I declared (to myself) a 2014 bikeit motto “The Year of Dirt”. Not extreme mountain biking or log-jumping, but riding to the sort of places only accessible by a fire road or dirt trail. For example, a break in a day of wine tasting to explore dirt paths to an abandoned winery being reclaimed by vines…
That was just one part of a great day– a casual, scenic ride through Livermore, for the fourth year in a row (a small group of 5 this time, not the rolling party of 31 from last time).
This time we explored a number of new or not-on-the-bike-coalition-map (built in the past 5 years) routes, including some 4-6 lane expressways through new subdivisions (but with well-marked bike lanes and bike-triggered traffic lights– miles of riding at a time without a single red light or stop).
Riding past small airports advertising biplane rides (and with many small planes taking off).
Paved paths through open brushland and light tree cover:
The carefully-maintained bike paths along Tesla Rd (with white and yellow guidelines):
Picnic lunch and wine tasting break at Concannon (they’re very welcoming of picnickers, with tables and chairs to use even).
Continuing on, along some of my favorite paved bikes-only paths through fields of vines and the low rolling hills:
Rolling into Sycamore Grove Park, creepy twisted almond tree groves like something out of Oz:
The abandoned and collapsing vineyard buildings:
And a ride back to civilization along dirt… with a Great Blue Heron, gophers, massive fearless vultures above a deer corpse, and other wildlife.
About 30 miles round trip from the Dublin BART station, and mostly flat…. (click through below for a map + directions, now that I’ve fixed the link…)
