SRCC 400k - Clear Lake

My second brevet in a week!
My last 400k was 3 years ago, and this one was a much flatter and I felt fine at the end.  The 600k last week probably boosted my confidence.

here's the Strava route.  Not a particularly beautiful route, but not too bad.  Pretty flat.


On route, we passed a superfund site... interesting... the water looked cool though... BUT don't eat the fish from Clear Lake...

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulphur_Bank_Mine#Hot_springs
• http://www.treehugger.com/clean-water/from-the-isnt-it-ironic-dept-clear-lake-is-worlds-most-mercury-polluted-lake.html

Highlights:

• Feeling good throughout the whole ride, even at the end. 
• Riding with Rich for the entire ride, sharing stories, trading leads.
• Sushi at the Ukiah Safeway... always a good call.  Until it isn't...
• Watching the full moon peeking in and out of the clouds.  
• Chasing Miguel around until he finally just took off after 100 miles or so...

Lowlights:

• Hwy 101 was a bit scary at a few points when the shoulder disappeared...

Tips:

• Take less gear... like Miguel... well maybe not that light, but lighter.  

my gear... rain gear...

nice sunrise at the start

I think this is the smallest crew of rider's I've ridden with.

A nice paceline in the beginning... Miguel led the way 95% of the time.  That was nice...

on the first hill, Miguel took off...

Riding on 101.  Not a highlight... but really wasn't that bad.

My mandatory sushi rolls from Safeway... mmm

Cool beam of light... this photo didn't do it justice.

enjoying a celebratory beer at the end (the RBA's house!)  

Clear Lake Cabins with Kevin & Riley (July 12-14, 2013)

I cruised up to Clear Lake (the oldest lake in N. America) a few weekends back to spend the weekend at the cabins at Clear Lake State Park.  I decided to ride up as far as I could with the intention of having Kimbo pick me up if I didn't make it.  It's a good thing I made it as I forgot to put on an extra bike rack and had to have Kevin bring one up later... 

Crossing the Carquinez Bridge...

Check out this huge frog.  

After a nice ride through wine country followed by some climbing up near Mt. St. Helena I cruised down to Kelseyville where I promptly took a nap at the county park.  I started my ride at 5 am, which meant getting up at 4 am to start packing the car.  And I was up until 2 am celebrating our championship season in intramural soccer the night before.  

We met up for lunch at the Brickhouse BBQ in Kelseyville.... the owner's got quite the mobile rig set up.  Pretty impressive.  He's quite eager to show it to you too, so just ask.  Kelseyville is also known for the "Clear Lake Massacre."  Too bad the place is named after such a d-bag... at least they got what was coming to them...

Entering the state park... I think that's Ranger Wright... he is quite notorious on yelp... 

Clear lake?  Not so much... Clear lake is quite eutrophic and the algae is natural.  

Once you get out into the lake it's not as bad... but I still wouldn't go swimming there...

Great Blue Heron

Riley & Kevin showed up in the middle of the night... next morning they had brekky together!

After brekky we rode out to Lakeport for a fun 10 mile ride.  

A lady and her daughters were stuck in the men's bathroom... the city came to the rescue... 

The Lake County Rodeo was going on near by and there was a parade down Lakeport. 

Kelseyville Brew Co's Brewcycle.  After seeing this we decided we will stop by later.  

the kiddos at a taqueria in Lakeport...

We stopped by Robledo winery's tasting room on the way back, then rode back to our cabin.  Soon the kiddos were in a pool staying cool.  

After nap time we drove up to Highland Springs Reservoir... which we heard was a much better place to go swimming... and turns out has a huge rope swing.  

It's a pretty sweet local spot.  With BBQ pits, horseshoe pits, a 18 hole disc golf course... it's a pretty sweet spot to spend a hot day.  

Kimbo enjoying the water...

Double swingin!

Notice Kevin doesn't have a life jacket on!  What a rebel... 

And stopped by Kelsey Creek Brewing on the way back... ok beers... nothing hoppy.  

But the floor was covered in peanut shells... 

And the kiddos like their chairs... 

night shot

Woodpeckers!  Or as the locals used to say "carpentieros..."

Sharing!

More pool fun!

Check out the Great Blue Heron with a huge frog in it's mouth... 

We couldn't really figure out why this section of the trees were covered in fuzz.

Tunnel!

Went out on a group paddle on Sunday morning... 

In flight!

Team Mexico!

Next time it'd love to spend more time at Highland Springs Reservoir... maybe do the Konocti Challenge.  It'd be pretty fun to do the family fun ride with Kai.  And I passed this area on my ride up, but I'd love to check out Boggs Mountain.  They host a few bike races there too.