Sunol Ride

Saturday ride with my hubby, Ross. We decided to try southern Alameda county - Sunol area. First thought was to ride Niles-Canyon Road, which I've always heard is a beautiful ride. My question was traffic, so decided to drive it first, over to Sunol. If it looked good, we'd ride it, if not, planned an alternate ride from the Sunol area. Good thing we planned an alternate ride. Niles Canyon Road is a gorgeous drive, but the traffic is heavy and, the shoulders are minimal. Not a good biking road.

The alternate route is here. My thought was to park at the Sunol Wilderness Area parking lot and bike from there. Almost a good idea - it was already 2:30 and the park gate closes at 5. Ross correctly pointed out if we get a flat or any other problem, we would be hosed. So, out we drove to a nice parking spot on Calaveras Road.

The area is behind the Fremont hills and south of Pleasanton.  Gorgeous area, pretty undeveloped, few houses, lots of cows. Angle of the sun in late afternoon made it especially beautiful. There was a headwind, but it wasn't too bad. Road North, under I-680, to Pleasanton-Sunol Road. Noticed that much of the land on the East was San Francisco Dept. of Water land - did not register what that significance was. At least, not until the end of the ride.

Turned right on Pleasanton-Sunol Rd. and rode parallel to the freeway - really pretty ride, albeit a bit of noise from the freeway. Lots of cottonwood trees, a surprise. Cottonwoods like water and they frequently mark a creek - which they did in this case. Made it up to Castlewood Drive, where we turned, drove by the country club and then turned right onto Foothill Road. Very tony suburb, southern end of Pleasanton. Pretty, but a bit scary if you ask me - many gated communities - not my taste. Turned around at Bernal Road to head back. Nice midway point. Sun getting even lower and the angle, and shadows, were especially nice. Soon we hear the rumble of motor cycles and a troop of perhaps 30 cycles came roaring by us on the other side of the road - man were we happy to be going the opposite direction.




The ride back to Hwy 84 was uneventful, except when I asked Ross how he felt. He said his left hand was getting numb - as was my right hand - and I said it might be due to our riding slowly. Well, that's not the way to encourage your riding partner to go on more rides - he thought he was hoofing it and here I come along and say we were riding slowly. OOPS.


At Hwy 84, we noticed a gate across the street. Curious as we normally are, we rode across and discovered that it was the gate to the Sunol water temple, part of the Hetch Hetchy Water project from San Francisco. WOW! Great find. There is another water temple on the Peninsula, near San Mateo, called the Pulgas Water Temple. There is also a third I believe somewhere in the Bay Area. These structures are really cool - shaped like a small Greek Temple and if you look into it, or down it I should say (like a well), you see the water flowing. This is the fresh water system that supplies much of the Peninsula and the city of San Francisco. What a find. We could not go in, but the picture shows the temple in the distance and the plaque is on the gate into the property.

Statistics

• Distance: 18 miles
• Time: 1.5 hours
• Average Speed: 12.5 mph
• Wind: 10-15 mph. Headwind, for perhaps 50% of the ride.

Physical Feelings

• Definitely kept breathing almost normal, so pace was for endurance
• No hip achiness. Riding a bit slower than I would normally ride and no significant hills.
• Some hand numbness, not sure why.
• No arm, shoulder or neck achiness
• Legs a bit tired, no burning.
• Good energy during and after ride - no feeling of being wiped out.
• Split a Cliff Bar with Ross at halfway point and again, at end. Drank one bottle of water.