Saturday Bike Camping

This Saturday I set out with 2 friends to bicycle to Half Moon Bay.

We began our journey by meeting on B Street, in San Mateo:

We set off at 1:30pm, with an eye on a 6:30pm sunset, expecting 3.5 hours of biking (excluding breaks).

Going up Crystal Springs Road & Polhemus, we took the Ralston path to Cañada Road & Crystal Springs Reservoir:

On Cañada Road we visited Lester Legarda’s memorial, a bicyclist who was hit and killed in broad daylight by a motorist.

Of course, no charges were pressed against the driver and no road design changes were implemented to prevent it from re-occurring:

We stopped off in Woodside, before beginning the main ascent of our ride:

Maybe 20% up the Kings Mountain Road is the entrance to Huddart Park:

On the ascent we caught some great vistas over looking Silicon Valley:

Ascent to Skyline:

Pedaling:

Climbing:

We reached Skyline, crossing it and descending to the Pacific Ocean by Tunitas Creek Road:

After a continous, quick descent we cut north again and resumed rolling hills on Lobitos Creek Cutoff:

Lobitos connected with Verde Road, which dropped onto Highway 1 for a 2-mile stretch before getting to turn towards the ocean and the Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail:

In short order we arrived at the Half Moon Bay Beach State Park, where there was an epic queue of stopped cars, entering and exiting the parking lot:

We paid $7 each for our camping permit and pitched up tent, ordering food for pickup at a taqueria:

After setting up tent we caught the sunset and it was epic, over the Pacific Ocean:

The line of cars remained after sunset as we headed to pickup dinner and a 6-pack:

Sleep was good, hearing the crashing of the waves.

The next morning, we made our way back across the Santa Cruz mountains in a different fashion, riding the SamTrans 294 bus.

Before boarding the bus, we encountered a 5k/10k/half marathon in progress:

Having boarded the hourly bus back to San Mateo (which arrived on schedule!) we watched the bumper-to-bumper traffic heading westbound on Highway 92:

Overall, the trip was a success! Our route, for those who would like to try it for themselves.