ajdonner sent the bat signal to ride Noble. I was the only crusty focker to heed the call. So glad I did. Took the back way there - Pauma Valley, past Lake Henshaw, through Santa Ysabel, Julian, and then Hwy 79, past Lake Cuyamaca, to the lower trailhead. It was a great morning to be alive. Overcast skies and multiple sightings of deer and wild turkey, along that gorgeous drive. It was shaping up well!
Met Aaron, transferred gear and the whip into his truck, and shuttled to the top. A quick peda over to, and then down, Los Gatos to start off. Los Gatos was in primo condition - definitely in better shape than last time I rode. Too fun. Then through the meadow and over to the Noble drop-in proper.
The condition of Los Gatos was not a fluke. Noble is ALWAYS good, but the entire thing was in better shape than I've ridden it in a long time. The weather cooperated the entire ride. Incredible. So good that I barely broke a sweat till Whore on Extra Credit. And still not bad by any stretch.
So many sections had me feeling like a Jedi on a speeder bike, flying through the Ewok forest (nerd alert!). A real legend in my own mind.
Only one small bummer; the poisonous serpent in the middle of the trail that raised the hair on my arms. Took five or so minutes to shake off the thought of others.
Since it was just the two of us, we finished pretty quickly and had a couple brews to reminisce on the ride.
A perfect day.
In fact, even the truck ride to and from was so beautiful that I loaded up the spousal unit this morning and we drove the same route, with an early lunch stop at Wynola Pizza on their outdoor patio oasis. I'd been hankering for some slices for a while, and it did not disappoint.
Another perfect day.
