Show us pictures of where you ride your ebikes!

[Jeremy McCreary]

I want those beach rocks.

You're not the only one. Most of the cobble beaches here are protected from rock rustling, but there's a steady migration of these multicolored cobbles to local gardens. Including ours.

These "Poway cobbles" are found on beaches from northern Mexico to SoCal's Channel Islands. Turns out, they aren't just pretty rocks. They played a pivotal role in the history of modern geology.

The theory of plate tectonics got a firm footing first in the oceans in the late 1960s, because that's where compelling evidence was first discovered. Had to operate on the continents as well, but the first unequivocal evidence of that had to wait for Tanya Atwater, a young grad student at the Scripps Oceanographic Institution in nearby La Jolla.

Atwater traced all these Poway cobbles back to a single source — an eroded volcanic field in north central Mexico, 150-250 mi from their present locations. Then she used their distribution in SoCal to prove that the passing Pacific plate had sheared off and captured a good-sized slice of the SW margin of the North American continent.

That would be the slice I live and ride on now.

She presented the paper to a room full of the biggest big wigs in geology at a 1970 conference, got a standing ovation, became an instant superstar, and changed continental geology forever. And Tanya Atwater was just getting started.

Pretty cool for a bunch of beach rocks, huh?

 

[stompandgo]

Absolutely.

I am just starting to learn about the geology around where I live now.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Absolutely.

I am just starting to learn about the geology around where I live now.

Excellent! Places always get more interesting when you start looking under the hood.

If there's a Roadside Geology of Massachusetts from Mountain Press, that would be a great start. Then you can ride or drive up to an outcrop or vista at Milepost X on Road Y and know you're looking at exactly what the book's talking about. No better way to learn.

Same for any other state. Some state books are better than others. Many are co-authored by top geologists known for their work in the region. Always get the latest edition, as geology's a constantly evolving science.

 

[DaveMatthews]

Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous but getting cooler. Needed two layers plus a vest. Wanted to take the long route to Mud Bay, so headed out on the road East. Temp had just cracked 12C when I left...





Hard to see, but this hill gets a bit steep. Ended up getting a top speed of 56.7kph even in a headwind...



Stopped by a small Park on Colebrook road...



A whole slough of ducks...



Back on the road heading West...



Mount Baker...



Twice in a row?!!??? My luck is changing it would seem. Highest tide I've seen in years. Nice to see you Mr. Pacific!



The loonies are out...



Water stop, and although the day is cool and the winds were up this spot was calm and I could have dropped the vest...



Heading home...

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous but getting cooler.

I could say the same of the last few days. So cool yesterday, in fact, that I had to switch the one and only layer — a lightweight jersey — to long sleeves.
;^}

Good to see Mr. Pacific back for a visit in Mud Bay. After 3 years on the coast, the ocean and the beaches and sea cliffs and bays it touches all feel like one big living thing to me now.

 

[DaveMatthews]

I could say the same of the last few days. So cool yesterday, in fact, that I had to switch the one and only layer — a lightweight jersey — to long sleeves.
;^}

Good to see Mr. Pacific back for a visit in Mud Bay. After 3 years on the coast, the ocean and the beaches and sea cliffs and bays it touches all feel like one big living thing to me now.

Oh sure... rub it in... rub rub rub it in...

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Oh sure... rub it in... rub rub rub it in...

I do so enjoy that.

 

[DaveMatthews]

I do so enjoy that.

View attachment 200905

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Taking a knee rest day made all the more delicious by our first Pacific storm of the season. Fun riding in the winds running ahead of it yesterday but rain on and off today.

Saturday, however, was a very different story. Gorgeous day for a morning poke around Encinitas with the missus. Looking south here from the city park above south Swami's Beach.

First stop, breakfast tacos at Moonlight Beach. The 5th Street descent to the beach, 1 block, 16%. Lots of these steep little ramps in Encinitas and Carlsbad.

K and I both credit the Moonlight Beach concession stand with the best tacos in the county. And that's saying something in San Diego County!

The machaca breakfast tacos just can't be beat: Machaca-marinated carnitas, scrambled eggs, cheese, fresh avocado and tomato, and chipotle aioli on a perfectly fried flour tortilla.

