On Saturday, November 15, Hunt Moore listed a C-pace ride from Petaluma out to the Point Reyes Light Station. He sent in this report…

As I write this epistle, with nothing but the feeble glow of a whale-oil lamp to illuminate my chambers, I realize that ride reports of lesser mileage are becoming as rare as a dodo's egg.

However, I must offer my thanks to the nearly 30 explorers who left the fowl village of Petaluma, to accompany me on the amazing journey over the coastal moors to the Pt. Reyes Lighthouse.

We never saw whales--apparently the leviathans appear in late winter.* But flights of pelicans, deer, and an occasional tule elk account for something.

The sight of the vast, calm ocean and the infinite sky at land's end puts one's humanity in its place, wherever that is. Seriously, it was a great day, with a wonderful group and equally wonderful weather.

I'm always glad to be able to ride with folks who have never ventured out that  way. This route doesn't typically appear on the local cycling radar. I guess people don't generally like out-and-backs; the weather can also be pretty dire. Although it is only 20 miles from Pt. Reyes, it seems especially remote.

#21 on Bill O.'s 75 classic NorCal rides.

80 miles round trip from Petaluma, 5400 ft. elevation.

*Bill O adds: the whales are out there. We saw several while cycling near Santa Cruz the previous week.