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Bill Bikes My bicycling expeditions and jaunts |
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Rush Creek Open Space, November 2019
Highways, fire roads, and trails: A Photographic Log
7 November, 32 miles
Around here the rainy season officially begins on 1 October. Based on annual averages, by now we should have received some significant rainfall. Not the case. Not a drop has fallen, and we're dry. Dangerously dry. Santa Rosa and northern Sonoma County just survived—barely—the impact of multiple days of "public safety" power shutdowns, mandatory evacuations, and (measured in terms of square miles burned) the biggest wildfire in our history. Thus, rain would be welcome.But there's none in the forecast. Not today and not in the long-range prognostication.
So what's any self-respecting bicyclist to do in those conditions? Hop on two wheels and take advantage of clear weather.
Clear, that is, in terms of no rain. Not so clear when looking at the sky. The morning revealed a thick marine layer all the way down to ground level, making for very limited visibility. Not good for bicycles trying to share the road with motor vehicles. Nevertheless, in the expectation the fog would dissipate, I went ahead with plans to do a little pedaling. Although the foggy, chilly morning meant I wrapped up in jacket, long-sleeve jersey, and riding tights for the first time this season, the marine layer had mostly burned off by the time I unloaded the Ogre from the Forester at the southern edge of Petaluma.
From there I pedaled the new bike route south along the Highway 101 corridor. A few years ago, this would have been a death trap for bikes trying to battle along the unreliable shoulder of the highway. With the new cycling infrastructure, now it's a breeze, an enjoyable ten miles or so down the road to my destination, the trails of the Rush Creek Open Space Preserve outside Novato in northern Marin County.
A very foggy morning at home. Marine layer supposed to burn off before too long, so shouldn't be a problem.
The marine layer never completely dissipated. Sky remained slightly foggy, hazy, and smoky all day.
Here I take advantage of the new bike path under busy Highway 101 at the end of Kastania Road. I explored the new path back in August, a couple of days before its official opening.
The bike path runs right along San Antonio Creek—the dividing line between Marin County and Sonoma County—which really does flood during the rainy season, although it's dry right now.
Not sure the Ogre could make it through if San Antonio Creek rises to the five-foot mark.
Old Grumble-Face stops at every roadside mirror.
This view looks across a lagoon near the entrance to Rush Creek Open Space from the frontage road along the east side of 101.
I could have just driven to the entrance, but it was more fun to park in Petaluma and pedal about ten miles to get here.
Welcome to Rush Creek Open Space.
This sign is actually deeper in the park, not at the entrance.
Starting into Rush Creek—not to be confused with Brush Creek, which is much closer to my house—on one of the fire roads.
The last time I was here—back in February—the fire road and trails were muddy messes, sometimes completely underwater. Today, everything dry and dusty.
Looking across one of the shallow lagoons toward Highway 101 and Mount Burdell.
Somebody's got an eye on me.
Lunch stop. I ate lunch in the same spot last time I was here. I'm a creature of habit.
Along the trail.
I saw about a dozen hikers, and most of them were in one little knot of birders with oversize binoculars and gigantic telephoto lenses.
Also saw a grand total of two mountain bikers.
Plenty of interesting views at which to point my camera.
The shallow tidal lagoons in the Preserve are laced with deeper sloughs that transport water in and out of the wetlands.
I damned near dropped the Ogre into the slough while attempting to set up this shot on the odd little dock.
From the fire road I turned onto narrow singletrack. Not too difficult. Just about right for an elderly idiot on an Ogre.
Eventually I turned a corner and suddenly beheld a massive sheet of water stretching almost as far as the eye could see. For a moment I thought I had unexpectedly reached the Bay, but this was just a big, shallow lagoon fed by a narrow opening from the Petaluma River. Had to stop and consult maps on my phone to figure out how all this water interconnected.
Farther along the trail, another view of the big lagoon.
From this point it's possible to make out the remains of what was at one time some kind of dike or levee or causeway across the lagoon.
Despite rather hazy skies, the fire roads and trails in the Rush Creek Open Space Preserve—dry and almost devoid of other humans—provided a thoroughly enjoyable playground for the Ogre and Old Grumble-Face. After pedaling through much, but not all, of the Preserve, I visited Gnoss Field, the local airfield, and also discovered some nearby locales that bear exploration on two wheels in the near future.
Meanwhile, on the way back to the Forester in Petaluma I paused on the bike path long enough to photograph motorized traffic roaring north and south on Highway 101. In about an hour, northbound evening commute traffic will slow to a crawl, and bikes on the path will be moving considerably faster.
Finally, I spotted this billboard strategically placed for visibility from Highway 101.
It's another reminder that we for the most part dodged a bullet with the Kincade fire, which finally reached full containment today.
Otherwise I would probably be in no position to spend the day gallivanting through pleasant countryside on two wheels.
Summary
Date: 7 November 2019
Time: 10:30 - 2:30
Weather: 50 - 70° F, some fog, haze, and smoke
Route: Kastania Road - San Antonio Road - Olompali - Rush Creek Open Space - Gnoss Field
Distance: 32 miles
Bike: Ogre
Riders: Solo
Comments? Questions? Suggestions? I'd like to hear from you.
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