Multi tasking at the moment, but, it was a steady rain (and had been for 3+ hours) Saturday morning at 4:30. I needed to leave the hotel at either 4:30 or 5:00 for a 5:00 or 5:30 start time for the double. Steady rain and 52 degrees didnt equate to an enjoyable ride, so I did not start (DNS). Also, the weather channel was showing that rain would be possible for most of the route during the day. I texted and talked with my younger son (in MSP, who has taken up cycling). I was thinking of just heading back to Phoenix, but the thought occurred to me that I would still be charged for the room for Saturday. My son said can you get in a shorter ride, since you do enjoy cycling in California. Darn it! I thought about bringing my laptop, but didnt. It would have been relatively simple to create a new route. While I was talking with him I got an idea: ride the first part of the double route, then take a detour to where the last sag stop is, in Los Alamos. It was somewhat difficult to judge the distance, but I figured it was at least 50 miles. The "detour road" I was going to turn on is actually on the return for the regular route. There was plenty of elevation gain in what I did, mainly on Foxen Canyon Rd. That road was on the Tour of California race at least once. I did a couple of extra detours, and ended with 62.5 miles and 3632 ft of elevation gain. I left the hotel at 9:45, and was back about 2:20. I did get a few sprinkles about 2 miles from the end. It was a quality ride with all that climbing (the complete route had 8400 ft of elevation gain). I didnt stop for more than a few minutes (taking off arm warmers, taking a couple of pics), so it was like I rode straight thru.
An added benefit was, I was back early enough to shower and have an early dinner (with 2 beers) at the Firestone Walker Brewery in Buellton. I drove there, even though it was only about a mile away, and that was a good decision since it did rain.
Breakfast this morning was at a local place, Ellens Pancakes. 2 Danish pancakes, 2 over easy eggs, bacon, and coffee. Enough food that I didnt need to stop for lunch on the drive home.