Riding By The Golden Hills – BionicOldGuy

Summer is fast approaching and for us the first sign is always that our hills are no longer green but now golden, which they will remain until the next autumn rainy season. But the weather was great for riding, not too hot until late in the afternoon when I would have finished. I have to be a little careful with the length of the trip because there is pollen in the air that gives me an allergy headache. Not bad if I keep my trips under 3 hours.

Last Tuesday, my group did a Taco Tuesday trip on the first Tuesday of the month. We head south to San Martin, then turn east and back north on the east side of the valley and up the Coyote Creek Trail all the way to Metcalf Park, loop back down Malech Road and head back downtown for lunch.

Cochrane Road on the hill that runs past the Almaden Reservoir Dam
Getting on track
The trail curves west toward the Santa Cruz Mountains
Rest in Metcalf Park

On Saturday, I took the upright car in search of an off-road trip.

Gravel/mud shoulder off Main Ave at Guillelmo Winery
Local country road, Elm Rd. Some people drive quite fast on this road in their cars, which the residents don’t find amusing
Some dirt trails in Anderson Lake County Park

Yesterday was a tough day, a fast 2 hour 50 minute cruise with strength training on the bike and breaks. Then I did some upper body strength training in the garage.

Dougherty Rd, country road northwest of Morgan Hill
Hale Avenue north through Coyote Valley.
Leaning into the turn on Bailey Ave.
A hill at the north end of Coyote Valley. On the other side is the beginning of the areas of South San Jose.
The neighborhood on the west side backs up to the foothills of Santa Teresa. You can drive here about 10 miles (16 km) north, with great views of the area and Santa Teresa Park along the way.
I climbed the steep hill of Bernal Road that leads to the gates of the IBM Research Center and Santa Teresa Park. I worked here in 1984-1987. I heard it’s closed now so thought I’d check the status. But the gate is still closed. IBM probably won’t let people in until they sell the building. If these gates were open, you could go down the west side of Harry Road into the Almaden Valley.
Part of Santa Teresa Park
Blast back down Bernal Hill
Bernal Gulnak Joyce Ranch is now a county park
There is a dirt trail through the ranch that is an interesting alternative to the road.

Publisher BionicOldGuy

I’m a mechanical engineer, born 1953, PhD, Stanford, 1980. I’ve been active in mechanical CAE for decades. I also have a lifelong interest in outdoor activities and fitness. I had both hips replaced and a heart valve replacement due to a genetic condition. This blog chronicles my adventures in staying active despite these bumps in the road.

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