Wednesday, December 28, 2011

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Today’s club ride meets up at Walnut Park in Petaluma. There is ample street parking with no time restrictions. Water and restrooms are available.

The group takes off earlier than usual, by the time I’m finished dawdling around, everyone’s gone from the park! We take 4th St to D St and through the residential neighborhood around Windsor Dr.

The turn on Western Ave takes us on some rollers and short climbs to Spring Hill Rd. We’re on very rough pavement for the next 7 miles. There are trade-offs; this is a quiet country back road with minimal to no traffic. The scenery along the way is gorgeous! The bright yellow of the flowers really are a great contrast to the green pastoral hills and meadows!

The next turn on Bodega Ave takes us to Valley Ford Rd and Fallon Rd. Fallon Rd becomes Fallon-Two Rock after a 1.5 miles. This stretch of road is pretty much flat with a few rollers and short climbs in between. The country landscape is beautiful.

The road becomes Whitaker Bluff Rd after crossing Hwy 1. This is another gorgeous back road; bovines can be seen grazing along the rolling hills.

After about 1.5 miles, we go straight at the Y intersection to continue on Middle Rd. The climb up Middle Rd is fairly short; it starts off flat and gradually increases to grades of about 4-6%. As as you near the top, the gradient reaches around 9%.

The turn on Dillon Beach Rd brings us to our lunch stop at the deli-cafe in Tomales. You can order sandwiches and other deli items from the counter. They have hot and cold beverages along with other snack type foods.

After lunch, we stay on Tomales Petaluma Rd for the next 5+ miles; there are a few climbs along the way before our turn on Chileno Valley Rd.

The hills, pastures and meadows along Chileno Valley Rd are all turning green! It’s a spectacular fun ride along the rolling terrain pass the ranches, old barns and grazing horses and cattle. FUN, FUN, FUN!

We take a left at the T intersection to stay on Chileno Valley Rd. There are several climbs on this 3 miles stretch of road before we reach the entrance to the Helen Putnam Park. The landscape is more of the same-horses, bovines and baby llamas or alpacas?

Restrooms and water are available at the park. The steep sections through the path are fairly short; once you get up and over to the other side-you get some fantastic views! It’s a great pay off for the climb.

We take Windsor Dr back to D St and arrive back at Walnut Park. 

Thanks to Joan for leading! This a marvelous ride to wind down for the year.

~30 people in attendance with 2 tandems

42.35 miles with 2660′ of elevation gain

Weather: SUPERB! Morning sun with some clouds and light fog; turning to sunny blue skies in the afternoon. Temps ranged from the high 50’s to the mid 60’s

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>KEEP PEDALING!>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Follow this route sheet for today’s ride: