2026 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos

[Stefan Mikes]

@Chargeride: Did I already tell you I loved your "Bloody 'ell!" during your videos?

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Some photos from today's Coast Highway ride south to Del Mar.

First objective: Hot dogs at Moonlight Beach.

The cute 70-something couple we met there has taken this aluminum-framed tandem on major rail trails all over the country — including some famous ones back east that @6zfshdb and others have reported on here.

Next stop was our turnaround at Powerhouse Beach in Del Mar. Spent a very pleasant 15 minutes with the ocean here before heading home.

A moderate crowd at the beach despite the clouds gathering ahead of this evening's storm. These views look from north to south, with the La Jolla Peninsula in the distance in the top photo.

Many things to like about this ride — including the fact that my legs felt stronger than they have in months. The tailwind all the way home was also a nice touch.

Neighbor DB, on the other hand, was in more of a "go slow and smell the roses" mood. Over and over, he'd fall way back while I indulged my case of the zoomies. Then we'd rejoin. Good to have a riding buddy who's fine with that.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

The cute 70-something couple we met there has taken this aluminum-framed tandem on major rail trails all over the country — including some famous ones back east that @6zfshdb and others have reported on here.

"I wouldn't like to change the chains on that bike"
/That's what a stereotypical German would say/

 

[Chargeride]

The reason I like our changing weather is because the first hit of summer vibes is enhanced by the memory of dull days.
I would not like living in a hot country because its likely I would grow tired of the heat.
I was very taken by Miamis climate, but Id have to build my own hill to climb up.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Some photos from today's Coast Highway ride south to Del Mar.

View attachment 208995

View attachment 208996

First objective: Hot dogs at Moonlight Beach.

View attachment 208997
The cute 70-something couple we met there has taken this aluminum-framed tandem on major rail trails all over the country — including some famous ones back east that @6zfshdb and others have reported on here.

View attachment 209001
Next stop was our turnaround at Powerhouse Beach in Del Mar. Spent a very pleasant 15 minutes with the ocean here before heading home.

View attachment 208998View attachment 208999View attachment 209000
A moderate crowd at the beach despite the clouds gathering ahead of this evening's storm. These views look from north to south, with the La Jolla Peninsula in the distance in the top photo.

Many things to like about this ride — including the fact that my legs felt stronger than they have in months. The tailwind all the way home was also a nice touch.

Neighbor DB, on the other hand, was in more of a "go slow and smell the roses" mood. Over and over, he'd fall way back while I indulged my case of the zoomies. Then we'd rejoin. Good to have a riding buddy who's fine with that.

Looks a very pleasant ride Jeremy. What's the water temp like this time of year? I like swimming in South Cal on trips to LA, though I remember swimming off Malibu I think , with friends (after struggling to find a public beach or one that we could park!) and it was surprisingly chilly, can't remember the time of year except it felt hot in the sun. After Ireland & UK I expected the sea to ALWAYS be very warm because y'no it's LA and I grew up on Baywatch!

Same thing happened in Cape Town back in the 90s, beautiful sunny hot day, amazing beach, I plunged into the waves- ran straight back out again, absolutely freezing! Current from South Pole I was told, go 10 or 20 miles around False Bay direction where you can catch the Indian Ocean currents, much warmer.

We just always imagine hot sunny places will have lukewarm water.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Some photos from today's Coast Highway ride south to Del Mar.

The cute 70-something couple we met there has taken this aluminum-framed tandem on major rail trails all over the country — including some famous ones back east that @6zfshdb and others have reported on here.

Among the many rigid 26er MTBs I had back in the 80s and 90s I had a lovely KHS Montana Summit (or Pro? can't recall, think Pro was far more expensive so probably a summit). Lovely bike, was in college in Dublin at the time and many times took it up Three Rock and trashed it around the local forestry trails up there, just outside the city. Until one day stupidly I popped into a Spar for a drink, glanced out window at the KHS leaning there, looked at the juices in the cabinet looked back out- bike gone! Ran outside no sign of it. Spent an hour searching all the side streets in case I saw it in a garden. No good. Haven't thought about that bike in years! Still have a couple of my old mtbs from back then. My 18yo now uses my Rockhopper, still going strong, nearly 30 years old! Still in great nick, with its Tom Ritchey triple butted steel tubing. I remember I wanted it in red like the original first generation Spesh Rockhoppers but they only had blue, still annoyed at that.

 

[Chargeride]

Triple butted steel.
Peak vintage

 

[Chargeride]

@Chargeride: Did I already tell you I loved your "Bloody 'ell!" during your videos?

I edit out the '4 4ux sakes'.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Triple butted steel.
Peak vintage

haha - looking at it just now I'm not even sure it is triple butted, doesn't actually say that on it!

Instead... it's so much better, it's made of the mysterious (made up?!) wonder steel, Nitanium?! Nitanium? Is that real? Sounds like Unobtainium!

 

[Chazmo]

Some photos from today's Coast Highway ride south to Del Mar.

View attachment 208995

View attachment 208996

First objective: Hot dogs at Moonlight Beach.

View attachment 208997
The cute 70-something couple we met there has taken this aluminum-framed tandem on major rail trails all over the country — including some famous ones back east that @6zfshdb and others have reported on here.

View attachment 209001
Next stop was our turnaround at Powerhouse Beach in Del Mar. Spent a very pleasant 15 minutes with the ocean here before heading home.

View attachment 208998View attachment 208999View attachment 209000
A moderate crowd at the beach despite the clouds gathering ahead of this evening's storm. These views look from north to south, with the La Jolla Peninsula in the distance in the top photo.

