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Bill Bikes My bicycling expeditions and jaunts |
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Olompali and Rush Creek, February 2019
Crossing the line: A Photographic Log
22 February 2019, 27 miles
So far this month we've received approximately double the average monthly rainfall for February. More is forecast to arrive within the next day or two. Although I plan to get the heck out of town and head for warmer, drier climes before the rain returns, I figure I should take advantage of today's pleasant weather.Consequently, I drove down to Petaluma, pulled the Ogre out of the back of the Forester, and started out I Street—plenty steep!—to stretch my legs.
My wandering led me to some roads I've only pedaled once or twice before, and also to some unexplored territory, which—surprise, surprise—turned out to be much muddier and wetter than anticipated.
After pedaling out of Petaluma and down San Antonio Road, I was just about out of Sonoma County.
Highway 101 is in the distance. The trees and brush off to the right hide San Antonio Creek, which separates Sonoma County from Marin County and flows under 101.
After crossing into Marin County on San Antonio Road, this view looks back across the creek.
Marin has official bike routes with helpful signs. Route 5 ends right here at the county line.
San Antonio Road eventually dumps all traffic (not much of it) onto Highway 101. No way do you want to pedal your bike on that high speed death trap.
Fortunately, a bike path runs parallel down the western side of 101 at this point.
I made a pit stop at Olompali State Historic Park. No bikes allowed on the trails, but cyclists welcome to use the restroom.
This view looks from the Olompali parking lot across Highway 101. Lots of standing water in the fields beyond. The double-humped mountain on the right is Diablo, far off in the distance. On the left, much nearer, the high ground is part of Tolay Lake Regional Park. Barely visible, an airplane is at the edge of the Tolay hillside. There's a small airfield off to the right, just out of the picture.
I continued past the Birkenstock building, crossed Highway 101 on Atherton Avenue at the edge of Novato, and rode to the Pinheiro Fire Road trailhead in the Rush Creek Open Space Preserve.
Never been here before. Not sure what I'll find, or what shape the trails will be in.
The fire road trail looks pretty good right here, but much of it remained muddy with some sections under standing water. This was an enjoyable challenge on the Ogre, which required a thorough bath when we returned home.
That lake in the distance is normally dry or marshy, not suitable for battleships.
My lunch spot on a dry hillock in the Rush Creek Open Space Preserve.
Beyond the flooded fields, that's Sonoma Mountain toward the left. Beyond it to the right, and considerably higher, that's Hood Mountain and Gunsight Rock with Bald Mountain hiding behind.
Same lunch spot, looking northwest. That's Mount Burdell looming over Olompali State Historic Park.
After lunch, I finished my ride on the drowned trails of the Rush Creek Preserve and started back toward Petaluma. I took a longer loop west to pick up the main road between Point Reyes and Petaluma. Then I hauled the Ogre home and scrubbed it clean, threw my muddy clothes in the wash, and took a shower.
Summary
Date: 22 February 2019
Time: 11:00 - 2:30
Weather: 50 - 60° F, sunny and breezy
Route: Petaluma - Olompali - Novato - Rush Creek Open Space Preserve
Distance: 27 miles
Bike: Ogre
Riders: Solo
Comments? Questions? Suggestions? I'd like to hear from you.
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