Of course, you have to put up with eating them right on the beach.

Volleyball players outnumbered all other beachgoers at the time.

Ebikes are always parked at the Moonlight playground. Many young cargo-bike moms.

Next stop, Cali Cream out on the Coast Highway (aka Hwy 101) a few blocks away. Mint chocolate chip for her, key lime pie ice cream for me. Her blue Velotric Breeze, my yellow Vado SL 1.

Bike route is putting it mildly! Guessing hundreds of bikes per day if not more on this stretch of Coast Highway on weekends.

This pulled up while we were racing the drips down our cones. The 40-something guy who got out with his kids looked a lot more like a banker than expected.

"Sure, take all the photos you want," he told me. Then a beaming smile. "Boyhood dream."

Next, to the I Street overlook above north Swami's Beach, adjacent to the Self-Realization Fellowship Temple of Encinitas. Struck me that this concrete semicircle might be more than just a storm drain. It could well be a portal to the 11th dimension.
;^}

K parked a safer distance away. She won't go farther than the 6th dimension.

The many different plants lining the edge of the bluff here had one thing in common: Big nasty thorns. These prickly pear thorns were the least of them.

Our turnaround in south Encinitas was the aforementioned city park overlooking south Swami's Beach. Afternoon shot from the week before.

The famous Swami's reef break just offshore draws surfers from all over the world. Lowish calm swell this day, but with no close-outs, the surfers were still catching nice rides — sedate but long. Please pardon my phone's now crappy telephoto camera.

This guy stayed seated on his board the whole time. Caught more rides and longer rides than anybody else by a good margin, and his paddle-outs looked easier, too.

Meanwhile up in the parking lot on the bluff, a grim reminder that surfing is a deadly sport — even for skilled watermen.

And nearby, a reminder that we should (a) enjoy this lovely overlook while can, and (b) hope like hell we're not here when it gives way.

Final stop, the E Steet overlook above south Moonlight Beach, first looking SW, then NW. Imagine living in those houses!

Then imagine the cliff falling out from under them.

 

[DaveMatthews]

Taking a knee rest day made all the more delicious by our first Pacific storm of the season. Fun riding in the winds running ahead of it yesterday but rain on and off today.

View attachment 200922
Saturday, however, was a very different story. Gorgeous day for a morning poke around Encinitas with the missus. Looking south here from the city park above soyth Swami's Beach.

View attachment 200909
First stop, breakfast tacos at Moonlight Beach. The 5th Street ramp down to the beach, 1 block, 15%. Lots of these ramps in Encinitas and Carlsbad.

View attachment 200914
K and I both credit the Moonlight Beach concession stand with the best tacos in the county. And that's saying something in San Diego County!

View attachment 200913
View attachment 200915

The machaca breakfast tacos with carnitas, scrambled eggs, cheese, avocado, tomatos, and chopotle aoli just can't be beat.

View attachment 200919
View attachment 200920View attachment 200921
If course, you have to put up with eating them right on the beach.

View attachment 200916
View attachment 200918View attachment 200911View attachment 200912View attachment 200910
Volleyball players outnumbered all other beachgoers at the time.

View attachment 200917
Ebikes are always parked at the Moonlight playground.

View attachment 200923
Next stop, Cali Cream out on the Coast Highway (aka Hwy 101) a few blocks away. Mint chocolate chip for her, key lime pie ice cream for me. Her blue Velotric Breeze, my yellow Vado SL 1.

View attachment 200926
Bike route is putting it mildly! Guessing hundreds of bikes per day if not more on this stretch of Coast Highway on weekends.

View attachment 200925
This pulled up while we were racing the drips down our cones. The 40-something guy who got out with his kids looked a lot more like a banker than expected. Said I could take a photo, then smiled. "Boyhood dream."

View attachment 200928View attachment 200927
Next, to the I Street overlook above north Swami's Beach, adjacent to the Self-Realization Fellowship Temple of Encinitas. Struck me that this concrete semicircle might be more than just a storm drain. It could be a portal to the 11th dimension.

