Black Bicycle - Man in Black... Hollenbeck Canyon

Didn't feel like pepper-spraying anybody over at Wall Mart today... so off I went to HC
Great weather, no rain, few people, and zero MTB's
Hollenbeck doesn't have a whole lot of ST - you have to go find it - MTB Bill has a very good map.
But, what it lacks in ST is - in my estimation - more than made-up-for in scenery.
If you haven't been there, I think it's worth the trip, and winter is the best time to hit it.
Trail head is at Hiway 94 and Honey Springs Rd.

I know.. dorky pose... I only had 10 seconds to get in the pic.


A lot of the lower areas are (abandoned) ranch/farm land.


Heading up - Lyons Peak in the distance.


Outlet of a nice ST that comes down from the upper areas - loop after fire road climb.


Climb is over - down now into Hollenbeck Canyon... steep and rocky for you youngsters.
Add miles by crossing the creek and exploring the other side - I turned right in the canyon bottom.


Pleasant scenery and a shady oasis in upper HC.




Whaaat??? My bike got photo-bombed by quail hunters!! Otay mountain in the distance.


Descending HC now... rocky ST with cliff exposure... very scenic.


Back to bottom - Rust Never Sleeps.

Funny, I was just thinking about that place. Nice TR! The Daley family turned out to be good to mountain bikers. That was their other ranch.

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Thus, if we are to understand the world, we should live somewhere between judgement and amazement — Alfredo Lopez Austin

What a coincidence -- after not being out there for a couple of years, I rode almost that same route on Thanksgiving Day. In addition to being incredibly scenic, it's a good lung-bustin'/leg-breakin' ride, too.

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A bicycle is a splendid thing.
~Ernest Hemingway

Coincidence? Maybe... but more likely due to the fact that guys named Eric are so smart and good-looking! (grin)

So true... much of their land down here has been designated as an Ecological Preserve - some accessible some not - but still, a balanced approach to use and preservation.

Wow, it's been close to a decade since I last rode HC. Gonna have to get back out there before I die.

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Scum on a Bike

Those quail hunters must have been out early this morning too. I heard shots echoing through the canyon around 7am.

I really like this TR, thanks for posting it. It reminds me how fun it is to just ride around and see cool shit. Smell the roses or whatever.

That and I used to have a bike just like that

My pleasure.... Yup, we gotta remember to get that "soul mojo" workin' once-in-a-while.

My Stumpy has served me well and, IMHO, is a fairly sexy beast - I do lust for a new bike tho... newer axle tech and bigger wheels.

When you do, let me know if you want company... I'll ride with ya'
We can take turns carrying the portable defibrillator.