So many exciting and fantastic things to write about. I've been trying to finish up my safety training classes for a group at work so its been a little harder to get in great ride time but recently i've spent 2 weeks in Solvang CA on Trek Travel Ride Camps. Absolutely wonderful trips and I highly recommend that you research these before taking a bike vacation. Worth every dollar spent.
My first trip out to Solvang was in January. I got plenty of riding but due to a slight miscalculation on my part I never did climb the Figueroa to the correct location that Trek Travel had supported. Instead I made a turn onto a forestry road and climbed to the Lookout on my Ride Camp issued Madone 5.2 heck I didn't mind and the view was majestic to say the least. The gravel road climb added an extra level of excitement to the climb. Shortly after making the split i realized this was not the approved route but never the less i'm a mountain biker at heart and the Madone was tearing this gravel road apart like it owned the dirt.
This days ride began with a few extra people including Gary Fisher himself but once the rolling canyon road turned to an upward state and the pavement started winding in an around every nook of the mountain I found myself alone untill the support van drove by. Once coming to the van I was told it was only a few more miles to the top. Then I made the mistake a mile or so later when I saw the sign that listed the Lookout 2.5 miles ahead. I was actually suppose to stay on the pavement but as i said earlier...I didn't.
I went mountain biking the next day and on the last and final day I tried to get to the top but just ran out of time before having to leave so I only made the climb to the gravel road split where I had previously went the wrong way.
"No problem" I thought
"I will come back and I will show this mountain who I am" I said to myself
With a smile on my face I descended back to the canyon floor and pedaled to Solvang to pack up.
stork
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