Mid-Week Rides: Henry Coe State Park

18 November 2010

We ate, we rode, we got lost, we eventually found Henry Coe State Park.

WWWobble writes:

Ride begins Thursday as I climb on Yellow bike and depart with the Captain at (yawn) 08:30 south on busy 280 for breakfast at Bobbies. By the second cup of coffee I remember I’m on the wrong bike because camera, extra ear plugs and all that are packed on Blue bike. Poached eggs consumed (cheapest breakfast on the menu), we are about to leave when Marco pulls up. He’s not late, he’s on time. His time. His time does not include poached eggs or any of the other more costly set ups.

So three prepare for departure! There are more participants in the MWR, but not today. Ooops. Yellow bike needs fuel. Thankfully there’s no “fuel rules” at the MWR, in fact there are no rules at all. So I head off to find a Shell station. Yellow bike likes Shell because they have yellow pumps.

All Shelled up, we begin the route according to Plan. So that the Captain doesn’t whine I will now reveal the plan in detail. This is the part he loves, all the names of the streets and such, like I have some kind of GPS in my head or something. I just point the damn bike down pavement that looks like it could use a good bike on top of it – how do I know what that pavement is called. Do I care? But for you Captain, here’s the route.

DeAnza, 280, 101 south
Capitol ext, then somehow onto Silver Creek
Right onto San Felipe (did you know San Felipe going the other way connects with Quimby)?
South on San Felipe which gets rural as you go along, Pick up speed, blur your eyes and the trees flash by all gold and orange Way fun
Up the hill past some bleak looking industrial site, past the ORV park down the hill and Left on Monterey.
Right on Baily, but you have to turn left now to get there
Baily over the hill, Left on McKean which becomes Uvas somewhere along the way
Left at Chesbro Reservoir before you get to Uvas the Reservoir
Left on Willow Creek then into Morgan Hill with a general plan to find East Dunn and head up to Henry Coe park.

I now must admit I have no idea where we went for the next half hour. We saw beautiful homes, and some pastures greening up with the season. I gave up the leadership and called for GPS assistance since both Marco and the Captain are so equipped. While my technically competent companions consulted their devices, I pondered how the ride has been going so far. Good, I’d say, really good.

OK. GPS consulted, the Captain in the lead we wander along a creek, look at more beautiful homes, then turn right into the Morgan Hill Youth Correctional Center. And we turn right out of it again, which I hope is what the kids that are in there are able to do as well. Undaunted we follow the Captain to the freeway where he turns North to find East Dunne Road which lies to our South. A WendyPunk is called for and successfully implemented and East Dunne is located.

Truth is, much of the interesting part of the ride would have been missed had we found East Dunne right away. So up to the top of the hill, about 10 miles one way, where Henry Coe State Park basks in 75F sunshine this November 18th. Marc informs us that the park will likely close due to budget issues. Marco actually voted in favor of the fixed State Park fee per vehicle. Captain and I objected and said fees should only be collected upon use, at which time Marco (correctly) pointed out that none of us had paid for the privilege of using this park for 45 minutes underneath glorious sunny skies. I feel guilty. Yes. Well, my mother was Catholic.

Down the hill for a quick bite at the Jack in the Box (I know I probably should have left this part out), then