45.1 miles

 

Pine Valley to the top of Mt Laguna

My riding partner, Don Smith, and I drive to Pine Valley (just below 3000 feet) and cycle Sunrise Highway (S1), twelve miles, all uphill, to the top of Mt Laguna (6000 feet). Do I have to explain the wonder and delight of looking over the desert from that height, having arrived there under one's own power? Don smokes a cigar. I eat a banana and granola bar. We both have ourselves a beer.

 

 

Mt Laguna to Cuyamaca Lake

Then we ride north on Sunrise Highway, some uphill, some down, with stunning desert views, all the way to the SR 79 junction above Cuyamaca Lake and down to the restaurant. There we've had great conversation with cyclists, some of our advanced age. We've gained courage and useful lore from them.

 

 

Cuyamaca Lake back to Pine Valley

The ride down from Cuyamaca Lake, through the state parks on SR 79, is ample recompense for our hard work going up. Paso Picacho and Stonewall Peak, Green Valley Falls, and lots of welcome downhill. Hey, we pass cars on the descent to Descanso! You'd think we were on motorcycles. A nasty grade at the end, just when we're ready to be finished, takes us five miles uphill to Guatay and a lovely flight back down into Pine Valley.