View attachment 200929
K parked a safer distance away. She won't go farther than the 6th dimension.

View attachment 200930
The many different plants lining the edge of the bluff had one thing in common: Big nasty thorns. These prickly pear thorns were the lesst of them.

View attachment 200935
Our turnaround in south Encinitas was the aforementioned city park overlooking south Swami's Beach. Afternoon shot from the week before.

View attachment 200931
The famous reef break just offshore draws surfers from all over the world. Lowish calm swell this day, but with no close-outs, the surfers were catching nice long rides. Please pardon my phone's now crappy telephoto camera.

View attachment 200932
This guy stayed seated on his board the whole time. Caught more rides and longer rides than anybody else, and his paddle-outs looked easier, too.

View attachment 200933View attachment 200934
Meanwhile up in the parking lot, a grim reminder that surfing is a deadly sport.

View attachment 200936
And nearby, a reminder that we should (a) enjoy this lovely overlook while can, and (b) hope like hell we're not here when it gives way.

View attachment 200937
View attachment 200939
Final stop, the E Steet overlook above south Moonlight Beach, first looking SW, then NW.

One day I must revisit...

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

One day I must revisit...

Please do. We'll ride!

 

[DaveMatthews]

Please do. We'll ride!

Hmmm... well let's see... by my calculation that's about 2400kms from here.
I figure that's about 100kms/day.
I'm sure my 800wh battery will take another 24 charging cycles.
Oh wait... 48... gotta get back too... Plus whatever we get up to.
Looks like I need a good 3 months off!

 

[PCeBiker]

I took a picture of a couple of fields after harvest,..

And I saw a Butt Ugly Mutant Wild by the side of the road,..

 

[Chargeride]

Rather fugly, looks like something a hillbilly would have to catch with his shoelaces tied together at the annual charity fete.

I have an accurate and detailed knowledge of North America.

 

[stompandgo]

Jeremy, a few questions and notes.

We have dangerous rip currents out here, too, but we don't have active bluff failure zones. We have houses that close to the edge out here, but they are in Maine, on granite and limestone, not sand and mud. How long do you think they have?

When you are eating on the beach, do seagulls try and steal your food?

Was the blue truck parked in the bike lane? Did you yell at him?

Her blue Breeze with the Topeak bag looks great.

Swami's sponsors a club and a racing team. You probably see their jerseys in your area. They are best known for hosting their early Wednesday morning "Worlds" training ride inside Camp Pendleton. I've never done it, but many I know have, and they say it's insane.

Ride on.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

We have dangerous rip currents out here, too, but we don't have active bluff failure zones. We have houses that close to the edge out here, but they are in Maine, on granite and limestone, not sand and mud. How long do you think they have?

Our sea cliffs expose marine sedimentary rocks much weaker than your granites and limestones. They're definitely rock, but still no match for the highly destructive shoreline environment here.

Most of the wave damage to the cliff bases occurs during high surf + high tide combos, usually in winter. Irrigating the developed bluff edges year round just compounds the instability. And our biggest winter storms make it all worse.

However, when and where and how an undercut and weakened section of cliff actually comes down is anybody's guess. Could be today or 100 yrs from now. A slow downhill creep, a small spall off the cliff face, or a top-to-bottom slump. Doesn't take much differential ground movement to render any bluff-top building uninhabitable.

The ultimate result is sea cliff retreat in fits and starts all along the SoCal coast at an average rate of 5 cm (2 in) per year — some places, like south Carlbad and Palos Verdes, faster than others.

When you are eating on the beach, do seagulls try and steal your food?

Not normally. But once saw a guy weaponize gulls by pouring french fries on a row of beach blankets. With the frenzy of gulls came lots of poop. Stirred up quite a ruckus among the humans, too.

Was the blue truck parked in the bike lane? Did you yell at him?

No, he was in a legal space but had to take a few inches of bike lane to fit. Looked like he really tried to minimize the encroachment.

Same with all the delivery trucks along here. Put up with it, or let the bars and restaurants run out of beer and avocado. Those are the options.

Most drivers here are pretty good about staying out of bike lanes. The pedestrians (especially the runners) are a different story.

