21st Century Cliche: Age is relative (or riding with Steve)

Steve surveying the turn we missed (Coral Canyon)

You hear them all the time: age is relative; forty is the new 30; and 70 is the new 60. If this is true, then is 20 the new 10? I hope not. Cliche's aside, one of my good friends and riding compatriot just turned 50 and if 50 is the new 40, then Steve is 25 and I'm going on 63. Hands down Steve is the best climber in our group of middle-aged mountain bikers. Dedication. Focus. Passion. Commitment. Success. If 50 is the new 40, then I'm gunning for 50.

Looking south--Hills of Mexico to the south (Coral Canyon)

Yucca in bloom (Coral Canyon)

Day 6: Julian to San Pasqual Valley (43 miles)

Apple Tree Inn, Wynola, CA (34 degrees)

Finally, a bed to sleep in. Not luxury accommodations, but a bed. Not a sleeping bag in a tent, but a real bed. The Apple Tree Inn in Wynola, CA., just a few miles west of Julian. With the charm of 1970s Mountain Motif and a shower that flowed brown for a few moments, it was an excellent respite from tent camping and the sub-freezing temperatures mid-spring in the mountains of southern California. After a meal of pizza, lasagna, and several cold beers, we said goodnight to our 5th day of riding and dreamt about what the 6th day would bring.

6:30 AM: 34 degrees and sunny. The 3 mile descent into the Santa Ysabel valley would be cold, but the scenery of the valley would be spectacular.
6:50 AM: Big breakfast. Eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, fruit. Did I mention I gained two pounds on this ride?
7:30 AM: Pack up the Highlander, fill hydration packs, put on layers, stock up on nutritionals.
8:00 AM: Cold start on highway 78, winding through Live Oaks and Pine. The cold tore into my bare finger tips and stiffened my finger joints. 3 miles of pain, 3 miles of beauty. I sucked it up.
8:20 AM: Stop for bear claws at Dudley's Bakery. Really? We just ate. I'm lucky I only gained 2 pounds in 7 days.

Dudley's Bakery for Bear Claws

Stream in Black Canyon valley

Me and Jules after the Black Canyon Climb

We then headed north on CA79 through Santa Ysabel Valley for several miles and then turned south on Mesa Grande road. I had never been on this road, but to my surprise this was my favorite stretch of riding on the entire trip. Downy hills covered in light brown grass and sprinkled with mature Live Oaks. One of the most beautiful places I've seen in San Diego County. Our journey continued on a dirt road that opened up to miles of descent into the steep Black Canyon valley. All smiles on the way down until we noticed the long climb back out of the valley. We had at least a mile climb out. A couple of clicks and pedal mashing and we were grinding our way up. And then the competition began. "I want to pass those Deer Canyon girls," Jules exclaimed 1/4 mile into the climb. And that was it. She was determined to catch them. Friendly competition, but competition nonetheless. Click up a gear. Mash the pedals. Set a cadence. And breath. As we passed the Deer Canyon crew near the top, Jules didn't relent and I realized this climb (and more generally this entire experience) wasn't about cycling, or eating, or even competition; this was about determination and digging deep. With every crank rotation and patterned breath, Jules was learning a life lesson I really wasn't able to teach her.