The grade was never super-steep today, but certainly sustained, as I climbed 4,374 feet over the 41 miles between Alpine and the KOA I am camping at tonight near Boulevard CA.
Old Hwy 80, which I was on for much of the day, is a very scenic route. Thankfully there was little traffic, because the main concrete lanes were in far better shape than the asphalt shoulder.
I passed a young pair of cyclists late in the afternoon. They were stopped on the highway’s shoulder. I said hello as I swooped by on the screaming descent down 80 southeast of Pine Valley.
Had lunch—a banana, some of my sister-in-law JoAnn’s peanut brittle and a large Gatorade—under a large oak tree in the lovely Pine Valley park.
The KOA, which charged $45 for a campsite, was farther from the main route than the proprietor had led me to believe over the phone. It was also several miles downhill from the main route, so I am hoping the shortcut I intend to take back to the route in the morning isn’t overly steep.
The KOA is also very close to the Mexico border. Several Border Patrol helicopters passed overhead at night.
There are apparently also quite few coyotes in the area. I heard them howling throughout the night.
DM: 40.9; TM: 78.6; 4,374 ft. climbing; 6:09 hours on the bike; 6.5 mph avg. speed
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| Pine Valley park |
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| Old Hwy 80 shoulder, yikes! |
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| KOA campsite |
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| KOA neighbors |
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