Riding in the Park

Chris, Brooke, Kristin, Eric and I all headed to Solvang, CA area where it is sunny and about 10 degrees warmer than Santa Barbara. It is weird because you drive up from foggy, yuck-o, "Gorilla's in the Mist"weather about 10 minutes up and over the mountains and wham, you get sunny blue sky and a heck of a lot warmer than SB. I guess it is always like that when it's "May Gray" in the Barb with the mountains trapping it in.

Kristin, Chris, Eric, Brooke ready to ride


We parked at a school off of Figueroa Road which is just across the entrance to Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch. You can't see anything except the entrance to the the ranch from the road. It is well guarded too. Want to buy it? I guess you are too late.


But I wasn't sure they were going to let me onto Figueroa road in the first place.....


Not sure what peak that is in the distance? Perhaps Figueroa?


After tackling that road and a bit of the climb we headed over and up to Foxen Road which parallels the Firestone Vineyard where the next NMBS race is this weekend.

Chris and Brooke taking a break.


Kristin making a face at me!


Here are some pics looking down at the NMBS course. In years past we have parked near that tiny lake and the single track goes through the vineyard behind it and then comes up to where I am standing taking the picture at one of its higher points on the course. From there it's just lots of rollers.


The singletrack is looking dusty and crusty and word is that it is supposed to be 95 degrees plus here this weekend. Heat wave!


Seriously? A gov't sign for Tarantula crossing?