Many things to like about this ride — including the fact that my legs felt stronger than they have in months. The tailwind all the way home was also a nice touch.

Neighbor DB, on the other hand, was in more of a "go slow and smell the roses" mood. Over and over, he'd fall way back while I indulged my case of the zoomies. Then we'd rejoin. Good to have a riding buddy who's fine with that.

Oh, man, Jeremy… You really are blessed to be able to ride the coast. I lived at the beach one summer (many years ago) and I wish modern tech had existed then. I didn’t have a bike with me, but I was into my RollerBlades and got a lot of attention on those. Great stuff. Yeah, that tandem is really a work of art.

 

[Chazmo]

Instead... it's so much better, it's made of the mysterious (made up?!) wonder steel, Nitanium?! Nitanium? Is that real? Sounds like Unobtainium!

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Looks a very pleasant ride Jeremy. What's the water temp like this time of year? I like swimming in South Cal on trips to LA, though I remember swimming off Malibu I think , with friends (after struggling to find a public beach or one that we could park!) and it was surprisingly chilly, can't remember the time of year except it felt hot in the sun. After Ireland & UK I expected the sea to ALWAYS be very warm because y'no it's LA and I grew up on Baywatch!

Same thing happened in Cape Town back in the 90s, beautiful sunny hot day, amazing beach, I plunged into the waves- ran straight back out again, absolutely freezing! Current from South Pole I was told, go 10 or 20 miles around False Bay direction where you can catch the Indian Ocean currents, much warmer.

We just always imagine hot sunny places will have lukewarm water.

Water temp was 68°F yesterday. Typically peaks in the low 70's in September, but you can comfortably wade barefoot year round.

Our weather's different from LA's. They get hotter and stronger Santa Ana winds in fall and winter and many fewer marine layer days in the spring and summer.

Air temps at the San Diego County coast are usually in the 60-75 range at midday all year. The big wildcards are the marine layer and the wind. The marine layer seems to have a mind of its own. When it comes ashore, it can make any day chilly and gloomy.

Santa Ana winds occasionally bring 80s to the San Diego coast, but it's rarely "hot" near the water. You need to go inland to get truly hot summer days. If you want blistering heat, you can be in the eastern deserts in under 2 hrs by car.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Water temp was 68°F yesterday. Typically peaks in the low 70's in September, but you can comfortably wade barefoot year round.

Our weather's different from LA's. They get hotter and stronger Santa Ana winds in fall and winter and many fewer marine layer days in the spring and summer.

Air temps at the San Diego County coast are usually in the 60-75 range at midday all year. The big wildcards are the marine layer and the wind. The marine layer seems to have a mind of its own. When it comes ashore, it can make any day chilly and gloomy.

Santa Ana winds occasionally bring 80s to the San Diego coast, but it's rarely "hot" near the water. You need to go inland to get truly hot summer days. If you want blistering heat, you can be in the eastern deserts in under 2 hrs by car.

So 68f is 20c wow that's warm. Peak water temps in Cornwall in the summer might get to 17/18c, In Ireland in august lucky to get above 15/16c! I would never leave the water where you are, amazing.

Looking at google maps so the closest I probably ever got to San Diego was a day sightseeing in Palm Springs while staying in an air bnb up near Joshua Tree. Hadn't realised until now how far down San Diego is. Right on the border.

 

[RunForTheHills]

There is a cold arctic current that comes down California coast from British Colombia. That's why Northern California doesn't have the beach crowds that SoCal does.

 

[DaveMatthews]

There is a cold arctic current that comes down California coast from British Colombia. That's why Northern California doesn't have the beach crowds that SoCal does.

It's all our fault... Blame Canada!

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

There is a cold arctic current that comes down California coast from British Colombia. That's why Northern California doesn't have the beach crowds that SoCal does.

Yes, the cold California Current (blue on map below) keeps heading south below Point Conception (boundary between Central and Southern California), thus bypassing the Southern California Bight (broad coastline curvature on map).

This sets up the red California Counter Current, which brings us warm coastal waters from off Mexico. Works for me!

SoCal beaches are also generally wider, longer, and much easier to access than in Northern and Central California. We lived in the SF Bay Area for 20 years and seldom went to the beach.

 

[Chargeride]

Have they rebuilt those houses yet?
Luckily no mud slides developed.

 

[Chazmo]

It's all our fault... Blame Canada!

I always do! Cheers, Dave.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Have they rebuilt those houses yet?
Luckily no mud slides developed.

If you mean in Malibu and Altadena, still in progress. Sometimes watch LA news and often see stories of this or that group upset with the clean up, the permitting, the delays, the new designs, and on and on.

The wisdom of rebuilding there seldom comes up now. The topographic and atmospheric factors underlying those fires haven't changed, and the latter could easily get worse.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Yes, the cold California Current (blue on map below) keeps heading south below Point Conception (boundary between Central and Southern California), thus bypassing the Southern California Bight (broad coastline curvature on map).

View attachment 209033
This sets up the red California Counter Current, which brings us warm coastal waters from off Mexico. Works for me!

SoCal beaches are also generally wider, longer, and much easier to access than in Northern and Central California. We lived in the SF Bay Area for 20 years and seldom went to the beach.

I never thought much about those Islands offshore. I do remember years ago reading about John Ford and his yacht and spending time out at Catalina Island playing endless poker games, a young John Wayne (Marion) deck hand making drinks for Ford and his drinking buddies! Do many people live out there nowadays? Or are they National Parks? Can people build houses on them? Be a fun daily commute, sailing to and from an Island to LA! Hadn't realised there were that many Islands.