Canada Road (Sunday April 2)

Today's ride was a perfect increment for me. Rode with the Different Spokes bike club from San Francisco. The ride was a decent amount of mileage and, the introduction of some real hills. Nothing major hill-wise, but some decent hills nonetheless.

Rest Stop at Arastradero Park

We started at Gunn High School on Arastradero Road in Palo Alto. Rode through Woodside, past Robert's Market (more on that later), onto Canada Road. The ride was gorgeous, few cars, lots of trees and good people to ride with. I've never really ridden through Woodside - it's an experience. Feels so far away from the urbanity of the Bay Area and yet, you are right in the middle of it. Great place to ride.

A few miles up Canada Road, at Edgewood Road, cars are blocked off on Sunday. Well, it was Sunday and yes, NO CARS. That freedom starts just past Filoli Gardens. Wonderful to ride freely on the road. We got up to Hwy 92, our turnaround point. Rested a bit, chatted, took some pictures and rode back, with a stop at Robert's Market for lunch

Crystal Springs Reservoir

Canada Rd from turnaround

Robert's Market - well it's as upscale as it gets. Incredible selection of foods, which is really dangerous when you are hungry from a ride. Got a great turkey sandwich, pint of milk and stationed myself outside, in the sun, next to the other riders also eating their lunch. Nice, relaxing time. Only hard part is getting back on the saddle to finish the ride - body really enjoys the rest!

Ride back was mostly downhill, the ride over to Sand Hill and along Sand Hill was in open fields. Really pretty this time of year - felt like the hills of Ireland it was so green. Got back to Gunn High School somewhere around 1:30, said goodbye and then, off to see my brother at Stanford Hospital. Very nice to be so close to him on this ride.

Ride Statistics

• Total Distance: 35 miles
• Time Riding: 3:00
• Average Speed: 13.5 mph
• Average Cadence:
• How I felt: No problems with leg or back. Hills were no problem. Did eat every hour, did try to get off bike periodically - walk it out for a few minutes. Tired the next day, but nothing major.