Morning Ride to El Capitan Reservoir via Santee & Lakeside

The weather forecast called for a relatively cool day, so a couple of friends and I went riding to El Capitan Reservoir via Grantville, Santee and Lakeside this morning. I guess the warmer and more humid climate that San Diego has been acquiring is throwing the meteorologists off a bit since it felt quite warmer than the forecast called for.

'Hello Gorgeous!' You decide who said it...

It was still a nice day for a ride, however. The ostriches were out at Hilliker's Egg Ranch on the south side of El Nopal in Lakeside, so we stopped for a while to visit and were quite mesmerized by the smooth-walking long-legged birds and their impossibly elastic long neck. One curious ostrich boy came over to socialize a bit and ended up flirting with one of my friends... He gave us a bit of a dance in between fits of wings-grooming. We never quite imagined that the big bird wears no underwear under his feathery wings!!

Lindo Lake in Lakeside. July 2013.

We cut through Lakeside via Lindo Lake... which we shall now call Lindo half-lake, since about half of its water has apparently gone off on vacation somewhere (probably Florida).  A few confused looking ducks were spotted loitering about... waddling around as if wondering which one of their mates had drank up all the water!

Lots of freebies being given on El Monte Rd...

A farmer along El Monte Rd is still trying to give off free horse sh*t to unsuspecting travelers. No taker, still... that sign's been there for months (his farm must now really stink!)!

The little 1/2 mile climb up to El Capitan Dam.

El Capitan Reservoir. July 2013.

Coasting back down El Monte Rd. So much view for so little climbing!

I'm happy to report that there is still water in El Capitan Reservoir, of course. The locals are onto it, though, as we were passed by about 13 speeding boat-towing trucks riding on that wiggly road to the lake. Weirdly enough, there weren't more than 10 boats in the lake once we got there... Maybe a few got abducted by aliens along the way (one can always hope!)!

Jackie Price Dunn Memorial Ride & Fund

We have had a few cycling deaths here in San Diego this year, but the passing of Jackie Price Dunn after a freak crash during a Velodrome race this past Tuesday hit the cycling community hard because of its circumstances. I think we all know in some level that every time we put on the helmet and roll our bike out into the city traffic there is a chance that we will end up dead or injured from colliding with a car. The velodrome, however, is a car-free environment with smooth surface to ride on... Even when in high speed races you don't expect much more than bruises and road rashes to result from a crash. Jackie went down hard and hit her head. The helmet survived but her brain didn't. I wasn't there and don't know how it really happened, but I doubt if it would have made any sense to me if I were... Sometimes you can do everything right and still end up with a catastrophe.

San Diego Velodrome

Anyhow, this Saturday (June 22nd) morning Jackie's friends and fellow local cyclists are getting together at 8am to ride one of her favorite cycling routes, the Bayshore Bikeway & Sweetwater Bikeway from Tidelands Park on Coronado to Plaza Bonita and back, in her memory. Everyone is invited and more details can be found at this Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/212819032199962/

A fund has also been established to help her family pay for her medical & funeral cost: http://www.gofundme.com/3brxtw

Added on 29 June:
Another memorial ride & fund-raiser in her honor is scheduled for July 4th. The bike ride starts/finishes at Moonlight State Beach in Encinitas at 7:45am. Two routes offered, with mutual rest stop at Double Peak. There is a fund-raising dinner (for Jackie's favorite charities) afterward at Union Kitchen & Tap in Encinitas from 11am - 2:30pm. More info at the event's facebook page.

Things You See When Riding Slowly Through The Great Western Loop

Some cyclists ride fast for the adrenaline rush or for challenging exercise or for Strava placing. I ride leisurely for the view... And here are some views you might miss if you speed around the scenic Great Western Loop as if being tail-gated by a homicidal oil tanker:

Yup, real life peacocks... Quite domesticated and watched over by a pair of cute goats.

There are some bike lovers living up in the mountains!

Rock, we do!

And we smile our way up the hill, too!

You've passed it a zillion time, but have you actually visited Loveland Reservoir?

The Japatul punishment is nearly over when you see this...

Oink if you approve!

Barrett Lake & Valley... you miss it going CCW because the view is behind you, you miss it going CW because you're busy enjoying the curvy & fast downhill.

Embrace the view!

Well, okay, a bit of off-route exploration required to find this place. But why keep doing the same route as if it's a rut. Explore a little!

It's almost a crime punishable by multiple tire punctures to roll on thru Lyons Valley without stopping to check in with Black Jack across from the trading post!

Above all, though, be nice to every GWL denizen 'cause you're always being watched like a hawk!