Her blue Breeze with the Topeak bag looks great.

Thanks! It's a very nice ebike for the money.

Swami's sponsors a club and a racing team. You probably see their jerseys in your area. They are best known for hosting their early Wednesday morning "Worlds" training ride inside Camp Pendleton. I've never done it, but many I know have, and they say it's insane.

Yes, I see them around. WAAAAAAY out of my league!

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

This old photo shows the view ahead as I rode south on the Coast Highway toward North Ponto Beach today. Saw something hovering above the face of the bluff beyond the bottom of the dip but couldn't make it out.

As I got closer, it was too big to be a typical drone, too thick to be a remote control glider, and not quite right for a pelican riding the cliff-face updraft (a common sight here).

Nearly under it when I stopped in the parking lot and made the ID: The largest osprey I'd ever seen by far. Absolutely magnificent!

It hovered motionless on the updraft for a few more seconds, wings fully spread, then flew off before I could get to my phone. So, here are some osprey photos shamelessly lifted from the internet...

I saw mostly the underside.

Common names: Sea hawk, fish hawk.

A mating pair we ran into on San Deigo Bay 2 years ago...

 

[BlackHand]

Our coastal bluffs here in the Sound lose just about a foot every hundred years, so much slower than SoCal on average.

Different story out on the coast. North Cove lost ~100ft/year for much of the last century and over 160 structures on what became known as Washaway Beach.

@Jeremy McCreary you might find this story of how the locals turned the tide and might have saved the rest of the town. You've mentioned the seasonal movement of sand and cobbles at your SoCal beaches.

Washington's 'Washaway Beach' Experiment Is Reshaping Ideas About Coastal Erosion

In 2016, a concerned local dropped $400 worth of rock on a vanishing beach to see what would happen. Now engineers are watching, too.

www.atlasobscura.com

 

[DaveMatthews]

View attachment 200960
This old photo shows the view ahead as I rode south on the Coast Highway toward North Ponto Beach today. Saw something hovering above the face of the bluff beyond the bottom of the dip but couldn't make it out.

As I got closer, it was too big to be a typical drone, too thick to be a remote control glider, and not quite right for a pelican riding the cliff-face updraft (as they often do).

Nearly under it when I stopped in the parking lot and made the ID: The largest osprey I'd ever seen by far. Absolutely magnificent!

Then it flew off before I could get to my phone. So, here are some osprey photos shamelessly lifted from the internet...

View attachment 200961View attachment 200962
I saw mostly the underside.

View attachment 200963View attachment 200964
Common names: Sea hawk, fish hawk.

A mating pair we ran into on San Deigo Bay 2 years ago...

View attachment 200959

Sea spray plus osprey... Works for me!

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Our coastal bluffs here in the Sound lose just about a foot every hundred years, so much slower than SoCal on average.

Different story out on the coast. North Cove lost ~100ft/year for much of the last century and over 160 structures on what became known as Washaway Beach.

@Jeremy McCreary you might find this story of how the locals turned the tide and might have saved the rest of the town. You've mentioned the seasonal movement of sand and cobbles at your SoCal beaches.

Washington's 'Washaway Beach' Experiment Is Reshaping Ideas About Coastal Erosion

In 2016, a concerned local dropped $400 worth of rock on a vanishing beach to see what would happen. Now engineers are watching, too.

www.atlasobscura.com

Great article! So many familiar themes.

Washaway Beach — catchy name for a sad trend. Nearly all SoCal beaches south of LA have been losing sand for decades — largely because the natural sand supply has been trapped behind dams on all but one of the major west slope drainages.

And many if not most of the coastal engineering projects designed to reduce further sand loss have backfired in one way or another. The Pacific's a wiley and formidable adversary.

They've tried cobble berms like this big one now at South Ponto Beach — which until the 1980s had been one of the widest and sandiest in all of North County. Maybe not the same design as the one in your article, though.

Much sand was lost all along the SoCal coast in the apocalyptic El Nino-driven winter storms of 1982-83. And with the beaches greatly narrowed, sea cliff retreat only accelerated.