RR: Morro Bay Get Away

[sheclimbs]

Woke up this morning to a panoramic view of the bay complete with fishing boats and foghorns.

After a quick visit to Cambria Bikes – seems like I need to go to the LBS in every town I visit, as Steppie taught me this is were you get the scoop on the local favorites.

It’s been so long since I’ve been to the Central Coast. Forgot how much it reminds me of the Bay Area where I grew up. The fog crested mountains fold right down into the ocean.

Did a beautiful ride today, I really wanted to ride Montana Del Oro it is the premier SLO ride. Starts on a fire road that goes right through a eucalyptus grove.

As you head up the hill we could look back and see the fog sitting right on top of the hills. A little ways up we came across this cool old barn.

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At 3 miles you start to climb the single track. Many people’s description of MDO made it sound like it was all fire road, except for the couple miles in and out, the whole ride was winding, mostly buff single track. All the write-ups say it’s sandy and rocky, we didn’t find it too rocky and the recent rain must have helped to make things less sandy. Just a few loose spots in the switchbacks on the way back down.

This part of the single track is only about a mile but it’s a steep climb with something like and 800ft. gain, it climbs for a while, and climbs and climbs… The elevation gain of the entire ride is only about 1000 ft. but most of it is in this one short steep section. It’s one of those trails that you look off in the distance and challenge yourself o.k. I can make it to that next plateau and then things will probably flatten out, this trail is a lengthy series of just one more section and water bar, and one more and one more…


Almost to the top of the single track climb that never ends...
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"I found this jersey in the back of Lynn's truck, oh is this yours Burner? Looks pretty good on me ha?"Burnersjersey.jpg

When you reach the peak you breath a sigh of relief and assume that it can only go down from here…of course not, every ¼ mile of the fun and flowing single track there a climb thrown it just to keep you working.

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Ever been on a ride when you can’t figure out why the out and the back are both climbing? Next time I think it would be a great ride to climb to the peak and turn around enjoy that same ST on the way down, it seems like you would have a fantastic, long, and flowing ride all the way down to the fire road.

We ended up going up to the top and looping around with the multiple little climbs thrown in for kicks and then headed down what seemed like a much shorter single track than the one we climbed up. It was still a really fun trail steep and winding.

On the way down the fog was doing that creeping thing that looks like special effects in movie, or is it the SFX that replicate fog…either way it rolls over the hills like a wave moving in slow motion, cresting and falling back down …

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Rolled down the last 2 miles of the fire road into the very thick fog. Love that!

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End of the Day Morro Bay...

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[Shannon]

Lynn decided to venture up to the Central Coast to try out some new trails with me. Lynn quickly learned that most of our riding is steep loose climbing and then straight downhill. After riding all afternoon, it was nice to finish off the day with great food and wine!


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[Pain Freak]

sniff,sniff, I didn't get to go, sniff, sniff.

[Hanzo]

Thanks for the RR. It looks great and Im glad you folks had a great time.

[Sprockethead]

I love this photo, what a great way to end the day. Especially if you're hangin' by the harbor having some seafood.