Los Robles
Trail
A Brief, Bare-Bones,
Skeletal Report
Saturday
05-13-06
Under cool overcast skies on a May
Gray Day, 5 men arrived at the East Coast Bagel Company parking lot
for the Saturday ride. Heading up Hampshire Road towards the dirt
fireroad were Rod, Dean, Joe, DavidR, and Robco. After pedaling several
miles on the dirt we arrived at a point just before the switchbacks where we
paused to rest and contemplate our route.
I think it was Joe who suggested
varying our usual route with a reversal. Instead of climbing the
switchbacks, why not head via dirt and pavement to the bottom of the
Rosewood Trail, climb it up to the bench and then come back along the Los Robles
Trail in order to descend the switchbacks. It seemed like a good idea
and all got on board. But then as we transitioned from the dirt to the
street we came upon a sign--an omen if you will--that portended possible
doom.
EEEE
H
H
H
Which direction should we take?
Would we head towards Camelot or Certain Death (and Destruction)?
H
H
H
FFFFFF
Soon we came upon this poor soul who had
apparently made the wrong choice
on his white steed!!!
Not wanting to hang around
too long
we changed direction and
pedaled off towards Rosewood
Furiously we climbed Rosewood,
seeking our Camelot at The Bench.
David, Dean, Joe, Rob, and Rod are
all smiles as we eluded Death
After a brief rest stop, we headed
back on the Los Robles Trail. And speaking of Death.... Probably the
most technical spot on the entire trail was the sharp switchback turn that went
over a row of rocks. It's probably the only place on the trail that I
figured I could die if I attempted it and failed. Well, the turn has been
virtually "paved over" and is now more like a transition road between 2 freeways
than a challenging switchback.
Dean, David, and Rod pose at the
formerly tough turn
Soon we arrived at the top of the
switchbacks for the E-ticket down. At the bottom we did the Whoop-de-Doos
which brought us back to Moorpark Road. Although Joe headed back on the
street, the remaining 4 of us decided to take advantage of the cool weather and
so climbed the Los Padres Trail and then retraced our early morning path on the
dirt fireroads that eventually brought us back to Hampshire Road and then our
cars.
Have a good week.
Robco Baggins
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RCYMountainBiking.com
