Note: You must preregister to join this ride.
Distance: 48 miles (38 miles using bailout)
Pace: B (moderate, occasional stops)
Terrain: 4 (some steep hills, with some relief)
Elevation gain: 3,800 ft. per RWGPS
This month’s Forty & Fabulous ride is a very old club ride through west Contra Costa county to Carquinez Scenic Drive, now called the George Miller Regional Trail. This ride was offered for the first time by none other than our first president Bob Krumm in March 1983. Carquinez Scenic Drive was abandoned in 1982 and closed to car traffic due to landslides. But bikes were able continue along the two-mile closed section that was peppered with degenerate asphalt, a couple of landslides, and tall weeds sprouting up through the roadway. Due to then-Rep. George Miller’s assistance in securing funding, the abandoned right-of-way was eventually rebuilt and reopened in 2014 under the control of the East Bay Regional Parks system. Still closed to car traffic this immaculately improved road has beautiful views of the Carquinez Strait and winds dramatically along the cliff overhanging the water.
We’ll start at Orinda BART and take San Pablo Dam Road to Pinole where we’ll dip into a newer section of the Bay Trail through Hercules. Riding past the refineries we’ll drop into Crockett and pass Port Costa to the Scenic Drive. After exiting the closed road we’ll head to Martinez for a lunch stop, probably at Firehouse Brew & Grill, which has an outside dining area. After lunch it’s a hill-fest back to Orinda BART via Alhambra Valley Road and Pig Farm and then over the Three Bears.
Please bring water and snacks, and check the weather forecast beforehand in order to dress appropriately.
For more information about the Firehouse Grill:
https://firehousemartinez.com/
Rain cancels. If forecast is iffy, contact the ride leader.
Meet at 10:15 AM, ride out at 10:30 AM.
If taking BART be sure to check the BART website for system delays.
For a map, cue sheet, and GPS track, go
here.
For a bail-out option that shortens the route by about ten miles and is much flatter, go
here. This option omits Pig Farm and the Three Bears and instead takes flattish roads from Martinez to Pleasant Hill BART.