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Well,
Last week the intention was to go to Raven Pond as part of the Tour de Swim ride. That part was dropped as it was deemed too far for the leisurely style of the type of ride the Tour de Swim ride is. So, I decided that I would ride out there and swim it myself. Looking at the map Raven Pond (and Deer Camp Trail) is the practically the farthest east you can go in the park. It is quite a distance if you figure that it is near a mile past Mustang Peak which is far on it's own. Factor in heat and...
So, I got up wanting to ride and knowing where. I wanted to swim Raven Pond. I hadn't swam there before and I am slowly getting around to swimming in all the swim holes of Coe. That is also the point of the Tour de Swim holes ride that we did last week. Intentions were to arrive at 9 AM since it seemed a long one. I was thinking of Raven Pond to Jack Rabbit Lake, then Mississippi Lake. Aggressive, I know. I drove with my top down with a jacket on through the overcast skies. It was cold. As I was nearing Hunting Hollow parking lot I could feel the searing heat. Really noticeable with every mile once I got to Gilroy Hot Springs Road.
I arrived in the lot to see Charlie's vehicle along with (other) park fixture who goes by the name of Jay. I got ready, admired his new, 2011 Specialized Epic and I was off and up Hunting Hollow Road and then climbing the Lyman Willson Trail. I wanted to get to Pacheco Camp as quick as possible, no extra stuff. Wagon Road to Coit Dam Trail to Coit Ridge Trail and then to Pacheco Camp. I decided to top up on water since it was a long ride to Raven Pond. Onward and up Coit Road to County Line Road then down Turkey Pond Trail. Near the end of Turkey Pond Trail I took out a tree branch that I had noticed last ride across the trail with my handy fiskars saw. I got back on County Line Road for quite a while, past the Dutch's Trail sign and past the gate at Mustang Peak. It was getting pretty hot. As I hoisted my bike up and over the gate, my hands were met with searing heat of the bicycle frame. That's good. No hesitation getting in Raven Pond then. I rode the last mile and came to the next gate. This one isn't locked, just a chain. Once through the trail to Raven Pond (and the dead ending Deer Camp Trail) is visible. I headed down. I caught myself going down Deer Camp Trail accidentally. I backtracked, then I headed down the correct fork and there it was, Raven Pond. And quite swim-able. Not like the mud-pond I saw last time I was here. But that was late in the year. Plus, there was more rain this year. As I came to the shores a frog, startled, squeaked and hoped into the pond to escape this monster that suddenly appeared. I dove in. Another swim in a remote pond in Coe. I swam the full length of Raven Pond. It was warm on top but down a few feet it was quite cold. A beautiful swim. And pretty good, not too much crappy stuff, just around the edges.
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I packed up and headed back to Mustang Peak. I had planned on going out to Jack Rabbit Lake via Long Ridge Road. As I got to the gate I heard a vehicle. It was a land owner in a large silver truck. I talked with him briefly. He owns a place here and lives out near Coe on the weekends and said he loves it. Hard to disagree with him. I spend my Saturdays in Coe so I can relate. He commented on my being out here with the heat. I told him I loved it. When I started heading down Long Ridge Road to go even farther away from my starting point he seemed concerned. "You going to Jack Rabbit?" I replied, "Jack Rabbit Lake, yes." He continued on his way as I rode down the steep beginning of Long Ridge Road from Mustang Peak.
I got to Jack Rabbit Lake after some rolling hills. I was ready for a swim. The water is lower from a couple of weeks ago. You hate to see that. Still, it felt great. I swam across Jack Rabbit Lake and back.
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Then, I filtered water. I packed up and I was off. Long Ridge Road to Orestimba Road. I stopped off at a small water hole and took a photo. I suppose I should have swam in it but didn't. Water seemed a bit funny.
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Off to Orestimba Creek Road. But on the way I saw this out of the blue!!
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It was so bright! And such a long string on it. It was bran new!
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I was being rewarded for a ride well-done, so far. How timely. Congrats! indeed!!!
I picked the mylar balloon and kept on. Orestimba Creek Road was bone-dry and like a desert. Rolling tires on rocks. High gear, just roll and roll. I had an idea that I might bag a couple of water swims. I usually take the fun Orestimba Creek Trail but if I instead, stayed on Orestimba Creek Road, I would be able to swim Kingbird Pond and Will's Pond, both new swims for me. I quickly got to the trail to Kingbird Pond. It was 1/2 a mile to the small pond. Not long I arrived at a green patch of vegetation earlier in the year known as Kingbird Pond. I really wanted this one. But the swim wasn't to be. I hiked on foot further to check for more water. I did find a bit, small patches, maybe enough to wet my ankles. Devastating. After all that, I was rewarded with legs full of burrs and stickers and thimbles of water. I head back to Orestimba Creek Road.
