Mt Palomar and ToC

[Lou]

 Heard that 10,000 people are expected to be on top of this hill. It is a KOM. East Grade access closed at 9:00. You won't be able to get off of it until the peloton has passed on their way to the Cole Grade and the Escondido finish. Put your DVR on record. If you're not there by Friday, you may not find any parking. There is limited parking on the hill too. And tow trucks will be employed.
Sounds like fun to me. See if I can find the email and post later.
Lou...

[Lou]

Here it is...
Lou...

This is a forwarded email from the San Diego Rando Club
(snip)
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SD Rando Riders:  I 've been talking with some others about the possibility of cheering the ToC riders on the Palomar South Grade and Cole Grade climbs.  Lynn Katano asked Eric Smith whether my idea would work.  Eric works for the company that's producing the ride and is intimate with the details.  His reply is below.  As you'll see, it looks like doing both venues is not feasible.  I still think we should "pilgrimage to Palomar" on Feb 22, even if we can't get to Cole Grade in time to see them on that climb.  I hope to join you all on the pre-ride in early Feb.  Here's Eric's thoughts on viewing the race on Sunday.

From: 
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 9:20 AM
To:
Cc:
Subject: RE: [OCWSatCentury] Re: Future Saturday Century Plans and the Tour of California

I am sorry, but Dan's plans for Stage 8 on Feb 22nd are not possible. We are expecting upwards of 10,000 people between watching on South Grade and at the KOM. South Grade will be closed to cars by 9am . Any parking on South Grade will be gone by Friday. East Grade will remain open longer but you will not be allowed to drive down South Grade from the top. All of the camping spots have been sold out and there is only parking on top for a few hundred cars. No parking areas will be heavily enforced and tow trucks will
be on-site.
The best way to get to Palomar will be by bike. Plan on parking several miles out. Those areas on Hwy 76 leading to South Grade from both the east and west where there is parking, will be used for our two feed zones. There will no spectator parking. Once the race heads up Palomar, spectators will not be allowed down South Grade until the end of Caravan passes. Since the race is going to shatter, by the time the end of caravan passes, Hwy 76 will still be closed to allow the race to come back on Hwy 76 westbound for Cole Grade. People will be held on South Grade until the entire race passes again. You should expect at least a half hour wait from the front to the end of the caravan.
If you are going to watch from a decent spot on Palomar (near the top), that will be it for you. The only alternative is to watch from the very bottom of the climb (not too exciting) where they turn onto South Grade. Once the caravan passes, you would have the chance to watch from Cole Grade. Forget driving to Cole Grade. Parking will be long gone. It is downhill and not that far from South Grade to Cole Grade so plan on riding. Also, we have not finalized the road closures for Hwy 76. Driving on Hwy 76 may not even be an
option.
Everyone is aware of the "ingenuity" of the true (rabid) cycling fan, especially CHP. With only one road in and one road out, I am putting my money on CHP this time