Thursday, September 10, 2015

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Today’s ride is in celebration of Walt’s 84th Birthday! Roll through the city of Hayward on Mission Blvd to Decoto and Alvarado Niles before heading west along the Alameda Creek Trail for the group meet up at Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge. Continue NW for a loop and climb up to Nike Hill via the Bayview and Meadowlark Trails at Coyote Hills Regional Park. Meander around the city streets from Fremont to Union City for a Birthday lunch stop at Andersen Bakery. Continue across Union Landing for a stop at the Flight 93 Memorial at Sugar Mill Landing Park before returning on the Alameda Creek Trail and busy city streets to Hayward BART.

Exit Hayward BART on Montgomery Ave and C St to Second St, Walpert and Fletcher Ln; this horseshoe detour avoids the ultra busy CA-185/238/92 freeway interchange on Mission Blvd.

Head south along the flats on Mission Blvd to Union City:

Turn right on Decoto Rd and turn left onto Alvarado Niles Blvd using the pedestrian crosswalk. Meader along Osprey Rd to Quarry Lakes and Isherwood Way:

Head SW on the Alameda Creek Trail from Isherwood Way to Ardenwood Blvd:

Head south on Paseo Padre to Thornton Ave:

Take Marshlands Rd to Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge:

Meet up at Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Fremont:

Walt & friends:

Exit Visitor Center onto Marshlands Rd:

On Thornton Ave to Paseo Padre Blvd:

Patterson Ranch Rd to Coyote Hills Regional Park:

Bayview Trail towards Dairy Glen and Meadowlark Trail:

Meadowlark Trail to Nike Hill climb; the climb is 0.6 mile with an average grade of 6% and steep pitches of 9-12%.

Nike Hill Summit:

Enjoy the hilltop views!

Descend Nike Hill:

Continue on Bayview Trail:

Fabulous South Bay & salt marsh views!

Red Hill Trail to Alameda Creek Trail:

Alameda Creek Trail:

Ardenwood Blvd & Union City Blvd to the residential neighborhoods along Lowry Rd and Regents Blvd:

Dyer Rd to Courthouse Dr and Union Landing Shopping Plaza:

Lunch stop at Andersen Bakery:

Walt & friends:

Courthouse Dr to Multi-use path to Sugar Mill Landing Park:

Flight 93 Memorial at Sugar Mill Landing Park: Located in Sugar Mill Landing Park on the back side of the Union Landing Shopping Center, the memorial pays tribute to the 33 passengers and seven crew members of Flight 93, who fought back against terrorists who hijacked the United Airlines plane and crashed into a rural field in Western Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, 2001. The memorial includes 40 granite stones bearing the names of the passengers and crew members along a path that begins at a “Circle of Remembrance.” The stones end at a “Circle of Hope,” which contains an American flag that symbolizes the bravery and courage of the passengers and crew. 

Smith St to Union City Blvd & Ardenwood Blvd:

Alameda Creek Trail from Ardenwood Blvd:

Exit Trail onto Isherwood Way and Quarry Lakes Dr to Osprey Rd:

Return on Alvarado Niles to Decoto and Mission Blvd:

Short steep 12-16% climb on Fletcher Ln to Walpert St:

Second St to B St and Montgomery Ave to Hayward BART:

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY” WALT! 

This is a leisurely social ride from Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge to the scenic trails around Coyote Hills Regional Park! You can easily add junk miles by starting out from Hayward BART as I did or follow the original route.

Garmin Stats:
48.39 Miles with 1273′ of elevation gain
Max elevation: 293′
Max grade: 16%
Terrain: Flat-rolling with a few low hills

Weather: Sunny and hot with gorgeous blue skies. Temps ranged from the low 60’s to the low 100’s with NW winds.

View the interactive RGPS extended route map & profile

Follow this extended route for today’s ride:

View the interactive RGPS route map & profile

Follow this route for ride start at Don Edward Wildlife Refuge: