Well, yes ... “You like red peppers?” Well, yes ... “Enjoy!” [And I did, it was yummy on the sourdough I had with my latest batch of lentil soup tonight.]

A few pounds of produce didn't really slow me down, either. [Tomatoes, strawberries, peaches, hummus.] Given that I've shed a few pounds over the past few months, I supposed it evened out.

2016 was the tenth year I biked 100 miles down the coast in the Best Buddies Hearst Castle Challenge, and my all-time favorite bike kit design. I've had random cyclists admire this kit, on the road. [It's the carbon-fiber pattern, no doubt.]

Today's route was challenging in a different way, though it was a measly 16 miles and 320 feet of climbing. It reminded me of the first trail ride I did, on a stubborn horse that just wanted to go back to the paddock; he only cooperated when we reached the half-way point—he knew the shortest way home, then, was to go forward. And so it was with this old gray mare, tonight—commuting away from home, in the evening, was a struggle.

Best Buddies 2020 Challenge: Stage 10

As you've seen by now, I'm not very creative when it comes to posing for photos. At the Best Buddies finish line in San Simeon in 2015, I had some coaching.

When I mentioned last week that I was limited to after-work rides, I know what you were thinking: Morning rides. [Duh.] Sadly, I am not a Morning Person.

Most [un]fortunately, I woke up at some ridiculous hour today (like, 2:45 a.m.) and was Alert. Awake. Tried all the tricks: relax all muscles, take slow deep breaths. Nada. I pretended I was asleep until a more hospitable hour (like, 5:00 a.m.). Plenty of time for a morning ride, once we had some daylight. My first meeting wasn't till 9:30 a.m. And the air was . . . clean?!

It's Bike to Work Week in the Bay Area (re-scheduled from its traditional May date). So I decided to bike to work. But wait, you're thinking: You're still working from home. [Right you are!] I set off on my normal commute route, at the normal time. I pictured where I would make the turn to finish the trip at my current workplace. [Aka, home.]

But then I thought, why not go a bit farther? Make the turn at the 45-minute mark, have enough time for a suitable photo, and still get home in time to get cleaned up before my meeting.

Ah, but wouldn't it be fitting to bike even farther, technically into the town where my lonely desk sits in a deserted office building. After all, I could attend the meeting in my sweaty bike kit; that would make no difference to my remote colleagues. [And, truth be told, in days gone by I have attended a meeting at the office in my cycling attire. At least once.]

Ride highlight #1: A red-shouldered hawk at eye level, perched on a fence! Ride highlight #2: Posing with a cyclist on a penny farthing. [They're already setting up the holiday lights in the local park.] Lowlight: Testing my panic-stop skills when an utterly clueless cyclist cut me off.

At a brisk (for me) pace of 12.9 mph, I covered 25 miles with 680 feet of climbing (rather more than the regular tally for my morning commute). And I had just enough time to enjoy a second cup of tea and a scone before connecting with my colleagues.

Best Buddies 2020 Challenge: Stage 9

Best Buddies celebrated 25 years in 2014, and I followed my west coast century in September with an east coast century in October. Given the chillier weather (and a memorable mishap), evidently I didn't get a photo featuring the jersey that day. But there I am at the start, with the Washington Monument in the background. My vest, arm warmers, and knee warmers from the September event were just what I needed in D.C.

Eager to ride—anywhere—my chief biking buddy suggested we revisit the neighborhood we explored on my first foray of the pandemic era. With more temperate weather, I expected we could make it to Almaden Reservoir this time.

My plan was to turn back at Hicks Road (not ready to climb that beast, today); but I was curious to know where Alamitos Road actually ended. I was emboldened after watching another woman continue past Hicks, and my ride buddy agreed to explore. When we caught up to her, I'm afraid I startled that woman when I asked how far the road went. “About a mile,” she assured us; a nice ride up the canyon before the pavement would give way to dirt. Although she (and a few others) plowed on ahead, we turned around at an “Authorized Personnel Only” sign.

An artist has been busy in the tiny community of New Almaden, where the posted speed limit is 25 mph. Want to bet they're having trouble with speeding drivers passing through . . . on their way to spin donuts on Hicks, perhaps? Distinctive red-white-and-black signs were everywhere.

“Let's walk onto the dam,” I suggested (having noticed that this was possible). We were surprised to find a plaque mounted there, informing us that the dam was constructed in 1935 and the reservoir holds up to 2000 acre feet of water. Most of the plaque was reserved for the names of the Board of Directors, along with the engineers and two attorneys.

We covered essentially the same distance as we did in May, but with less elevation gain (having skipped the prelude segment): 33 miles, 935 feet of climbing. We could see streaks of smoke in the distance; by the time we were done, the nearby hills were hazy and the aroma of wood smoke was creeping in. I sensed another pause was imminent for my Best Buddies 2020 Challenge.

Best Buddies 2020 Challenge: Stage 8

Where should I ride tonight? That was the question. After-work neighborhood rides have proven more treacherous than I'd expected. The forecast suggests a smoky weekend. It's time for more of a workout.

There is a different sort of risk on the back roads, in the evening: deer. Three, tonight; looked like a doe with two youngsters. One scampered out of my lane and up the hillside, while the other two eyed me from the edge of the road. “Hi, sweetie,” I called out gently. “I'm not gonna bother you. Be careful!” They stood still. (I saw them again, on the way back.)

I haven't biked this route after work, alone, before. And I probably won't again. There were fewer cyclists than I'd hoped. And there were some sketchy-looking dudes hanging out, not far from one of the wider patches of road that attract circular skid marks. I kept an eye on my rear-view mirror and picked up my pace after I passed them. [Woman. Cycling. Alone.]

Today's stage celebrated my eighth century ride for Best Buddies.

I got the workout I needed (sore legs!), with an average heart rate of 140 bpm to climb 1,245 feet over 16 miles (10.9 mph). Unfortunately the air quality was deteriorating, leading to an unpleasant fit of coughing when I got home. Thus confirming my hunch, ’tis better not to cycle when the air quality is rated “moderate” (yellow).

Best Buddies 2020 Challenge: Stage 7

2013 marked the 10th anniversary of the Best Buddies Hearst Castle Challenge, and the designer had some fun with the jersey—incorporating elements from past years. The fourth event was my first, and I never would have dreamed I'd keep coming back, year after year!

Hurray for another day of clean air in September 2020! Unlike the distant fog bank in 2013, you will see smoke—not fog—in the distance today.

I may not make it to the Pacific during this series, but I've been able to visit smaller bodies of water nearby. Club rides tend to skirt one edge of Almaden Lake; I decided to see if I could bike all the way around. [Yes!]

There were a fair number of other cyclists out tonight. I found myself sort of mixing it up with a small group of young teenaged boys, led by one who was slightly older. Coaching or instructing them, or maybe just herding them. One was riding a motorized skateboard. The driver who would have failed her road test tonight set us up for a right hook. Instead of merging to the right, behind us in the bike lane, to make her turn adjacent to the curb, she passed us and then . . . stopped. [Think, people. If there is a car in the lane to your right, would you line up to the left to make a right turn?]

I stopped behind the car, since there wasn't enough room to pull around and pass her on the left. She didn't budge, which was the right call because the kids and their leader came along and passed on the right. [Unsafe. They should have stopped, as I did, and waited for her to turn.]

Trying to stay ahead of the boys, I was motivated to pick up my pace: I averaged 12.1 mph over 18 miles, with 320 feet of climbing. [Flat.]

Best Buddies 2020 Challenge: Stage 6

Conditions were spectacular for my sixth Best Buddies Hearst Castle Challenge.

When I designed my challenge for 2020, my plan was to ride every day, without any rest days, wearing my event jerseys in order (from my first ride in 2007, to the most recent ride in 2019). My original plan was to finish the series on September 12, which is when this year's event would have taken place.

Then came the storm, and the fires, and the smoke. The air quality was low and the temperatures were high. I delayed the start of the challenge by one week.

Stage 6 was planned for September 10. Despite the previous day's long ride, I was game.

Until I stepped outside. There was a dusting of fine ash on my trash bin, and the distinctive aroma of wood smoke in the air. Just like this headline: Yesterday the air quality looked bad, today it actually is bad. I kept an eye on the local sensor readings and hoped we'd get some wind from a favorable direction. The following day, conditions worsened.

No wind. Very unhealthy air. Thus began an unexpected, multi-day pause to my Best Buddies 2020 Challenge.

If this year's event had not already been canceled, it would have been thrown into disarray: Highway 1 was closed, from Big Sur to Ragged Point, due to the Dolan fire (burning since August 18). Of course, whether I can ride my bike on any given day is truly insignificant, in context.

Blue skies at last, though we still can't see the mountains through the haze. Back to work this week, my best option is an after-work ride. I puttered around some neighborhoods, coming to an abrupt full stop when one SUV driver suddenly stopped in the lane ahead of me, cut left (making a U-turn?), then straightened out and proceeded to back into his driveway. When he glanced to his left to find me (in the bike lane) staring him down, he looked surprised ... but also like he didn't particularly give a damn.

This is the view we couldn't see a few days ago (September 8). And yes, that is a thin stream of yellow-orange smoke above the ridge. Wrapped up Stage 6 with 14 miles, 220 feet of climbing, at a conservative 10.1 mph pace.

Best Buddies 2020 Challenge: Stage 5

I thought I'd join a club ride today. [More vacation time, use it or lose it.] But after a very poor night's sleep, it seemed more like a better day for a short ride. Or at least a later start.

When the sun came up, the color of the light was shifting from yellow to orange. There were reports of ash falling from the sky like snowflakes, but that wasn't happening here. The sky was tinted in various shades of tan, lighter to the south. Local air quality was ... green? This smoke was drifting higher aloft from fires raging far to the north, and it wasn't penetrating the marine layer.

The jersey from my fifth Best Buddies Hearst Castle Challenge is great for hot days. Today was chilly. Unsure about the UV index for overcast skies due to ash rather than water vapor, I slathered on some sunscreen.

Sunglasses, however, would not be needed today. In the dusky light, all sorts of automatic sensors flipped bulbs on: car headlights, streetlights, even lighting I'd never before seen on a majestic bike bridge.

I mapped out a route to the Bay; if I sensed the air quality deteriorating, I could shorten it or even turn back. The amusement park, of course, is closed.

I wanted to see what could be seen. [Not much, as it turned out.] I pictured myself enjoying my sandwich on a bench along the shoreline, but opted for an inland park instead. The [lack of a] view and the unnatural colors were too distressing.

Stage 5: Passed the century mark for my 2020 Challenge with today's 44 miles, 820 feet of climbing (average speed 10.5 mph). Still keepin' it slow.