Eleventy One Miles, Two Beers and Two Ferraris
You might have wondered, "What does Mike do on a Saturday in February when the temperature is forecast to get up into the low 70s?" Well, the answer goes like this...
I decided that I wanted to go visit the El Toro Brewing Company in Morgan Hill. About two weeks ago, I bought a six pack of their Poppy Jasper Amber Ale, and absolutely love it. If it's that good in the bottle, just imagine how good the beer at the brewpub must be!
Well, you all know me pretty well. And what better way to enjoy that trip than to ride my bike to the brewery! I really tried to get up early so that I could leave by 8:00, but I ended up sleeping in until 8 and didn't get on my bike until shortly before 10:00. Which isn't so bad, after all I had all day, and plenty of juice in the battery for my headlight.
I started off with a nice ride down the east side of the Santa Clara Valley, mostly along Evans-White-San Felipe roads. The last couple miles on San Felipe is a pretty decent hill, which added some spice to an otherwise fairly flat ride. Even Metcalf throws some steeps at you before the last steep descent onto 101. Such fun!
After crossing 101, I turned onto Monterey Road, and headed into Morgan Hill. The wind was fairly light, and I made it to Main Street in no time. Then I settled into the brewpub for a nice lunch. I had a 'Morgan Hill Mushroom Burger' with a side of fries. Entirely excellent, and undoubtedly the best meal I've ever had during a bike ride. I also had a couple of beers, which were both excellent as well. The El Toro Negro Oatmeal Stout and the Centeni-ale were among the best beers I've had. The Centeni-ale is in honor of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the city of Morgan Hill (November 10, 1906).
Anyway, leaving the brewpub; I headed over to Hale Avenue (which turns into Santa Teresa further north. I was feeling a little sluggish for around ten miles. Gee, do you think it could have been the beer? Coming back into San Jose, I turned onto Blossom Hill and took that into Los Gatos. This is where the Ferraris come into the picture...
As you might know, I pay attention to what people are driving. And I can't stand Hondas. But the Ferraris are [borat voice]very niceh[/bv]. I saw one going into downtown Los Gatos, and another one down on Highway 9 near Saratoga. Nice indeed, but not entirely the point of riding...
After Sarotga, I headed up to Prospect, the McClellan and up to Foothill. I stopped at Peets (corner of Homestead and Foothill) to finally get my caffeine for the day. And I also topped off the water bottle and food supply at Trader Joes. Then I was off for the long haul.
Riding up Foothill, I was feeling very good; and actually decided to extend the ride once I got up to Page Mill. So I decided to do the Portola Valley Loop as well. I was a bit tired going up that first hill on Sand Hill after 280, but I kept it up. I was passed by a guy on a cyclocross bike. Yikes! Better speed up. Then I was passed by a guy on a Rivendell Quickbeam (perhaps the bike equivalent to a 1960s Ferrari). Quite the retro bike.
Coming down Alpine Road; I was feeling good, despite the 90 miles in my legs. I was cruising down the shallow descent at close to 30 for a few miles. Man that felt good! After getting to Page Mill, I headed down to El Camino then to Rengstorff. I just had to visit Krispy Kreme. I guess I just needed the calories. So I had a couple of doughnuts and some orange juice; which both hit the spot.
After that, the rest of the ride was uneventful. And I got home around 7:30 PM. Sunset came along some time when I was riding up Sand Hill Road. And the total mileage was really eleventy one (111) miles.
I decided that I wanted to go visit the El Toro Brewing Company in Morgan Hill. About two weeks ago, I bought a six pack of their Poppy Jasper Amber Ale, and absolutely love it. If it's that good in the bottle, just imagine how good the beer at the brewpub must be!
Well, you all know me pretty well. And what better way to enjoy that trip than to ride my bike to the brewery! I really tried to get up early so that I could leave by 8:00, but I ended up sleeping in until 8 and didn't get on my bike until shortly before 10:00. Which isn't so bad, after all I had all day, and plenty of juice in the battery for my headlight.
I started off with a nice ride down the east side of the Santa Clara Valley, mostly along Evans-White-San Felipe roads. The last couple miles on San Felipe is a pretty decent hill, which added some spice to an otherwise fairly flat ride. Even Metcalf throws some steeps at you before the last steep descent onto 101. Such fun!
After crossing 101, I turned onto Monterey Road, and headed into Morgan Hill. The wind was fairly light, and I made it to Main Street in no time. Then I settled into the brewpub for a nice lunch. I had a 'Morgan Hill Mushroom Burger' with a side of fries. Entirely excellent, and undoubtedly the best meal I've ever had during a bike ride. I also had a couple of beers, which were both excellent as well. The El Toro Negro Oatmeal Stout and the Centeni-ale were among the best beers I've had. The Centeni-ale is in honor of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the city of Morgan Hill (November 10, 1906).
Anyway, leaving the brewpub; I headed over to Hale Avenue (which turns into Santa Teresa further north. I was feeling a little sluggish for around ten miles. Gee, do you think it could have been the beer? Coming back into San Jose, I turned onto Blossom Hill and took that into Los Gatos. This is where the Ferraris come into the picture...
As you might know, I pay attention to what people are driving. And I can't stand Hondas. But the Ferraris are [borat voice]very niceh[/bv]. I saw one going into downtown Los Gatos, and another one down on Highway 9 near Saratoga. Nice indeed, but not entirely the point of riding...
After Sarotga, I headed up to Prospect, the McClellan and up to Foothill. I stopped at Peets (corner of Homestead and Foothill) to finally get my caffeine for the day. And I also topped off the water bottle and food supply at Trader Joes. Then I was off for the long haul.
Riding up Foothill, I was feeling very good; and actually decided to extend the ride once I got up to Page Mill. So I decided to do the Portola Valley Loop as well. I was a bit tired going up that first hill on Sand Hill after 280, but I kept it up. I was passed by a guy on a cyclocross bike. Yikes! Better speed up. Then I was passed by a guy on a Rivendell Quickbeam (perhaps the bike equivalent to a 1960s Ferrari). Quite the retro bike.
Coming down Alpine Road; I was feeling good, despite the 90 miles in my legs. I was cruising down the shallow descent at close to 30 for a few miles. Man that felt good! After getting to Page Mill, I headed down to El Camino then to Rengstorff. I just had to visit Krispy Kreme. I guess I just needed the calories. So I had a couple of doughnuts and some orange juice; which both hit the spot.
After that, the rest of the ride was uneventful. And I got home around 7:30 PM. Sunset came along some time when I was riding up Sand Hill Road. And the total mileage was really eleventy one (111) miles.
;)
posted by Mike Deitchman at
7:34 AM
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