There was still Will's Pond. I have never actually seen Will's Pond. It is off the trail and a bit hidden. I rode a ways and walked off trail to where I thought it might be. No, just a dry creek. I rode a bit further, being careful not to go to far. I didn't want to pass it. I really had my hopes up for a swim and it would be nice to finally find this illusive Will's Pond. I don't know who Will was and no mention of Will's Pond in "Names On The Land" by Teddy Goodrich. Still, I'm sure there is a story there. I got off the bike again and saw what looked like a dam in the distance. This looked maybe good. I was skeptical, though. I hiked maybe an eighth of a mile and came up over the rise, the thing that looked like a dam. A trail did lead to it so things seemed good. I crested the hill and lo and behold, Will's Pond.
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Glorious! I found it and it did look very swim-able! I got ready then dove it. The water was good, good, good. There was vegetation that grew to near the surface in various places but it was quite pleasant. I swam all around the pond. Pretty in that there is a cove under a tree where I swam under with a rock next to it, and another pretty inlet.
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A view from the shore looking into the sun:
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Very satisfying. After the swim I took more pictures. Really serene.
It was time to go. I still had hopes of going to Mississippi Lake but it was getting late. I rode to County Line Road and Coit Road. I was pretty tired. I decided I wouldn't have the time or energy to go all the way to Mississippi Lake. I had planned on swimming there, heading out via Heritage Trail to Pacheco Creek Trail to Pacheco Camp. But, I couldn't. I rode to Pacheco Camp, directly instead. Even that was tough.
I spent too much time at Pacheco Camp. My back was sore and my legs were noodles. I felt I could probably strum a little song on them if i tried.
Then it was out of the hole that is Pacheco Camp and up and on to Wagon Road. I got to Tule Pond Trail and it was so late that I opted for Grizzly Gulch Trail. Out there and to the lot. By the time I finished it was 9 pm. Near 12 hours. I had done a lot. A great ride. It was glorious out in Coe today. And, judging by this:
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.......it was 100 degrees out there. This was at 6 PM. Earlier and farther it felt hotter. I rode 49 miles and 8,400 feet. Pretty good, I think.
Roy.
Last week the intention was to go to Raven Pond as part of the Tour de Swim ride. That part was dropped as it was deemed too far for the leisurely style of the type of ride the Tour de Swim ride is. So, I decided that I would ride out there and swim it myself. Looking at the map Raven Pond (and Deer Camp Trail) is the practically the farthest east you can go in the park. It is quite a distance if you figure that it is near a mile past Mustang Peak which is far on it's own. Factor in heat and...
So, I got up wanting to ride and knowing where. I wanted to swim Raven Pond. I hadn't swam there before and I am slowly getting around to swimming in all the swim holes of Coe. That is also the point of the Tour de Swim holes ride that we did last week. Intentions were to arrive at 9 AM since it seemed a long one. I was thinking of Raven Pond to Jack Rabbit Lake, then Mississippi Lake. Aggressive, I know. I drove with my top down with a jacket on through the overcast skies. It was cold. As I was nearing Hunting Hollow parking lot I could feel the searing heat. Really noticeable with every mile once I got to Gilroy Hot Springs Road.
I arrived in the lot to see Charlie's vehicle along with (other) park fixture who goes by the name of Jay. I got ready, admired his new, 2011 Specialized Epic and I was off and up Hunting Hollow Road and then climbing the Lyman Willson Trail. I wanted to get to Pacheco Camp as quick as possible, no extra stuff. Wagon Road to Coit Dam Trail to Coit Ridge Trail and then to Pacheco Camp. I decided to top up on water since it was a long ride to Raven Pond. Onward and up Coit Road to County Line Road then down Turkey Pond Trail. Near the end of Turkey Pond Trail I took out a tree branch that I had noticed last ride across the trail with my handy fiskars saw. I got back on County Line Road for quite a while, past the Dutch's Trail sign and past the gate at Mustang Peak. It was getting pretty hot. As I hoisted my bike up and over the gate, my hands were met with searing heat of the bicycle frame. That's good. No hesitation getting in Raven Pond then. I rode the last mile and came to the next gate. This one isn't locked, just a chain. Once through the trail to Raven Pond (and the dead ending Deer Camp Trail) is visible. I headed down. I caught myself going down Deer Camp Trail accidentally. I backtracked, then I headed down the correct fork and there it was, Raven Pond. And quite swim-able. Not like the mud-pond I saw last time I was here. But that was late in the year. Plus, there was more rain this year. As I came to the shores a frog, startled, squeaked and hoped into the pond to escape this monster that suddenly appeared. I dove in. Another swim in a remote pond in Coe. I swam the full length of Raven Pond. It was warm on top but down a few feet it was quite cold. A beautiful swim. And pretty good, not too much crappy stuff, just around the edges.
