Once Upon a Ride: A Back Out of Whack

Riders from left: Ted Mock, Olaf Brandt, Peter Johnson, Jobst Brandt, Paul Mittelstadt, stop for a drink of water at the giant redwood tree near McKenzie Reservoir.

May 20, 1984

Riders: Jobst Brandt, Paul Mittelstadt, Ray Hosler, Peter Johnson, Jan Causey, Ted Mock, Olaf Brandt

Route: Foothill Expressway to Stevens Canyon Road, Mount Eden Road, Pierce Road, Hwy 9, Sanborn Road, Black Road, Summit Road, Bear Creek Road, Big Basin Road, Hwy 236, Hwy 9, Skyline Boulevard, Hwy 84.

Weather: Warm and clear, then cooler and overcast

Tire/Mechanical Failure: Jan – broken spoke

Jobst is still contending with his back back, which he now thinks is somehow related to a “leaking” kidney. Once again, Jan and Olaf came along to ride with Jobst.

Jobst established a leisurely pace and it was readily apparent he was not feeling up to par. Only on Mt. Eden Road did Jobst ride with any strength.

From the top of Mt. Eden we saw a valley of fruit orchards and neat rows of vineyards. We passed Mount Eden winery on our way downhill.

Before the steep descent, Jobst said he can ride down it without braking “only if I don’t have a tailwind.” After the descent Ray said, “I missed hitting that rabbit by a hair.” Groans were heard.

While climbing Pearce Road, the riders passed a tourist listening to his Sony Walkman. As we passed Paul Masson Winery and the tourist, Jobst said in his loudest voice, “I read in the papers yesterday about a Muni bus driver in San Francisco who was wearing his Sony Walkman. A policeman stopped him when he ran two stop lights.”

On Hwy 9 Jobst mentioned a beechnut tree near the bridge crossing a creek and as we passed a roadside campground next to Sanborn Road, he said, “I can smell the Oscar Meyer weiners already.”

We started up the steep Sanborn Road and enjoyed the canopy of trees between deep, rapid breaths. The real climbing started when we headed up the dirt road at the end of paved Sanborn.

It’s about 25 percent in places to start, but improves to around 18 percent afterwards. We saw McKenzie Reservoir at a low level, but at least it had water. Jobst spotted a Green Heron and a regal-looking Caspian Tern skimming the water.

Leaving the lake, we continued on the dirt road, passing a mother and her two children riding bikes. With that most unusual sight behind us, we arrived at the giant redwood tree where a creek runs across the road.

Jobst stopped to look inside the hollow trunk, but did not see any bats. Then he walked over to the creek and took a drink from one of his regular water holes.

We continued another mile to Black Road and began a steep climb to Skyline Boulevard. Jobst rode home via Skyline, still complaining about his back, while Ray continued on alone to Big Basin State Park.

At the park Ray met up with Bob Walmsley, another Jobst rider, and they discussed Ted Mock’s latest encounter with a car, but fortunately this time he was wearing a helmet. His helmet split in two from the collision.