Hello All,
The greatest ever test of my desire to keep riding came early Christmas morning, 1999. As I had for the previous few years, I was visiting family in the San Francisco bay area, and this year I decided to bring along a ride. Snowbound for many weeks before at home in Toronto, I was very excited to get some miles in on my holiday. So early Christmas morning I headed up Pagemill Road, (for those of you how know it, you've already recognized the error of my ways) towards Skyline Drive. The chill in the air was much less than the full winter conditions I was used to, and humping the 42x21 of my flatland existence up that climb produced plenty of heat. As I gained altitude, and reached about the half way point of the climb, the fog from the coast was really starting to get thick. This was a factor I had not anticipated, and considered heading back down to the valley, and make the loop around Woodside and back home. But then I thought, heck, it's Christmas, I'm riding in California, this will be a memorable day. Oh yes, it would be.
Onwards I pushed, and so did the fog. By the time I reached the top of Skyline, it was so dense, I could only see about five feet in front of me! As I pointed myself north, and started along Skyline, the fog was rolling across in front of me in a way that it really looked like snow blowing on the road. An irony not lost on me. The non-existent visibility convinced me I was surely going to get hit by a car, motorcycle, or truck. I kept thinking, hey, this is going to be such a memorable ride, memorable for my family, as I'm going to get killed on Christmas. I do not hesitate to tell you that I have never been so scared in my life. At one point (I swear!) I could not see the road, only that dull gray blur of fog, moving from left to right in front of me, creating a vertigo feeling of disorientation. I actually rode the gravel on the side of the road for a while so I could be sure I was actually following the road in a straight line! The moisture of the mist meant the road was slick, and I was fearful of the twisty descent ahead.
Making the turn at "Alice's restaurant" heading down the climb, all is changed. Bursting out from below the clouds, I roll into the glorious sunshine into a fantastic vista of the Bay valley below. I'm saved! Rocketing down those switchbacks on dry, smmmmoooth pavement, I'd never enjoyed the smell of Redwood and Eucalyptus so much before. Whoooa. That was intense, and still being alive, I'm so glad I pushed on, but I sure had my doubts!
cheers
Grant McLean
Toronto, Canada