From: goose@twinsun.com (Jennifer Bing Zheng)
Subject: A day at the Palomar Mountain
Organization: Twin Sun, Inc
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 22:24:09 GMT


Last Saturday was one gorgeous spring day, and a perfect pick for a ride up
Mt. Palomar in San Diego County.  We started the ride where highway 76 met
S6, and rode up about 5 miles to the bottom of South Grade.  This part was
quite mild and a nice warmup.  The green hills displayed an incredible
contrast to the dull yellowish skies of LA.  Many (kinds of) flowers are
blooming, and it is here that I learned a dozen new plants (which unfortunately
I can't remember).  Our original plan was to go down south to Lake Henshaw,
and then ride up from the East Grade which was much flatter although longer.
But we felt so good that we decided to change the plan and do the East Grade.
So off we go, getting on the 7 mile East Grade w/ 50 switchbacks (I found this
figure in a book later).  It doesn't feel very steep, as we indulge ourselves
in the spectacular vista on the ascent.  The spring colors are almost surreal.
A thin blue mist covers the distant foothills, while the pine and fir trees
cover the nearby mountains.  There're also many wild flowers, and oak trees just
spurting their reddish leaves.  There're many green meadows and blue ponds, and
the rich brown soil and white rocks show up all along the way.  One has to fall
in love with the colors and the lovely mountains, unless he is stone-hearted.
I practically "drank" my way up as we pushed pedal by pedal toward the top.
I learned what "cattle guards" are for the first time -- we must have crossed
half a dozen on the way up.  At 5 mph or so, I still have trouble capturing
everything there is to see.  There was no time to look at the pavement and
play with the cyclometer.  It is here that I'm learning how absolutely 
delightful bicycle touring is.  There are very few cars and motorcycles to
disturb the 3 hours of peace we are having.  Thick forests provide us with the
coolest shade.  And as we go, I wonder how the devil I tolerated some "training
rides" I did previously that resembled nothing but torture.  Gone are the days
when my vision was shared between the suckers (cars) packing every road and
the debris covering every corner.  Oh peace and beauty on earth!

After the South Grade, there are 5 miles left to the top.  A nice 2 mile 
downhill session is the only break we get on the 17 mile journey.  And alas,
we run into a flock of protein -- unknown bugs -- while coasting at 35 mph.
But we soon "outrun" them and resumed climbing, before reaching the flat 
mountain top at 5500'.  It was an unhurried 3 hour climb, with a 20 minute
break, and the prettiest 17 miles I've ever ridden.

After a brief visit to the observatary dome and admiration of the distant snow-
capped mountains, we quickly descented 5 miles where we took a detour to the
State Park for lunch.  After lunch, we took on East Grade for a hearty descent
to Lake Henshaw.  More meadows covered by poppies and cattle grazzing.  (Oh
please don't let these beautiful animals die for our food!)  I saw some strange
animals for the first time -- smaller than mules... oh forgot the name!
The descent leaves me w/ one lovely moment to remember.  We then took a loop
in Mesa Grande, an Indian reservation, and headed back north to where we
parked the cars (yeah, I wish we didn't have to drive the 100 miles for the
ride; maybe next time.)  We saw 2 other bicyclists during the day, and ran 
into some wide-mouthed drivers in the dome as they learned that we actually
biked up.  We sigh at the decline of bicycle touring as "modern" people learn
the comfort of cars and motorhomes and airplanes.  Little will they understand
the joy of human-powered travelling.

So my best ride ended a beautiful day with 80 miles and about 7800' completed.
I hate to leave the lovely country to head back for life in LA...

Peace on earth.
--Jennifer
-- 
|X|						goose@twinsun.com or
|X|          o~                  o~_		jennifer@twinsun.com
|X|         v|>                  ,>/-	    member of Dead Runners Society
|X|_________<_\__________________O_\O	Ride bike(set) ... carpe viam :-)