It's the Weekend: Hang a Left at the Water Tank

 Riding into the weekend like... it is not just another adventure.

You know, years and years ago, at the old Claremont Cyclist blog I took a photo of a guy riding up Mills. He was wearing hiking boots and carrying a walking stick, and I thought, "that's so cool; guy rode from home, and is on his way to the park where he is going to hike the loop. Only thing better than riding to hike the Loop is riding to ride the Loop." Ever since then I've taken special notice when bikes are parked at the rack up there - "cool, another ride-to-hiker." Well this afternoon I spotted not just one, but four ride-to-hikers, with their rigs parked and awaiting their return. Cool x 4.

Segue to public service announcement: As I stopped to take the above photo, there was a grumpy ol' guy complaining to one of the yellow-vest employee / volunteers. He was complaining about reckless mountain bikers, and having to jump out of the way more than once to avoid being run down. Now I know, like myself, you remember a time when there were no hordes up there, but lets face it the Wilderness Park hasn't been a "local spot" for years now, its fame has spread far and wide making it a more regional draw for the folks who want to spend an hour in nature without having to drive too far. Now I also know that those walkers can make it difficult to ride - groups will take up most of the road, they'll walk around with earbuds plugging up their ears, oblivious to anyone, or anything coming up behind them, their dogs might be on those stupid extenda-leashes, old grumpy guys might walk in the middle of the road, etc. Just take it easy in the congested areas of the park and everything will be cool.

Years ago, when I first began riding up in the hills, particularly along the Palmer Evey, I was especially struck by the uniqueness of West Palmer Canyon. It is the only canyon between Marshall and San Antonio to have a permanent flow of water in its stream. At some point I hung a left at the old water tank and found that there was a little trail going up the canyon, sometimes down in the stream bed, other times a little above it. I followed it once, for a short distance, until deciding that was not why I was there, and went back to my ride. Bummer. I hung a left at the old water tank again this afternoon and found a faint trace of a trail which came to an end at a low wall of green almost as soon as it began.

might not look it from this angle, but this is one big alder - King Alnus rhombifolia

Alright then, like that guy above, go ride on into the weekend adventure.