Borrego "night riders"

[Nerius Landys]

Just wondering if y'all got back OK from the Borrego ride.  Everyone make it back?  Did you guys stop on the way back to get water/food?  What happened to kb, did he make it back?

I rode at a fast tempo all the way home and only took 2 very short breaks to pee.  I reached my car at 5:50, so I was luckily just barely able to avoid darkness.

[Wade Duchene]

Yes, I'm upset I couldn't make it today.  We need a report.   

[Sewook Jung]

I departed just after the Lake Wohlford downhill from the group.
I felt the start of bonk, but solved with two packs of gel.
At that time was 5:30PM.

Except KB, all probably arrived San Marcos before 6:30PM.

I was afraid to ride in the night alone, I called my wife and she picked me up at the downtown Escondido.
I ended up today's riding as 135.5 miles at 6:00PM.

I think I can still ride to home in this condition. I missed some eating time today and messed up.
I needed to eat gels much earlier.

I also wondering what's happening for KB.

[Anthony Smith]

Sewook, KB made it back to the start @ 7:29 pm

[karlos]

Yes, I'm upset I couldn't make it today.  We need a report.   

Wade, our official reporter, was missing in action. Here's the sequence of events.

• Good group of fifteen, left at 7am - Sewook's wife taking photos (see this post)
• Arrived at Henshaw at 10am, pretty much on schedule (Karl mistakenly remembered leaving there at 11:30am on an earlier occasion - mistaken optimism prompted by unreliable memory).
• Diana, Jeff, Sean, Ursula, Frank, headed back to OCRR and 11 others pressed forward.
  
• Bucked headwind next 18 mi to Ranchita. Jim, Nerius, John got a mild head start as we regrouped at 79 to make sure everyone was coming. Anthony and Lee made sure the rest of us stayed together with patient long pulls so that the full group was rejoined as we ran into Ranchita.
• Stocked up at Ranchita for the Montezuma descent and prep for return ascent. Spent a little too much time there. Jim headed back as the weather report indicated a later wind change, so we would have the wind in our face on the return from Ranchita.
• Descended Montezuma at about noon. What a thrill. Outstanding views and great sweeping turns where you rarely need to touch your brakes.
• Started the climb from Palm Canyon at about 12:30. An exceptionally good weather day for Montezuma this time of year. Seventies on the way up and 65 at Ranchita, where we usually freeze. We were helped by a tailwaind up the hill and two of Anthony's friends on motorcycles who sagged with drinks, bars, bananas a couple miles from the summit. All made it to the top by 2pm, except KB. Motorists and motorcycles passed on info of a lone rider struggling up Montezuma.
• Tony and Anthony bought a loaf of bread, ham, mustard, a big bag of Fritos, and we all chowed down (big thanks to Tony and Anthony as bread and ham at the Ranchita Store is not cheap), ready to leave about 2:20, and thinking about cutting it close with darkness.
• Most everyone left Ranchita about 2:45 (Nerius left early as he cannot see in the dark - remember that) and Tony and Anthony went back to find KB. We rode somewhat slowly as we wanted Tony and Anthony to catch. We left a note at Ranchita store for KB to call for a pickup, eat some food, and take care. Noone wanted to really leave but darkness was a reality at that point.
• And Jim was correct. The wind had clocked around and we were now riding into it, mostly affecting us to Lake Henshaw.
  
• The group waited only about 5 minutes at Lake Henshaw as Tony and Anthony rejoined. They were whacked as they had alternated one minute pulls and looked like pros, as we tried to catch their wheels as they whizzed by. Tony and Anthony had actually met KB back at the top of Montezuma and we were all concerned about his making it back. Anthony gave KB his cell # to call him should things get desperate.
• Nice pace up La Jolla Indian Reservation and descent to Rincon.
• John split off at Rincon to boogie home as he had no car at OCRR.
• Lee (NCCC alumna and veteran of this ride) left us at top of Rincon as the rest of us took Wohlford. Karl and Tony realized their stupid male social skills mistake and realized Lee was hinting she would sure like some company on Vesper back to Cole Grade where she would head for home on McNally - we could have just gone down Valley Center S6 and ridden with her a little longer. That would have been the nice thing to do as she did work for us all day. Next time, the boys won't be so stupid...
• At the bottom of Wohlford, Sewook split off to take in some nourishment (note for next time: make a rest stop on the return to make sure everyone has fuel in the tank) and get a pickup from his wife as he also did not have a car at OCRR.
• The remainder of the group (Tony, Evelyn, Steve, Anthony, Karl) had full front and rear lights and we needed them as we returned in full darkness at 6:25. KB arrived at 7:29, thankfully - here are his remarks.
• This is by far the toughess NCCC ride we do, in my opinion. We hadn't done it since 2005, after doing it 4 years in a row, and most of us realized we are seven years older (and also why we haven't done it in 7 years). We will do it again, but be prepared for a long hard day, and make sure you bring your lights.
• Finally, the ride was scheduled to prepare Anthony for his first double century in Solvang, Mar 24. It was a test drive for Evelyn and Nerius who are considering their first double. All passed with flying colors and those 200 miles will seem like a piece of cake compared to these 140 with 12,000 ft of elevation!

[Sewook Jung]

Hi, Karl

This is really a good report and I received a lot of help from yours in this riding.
I tried to keep my pace slow most of times and help you in the last moment, but it didn't worked as my expectation.

I met KB this morning. He looks okay now.

I found a typo in my name. Many people confused about it.
My first name has one 'e' and two 'o's. 

Regards,
Sewook

[karlos]

You did great, Sewook [tried to correct the report, too  ] as did everyone else. We really should have stopped at the store at the bottom of 76, before turning left to Rincon. Just 10 minutes, with time to get some nourishment in us, would have helped us all the last 25 miles. 10 more minutes in the dark would not have hurt as we were all prepared with lights.
Karl

[Anthony Scozzari]

Great job by all, I hope to be in a position to do this with you the next time it gets on the schedule!!  Sounds like a hell-aciously satisfying day.

[Sean Brennan]

Nice job to all the 140 milers. I wish I could have joined. Thanks to Karl for the coordination, education, motivation and (night)vision for the double preparation.

I would like some further explanation on Evelyn's relationship with Yeti

You guys rock.