I put on my cycling shorts and headed out on my mountain bike yesterday around 11am. I didn’t head for the beach, I wanted to ride mountain bike trails. I rode up the Rose Creek paved trail to Damon Avenue. Damon Avenue took me to Santa Fe  Street, where I turned north, parallel to I-5.

Santa Fe Street is a light commercial zone with small business parks. The Santa Fe RV Park is also on this street. As I rode past one business complex, I saw an interesting sign. It invited cyclists to stop for air, water and refueling.

An invitation for cyclists

I didn’t stop. I continued north to the end of the road and followed the paved Rose Canyon bicycle path for a few hundred yards. At the junction with San Clemente Canyon, I carried my bike across the railroad tracks and rode east along single-track dirt paths into San Clemente Canyon.

When I was growing up in the area, we often hiked in San Clemente Canyon. I haven’t been in this place for at least 40 years. The bottom of the canyon is overgrown with vegetation now and the trails are very narrow in places.

Trail in San Clemente Canyon

There were several trails intersecting each other and either climbing the south side of the canyon or dropping to the bottom of the canyon. I meandered up and down as I rode east. I wanted to find a particular tree. I have an old picture of me and my brother sitting in this tree. I was 16 years old at the time and Eddie was five or six.

Me and my brother, Eddie

I didn’t know if I could find this tree 42 years later. I knew I was in the right area. Then I spotted what looked to be the same tree, but viewed from the other side.

42 years later, I’m not sure if this is the same tree

Riding up and down the canyon wall had me huffing and puffing. I need to get out here more often and work myself back into cycling shape. I was in much better condition when I rode my road bike most days last year.

The trails were challenging in some areas. Even the wide open sections had rocks in the hard-packed dirt, which kept me on my toes.

Watch out for rocks

I tried to capture a steep, rutted downhill section, but the camera perspective doesn’t really show how steep it is.

Steep, rutted downhill

I rode on the trails for about 40 minutes before I re-crossed the railroad tracks and headed home. I was out of water and feeling overheated. When I rode past the Sport Rx Glasses business with the sign inviting cyclist to stop, I stopped this time. They had a table next to the sidewalk with a five-gallon jug of drinking water in a rack that allowed the water to be easily poured from the jug. There were also some chewy granola bars on the table and a sign-up sheet to receive e-mails about bicycling events they sponsor.

Free refreshments for cyclists

I filled my water bottle and helped myself to a granola bar. Thanks, Sport Rx! I felt much better after taking a break. I rode home and was feeling whipped. Donna was out for a run when I returned. She came home a few minutes later.

Donna spent the rest of the afternoon working while I kicked back. Donna’s sister, Sheila, dropped off leftover ziti with marinara and meatballs from the Halloween party while I was out on my bike. We reheated it for dinner. I was just as tasty the second time around! She ordered it from The Venetian in Point Loma.

Last night, I watched the Monday Night Football game. Today, I have a number of errands to run. I’ll recover from the bike ride today and head out to the canyon again tomorrow.