San Diego, CA to El Cajon, CA
Date: 01/02/2013
Distance traveled: 33.39 miles
GPS tracks: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/257328062
Setting out with the bike box strapped to the back rack.
I was all over the place today, mostly because I wasn’t in a rush. I didn’t have far to go and the elevation was minimal which made for easy riding, so I took my time. After saying goodbye to Walter and Pam I rode up the street a ways to grab a bite to eat at Panera Bread Co., wander over to UPS to ship the bike box, and then make a stop at Sports Authority for fuel for the camp stove. I think I was done with all of that by around 10am… and with only 30ish miles to go I had some time to kill.
I really should have gone for the 5 beer taster, not 8.
Killing time is where the San Diego Brewing Company came into play. They were along the route and Walter and Pam spoke highly of them. I would have rather gone to some of the breweries that Nate suggested, but unfortunately they were just a little too far out of the way. I had a relaxed tasting and lunch at SDBC, and even got to chat with Jeff the brewmaster for quite a bit – I think I was there for 2 hours total. :) I highly recommend the Infinitude IPA – it was spot on.
Mission Gorge was the highlight of today’s ride.
The ride was nice and mostly uneventful. Lots of urban and commercial districts with wide shoulders and low traffic. The highlight of the route today was Mission Trails through Mission Gorge. It’s a short but scenic stretch with nonexistent traffic. It also has a nice lil historical landmark along the way.
Old Mission Dam – Built in the early 1800s
Tonight I’m staying with Brittany, Jacques and the adorable 8 month-old Roman in El Cajon, CA. They have been incredibly warm and inviting and we had lots to talk about over dinner. It’s so nice to have folks to spend time with in the evenings. It has made the beginning of the trip so nice. Jacques and I spent a lot of time talking about family, bike routes, and his own incredible trip across the US to raise money and awareness for Beautiful Gate South Africa. Beautiful Gate is a non-profit organization providing care and support to vulnerable children and families in Cape Town, South Africa, many of whom have been infected by HIV. Brittany and Jacques have a real heart for this kind of service work – it’s inspiring. You can see an interview from Jacques’ ride in 2010 here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyzT_R6H8ac
What a ride already. The dam and countryside is great, especially imagining it with mild weather and water.