I packed up and headed back to Mustang Peak. I had planned on going out to Jack Rabbit Lake via Long Ridge Road. As I got to the gate I heard a vehicle. It was a land owner in a large silver truck. I talked with him briefly. He owns a place here and lives out near Coe on the weekends and said he loves it. Hard to disagree with him. I spend my Saturdays in Coe so I can relate. He commented on my being out here with the heat. I told him I loved it. When I started heading down Long Ridge Road to go even farther away from my starting point he seemed concerned. "You going to Jack Rabbit?" I replied, "Jack Rabbit Lake, yes." He continued on his way as I rode down the steep beginning of Long Ridge Road from Mustang Peak.
I got to Jack Rabbit Lake after some rolling hills. I was ready for a swim. The water is lower from a couple of weeks ago. You hate to see that. Still, it felt great. I swam across Jack Rabbit Lake and back.
Then, I filtered water. I packed up and I was off. Long Ridge Road to Orestimba Road. I stopped off at a small water hole and took a photo. I suppose I should have swam in it but didn't. Water seemed a bit funny.
Off to Orestimba Creek Road. But on the way I saw this out of the blue!!
I was being rewarded for a ride well-done, so far. How timely. Congrats! indeed!!!
I picked the mylar balloon and kept on. Orestimba Creek Road was bone-dry and like a desert. Rolling tires on rocks. High gear, just roll and roll. I had an idea that I might bag a couple of water swims. I usually take the fun Orestimba Creek Trail but if I instead, stayed on Orestimba Creek Road, I would be able to swim Kingbird Pond and Will's Pond, both new swims for me. I quickly got to the trail to Kingbird Pond. It was 1/2 a mile to the small pond. Not long I arrived at a green patch of vegetation earlier in the year known as Kingbird Pond. I really wanted this one. But the swim wasn't to be. I hiked on foot further to check for more water. I did find a bit, small patches, maybe enough to wet my ankles. Devastating. After all that, I was rewarded with legs full of burrs and stickers and thimbles of water. I head back to Orestimba Creek Road.
There was still Will's Pond. I have never actually seen Will's Pond. It is off the trail and a bit hidden. I rode a ways and walked off trail to where I thought it might be. No, just a dry creek. I rode a bit further, being careful not to go to far. I didn't want to pass it. I really had my hopes up for a swim and it would be nice to finally find this illusive Will's Pond. I don't know who Will was and no mention of Will's Pond in "Names On The Land" by Teddy Goodrich. Still, I'm sure there is a story there. I got off the bike again and saw what looked like a dam in the distance. This looked maybe good. I was skeptical, though. I hiked maybe an eighth of a mile and came up over the rise, the thing that looked like a dam. A trail did lead to it so things seemed good. I crested the hill and lo and behold, Will's Pond.
Glorious! I found it and it did look very swim-able! I got ready then dove it. The water was good, good, good. There was vegetation that grew to near the surface in various places but it was quite pleasant. I swam all around the pond. Pretty in that there is a cove under a tree where I swam under with a rock next to it, and another pretty inlet.
A view from the shore looking into the sun:
Very satisfying. After the swim I took more pictures. Really serene.
It was time to go. I still had hopes of going to Mississippi Lake but it was getting late. I rode to County Line Road and Coit Road. I was pretty tired. I decided I wouldn't have the time or energy to go all the way to Mississippi Lake. I had planned on swimming there, heading out via Heritage Trail to Pacheco Creek Trail to Pacheco Camp. But, I couldn't. I rode to Pacheco Camp, directly instead. Even that was tough.
I spent too much time at Pacheco Camp. My back was sore and my legs were noodles. I felt I could probably strum a little song on them if i tried.
Then it was out of the hole that is Pacheco Camp and up and on to Wagon Road. I got to Tule Pond Trail and it was so late that I opted for Grizzly Gulch Trail. Out there and to the lot. By the time I finished it was 9 pm. Near 12 hours. I had done a lot. A great ride. It was glorious out in Coe today. And, judging by this:
.......it was 100 degrees out there. This was at 6 PM. Earlier and farther it felt hotter. I rode 49 miles and 8,400 feet. Pretty good, I think.
Roy.
Maybe we need to add a cipro course to standard mtb gear kits.
