Napa Valley Ride
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Yesterday I rode from Napa almost to Healdsburg and back for a total of 87.6 miles. Originally I had planned a century ride, but got a bit of a late start because my alarm didn’t go off in the morning. That’s OK; 87.6 miles turned out to be just enough yesterday. I rode a modified Napa Valley Tour de Cure route: starting from Luna Vineyards up the Silverado Trail to Calistoga, then up Hwy 128 to the Jimtown Store for lunch, then back.
The ride from Napa up the Valley on the Silverado Trail was, as always, beautiful. The day started a little chilly, and the breeze was a little more than expected, but for the most part not too bad on the way to Calistoga. I discovered a great place to stop in Calistoga for a quick break – the Sharpsteen Museum. There was a spot of shade to have a snack, a water fountain, and a clean restroom.
I haven’t been riding hills much recently, and haven’t really done any since the Napa Valley Tour de Cure, so the hills on Hwy 128 between Calistoga and Healdsburg were just right. These are confidence building hills and I think I rode pretty steadily on them yesterday. I’m not going to win any races, but that’s not why I ride.
Icy cold and refreshing!
Perfect!
This fueled me almost all the way back to Napa. I did stop once and grab a quick gel at about 77 miles. The menu at the Jimtown Store looks beautiful, but that foodie adventure will have to wait for a day when I’m not cycling. I eat pretty light when I ride: carbs, a little protein and very little fat.
By the time I got back to the Silverado Trail in Calistoga, the winds had kicked up a bit and I fought a headwind pretty much the entire way down Valley back to the car. I was hoping to get back to the car in time to stop in and pick up a bottle of wine at Luna Vineyards, but the ride back took longer than expected. I got there moments after the last guests were leaving and they had already closed out the register for the day. Oh, well. This is an excuse to head back another day!