It wasn't raining when we started out from Lockheed. After a few miles, it started to sprinkle lightly, but nothing bad enough to make us turn around. Looking eastward towards the hills at Alum Rock Canyon, it looked like it was really raining, but by the time we got there it was only light drizzle. So far, so good.
We made it up and over the first ridge with no trouble. Looking out into the valley, it was sunny in downtown San Jose. Just a small area of sunshine, but it was there. We couldn't see Mt. Hamilton because it was up in the coulds. I was sure that the cloud cover wasn't too thick, and that we would climb up the mountain, and break through, to see Mt. Hamilton sitting in the sunshine, with clear sky on to the East. No such luck.
We went up into the cloud. The fog was pretty thick in spots. I thought it never rained inside clouds, but I was wrong. It started to sprinkle again, then seemed to turn to a light rain the higher we went. The last few sections just in front of the Observatory, we couldn't see anything. It was just all cloud. The cloud was higher than Mt. Hamilton. It wasn't clear to the East. It was raining.
Not too many people at the top. They had hot chocolate for us, and a dry place inside the building where we all hung out. I wrung the water out of my jersey and socks. Not too bad after that, as I was no longer dripping wet; just wet. After a good rest, it was time to make the big decision, our second one of the day. Which way were we going to go? The decision was split. Some headed back; some headed onward. For the day a total of 49 riders would elect to continue down the backside of Mt. Hamilton.
Still raining lightly as we headed down the back. It was 47F at the top, so it wasn't too cold. It could have been a lot worse. The hope of sunny skies and dry roads kept us going. As long as we had hope, we would survive. We could always hope. We could always dream.
Still raining at the bottom of the hill. Heading up and south from Isabel Creek, I was almost sure that we had a headwind. That would be good news. I knew that just a few miles ahead the route turns and heads north, so a headwind now would mean a tailwind later. At the turn the rain stopped, and the wind was indeed a tailwind now. This ride was beginning to look better. I was finally glad that I came.
Made it past the Junction, up over Mt. Mocho, and down to the Arroyo Mocho reststop with no trouble at all. Just as we arrived, it seemed to start sprinkling again. The longer we stayed, the more it began to rain. More riders began to show up. It was raining pretty good now. We figured that all of these riders were bringing the rain with them, so we got on the road again and headed for Livermore. Just a few miles down the road, and we were again out of the rain. The road was still wet, and it was still overcast, but there was no rain.
We had a headwind when we got on Vineyard, headed towards Pleasanton. We didn't mind it though, as there appeared a small patch of blue sky directly ahead. We were riding towards clear weather, with the hope of sunshine, dry roads, and no rain. We pulled into the reststop in Pleasanton, and it was all true. The sun was out; the pavement was dry. I wrung out my socks for the third time, and layed everything out to dry in the sun. It was nice and warm. What a beautiful day. I put on my sun screen, which I had carried with me for all of these miles for just this moment. My clothes were actually drying out.
As it was nearing time to get going again, it seemed that the patch of blue sky was getting smaller, and a bunch of big dark clouds seemed to be trying to come over Pleasanton Ridge. Our plan was to get out of town quick, and get over to Calaveras Reservoir and slip around the edge of this big dark cloud. That was our plan.
Well on our way to Calaveras, a small patch of blue sky once again opened up before us. The sunshine was still many miles ahead, but at least we were headed in the right direction. That big dark cloud hanging on the ridge was always threatening, but the roads were dry at the moment, so for now, we rode.
We made it all the way to the back end of Calaveras with no rain. Rounding the final corner, we got a good view down into the valley. It seemed to be only raining over in the coast mountains, with no rain in the valley. It looked like we might just make it.
Once on the valley floor, we discovered that the killer headwind was not there. The wind was strong, but it was part cross wind and part tailwind. I wasn't going to complain. Only 12 miles of flats back to Lockheed. I still felt good. Off we went.
We were able to time the traffic lights pretty good, so we only had a couple of red lights the whole way back. On Lawrence Expwy, going over the Hwy 101 overpass I happened to look back towards the east hills, towards Calaveras Road. It was in the middle of a big rainfall. Those other guys were going to get wet again.
And then we were back at Lockheed. Finally. Once the ride was over, I was really glad that I had come. The rain was a bother, but it was never much more than a light rain. And the dry roads all the way in from Pleasanton might have had something to do with it, also. Good ride.
127.1 miles, 8390 feet of climbing = 66.0 ft/mile average rolling speed = 15.4 mph pace = high MB start time = 6:28 finish time = 4:52 total time = 10 hours, 24 minutes riding factor = 79.4% riding time = 8 hours, 15 minutes 3.5 PBJ sandwiches x 450 = 1575 calories 8 3-Muskateer candy bars x 260 = 2080 1 banana = 250 1 soda = 260 4165 calories total 4165/10.40 = 400 cal/hr Good energy level whole ride. Was hungry when I got home, and all the next day.