Lick Observatory at elevation 4209ft

Sunday, 11/25 Overcast
This was the last day of the Thanksgiving weekend and the last day of my vacation before I start my new job at Capcom. I congratulated myself for getting a new job by riding to the Lick Observatory. Lick Observatory is atop the summit of Mt. Hamilton, which is the highest mountain looking over Silicon Valley. I know it's the first place it snows around San Jose, and the snow-capped mountain top have always captivated me during the winter months. I've seen it through grade school, junior high, high school, and junior college. Then , I went to San Diego and didn't see it for a few years, but I came back to San Jose after I graduated from college and sure enough, it's still there. Now, I see it everyday on my way to work and back (if it's not too dark). Lick Observatory stands magnificently on the summit, begging me to conquer it someday, and that day was today.

I couldn't capture the beauty of Mt. Hamilton with my camera, but these people did!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/naotakem/129289311/

Snowcapped Mt. Hamilton
http://www.flickr.com/photos/explorer/113613672/


My trusty Little Giant.


Coffee Lovers on the intersection of Capitol and Aborn. My friend likes to hang out here after work.


This is the first hill I need to conquer to get to Mt. Hamilton.


An Indian building?


The road was getting steeper from here. But first, I saw horses.


A few minutes of climbing and it already looks like a view from the top. But, it's not even close!


That's San Jose downtown in the mist.


I see a couple of deer. I saw another pair crossing the road and jumping over the fence like it's nothing.


I know that cow is checking me out.

This was one tough climb. Until now, I thought Sierra Road was the toughest road to climb in San Jose, but I may have found its match (Although Sierra Road may be a bit longer).


Finally, I'm almost at the top. After unbelievably steep switchbacks, the road turns into a straight climb to the top (shown here). I had to resort to using the granny gear.


Now, Lick Observatory is closer.


I turn right on Mt. Hamilton Road.


It's another 10 miles to Lick Observatory.


A long windy road wrapped around rolling hills. But, the roads were not too steep.


I was getting warm and I took off my purple skull cap.

I reached the Twin Gates Trailhead. From here, it goes down, you cross a bridge, and it goes back up again. It was getting steeper. I saw a sign that said 7 miles to the Lick Observatory. 7 more miles?! Why am I putting up to this torture? Sure, I was enjoying the beautiful scenery, trees, fresh air, but at times, it felt like I was being tortured. Hey, isn't that almost like sex? Strange thoughts passed through my mind. May be I was getting too much oxygen. Then, I saw something cross the road. It was a small fluffy figure with a bushy tail. I think it was a fox. I quickly pulled out my camera, but he was very shy and hid behind a tree. And then, I saw two more foxes with their bushy tails following him in the woods.


Nuthin' but trees. But I swear I saw foxes!


A couple minutes later, I saw deers on the other side of the hill. A few cars passed me, and more motorcycles passed me and also came down from the summit.

I've got to say they did a very nice job of maintaining the road. I saw a sign that said the area is a property of Regents of the University of California. It's nice to know my tuition went to something useful like maintaining this road because I was using it.

I saw another rider ahead of me, so I pulled out a packet of GU from my back pocket, sucked on it, and started cranking down on the pedals. I caught up with him and I asked if I could tag along, since it's my first time here. He was cool with it and we rode along. He said he comes here every week! He came from Milpitas taking Alum Rock Road, which was not as steep as Quimby Road. Perhaps I can ride with my girlfriend to Lick Observatory on that route.


We were getting closer to the road and I got excited and went ahead a little.


San Jose is hidden in the fog.


Lick Observatory is just around the corner. Pete said he has ridden to Livermore before, too.


Here I come, Lick!


I'm heeere!


Now, I get to go down the windy road below.


I was so excited this morning I forgot to take off the seat post rack!


Pete from Milpitas.

I refilled my water bottles and dropped a tablet of Zenergize in each bottle to make sure I was getting enough electrolytes. I have been riding about 2hrs and 30 min, but I was feeling really good. It was around 50F at the summit and that was warm for this time of the year.

The Lick Observatory was open and I checked out the place. It was like a museum with tools and pictures and they even had a gift shop. I used the restroom, ate my mochi snack and I was ready to get on my bike.

Then, I realized I had lost my purple skull cap. I went back inside the observatory, but I didn't find it there. May be I dropped it on the way up.


We wanted to get two observatories in the picture at once using this mirror. Unfortunately, the other observatory is behind the mirror.

Pete told me he will go down slow since he had a bad accident once when his brake locked up. I went ahead, constantly checking for my cap... and sure enough, I found it! It was lying on the other side of the road. I must have dropped it when I pulled out the GU from my back pocket. Then, Pete passed me. I tried to catch up with him, but man, he is one fast downhill rider. I finally caught up with him at the bridge and passed him going uphill.


The sign reads Twin Gates Trailhead. I need to work on my backhand shooting skills.


Now I was back on Quimby Road climbing up the hill.
Lick looks so faraway now.


I'm back at the top of the summit at Quimby Road.
Buckeye Ranch at elevation 2264ft


The view is wonderful up here. The toughest part of the climb was just a little ahead where the road drops straight down.


The view of San Jose. On the way down, a group of motorcycle riders were coming up. One of them had fallen in the ditch and they were trying to get the bike up. It looked really tough especially on a steep road like this one.


Does anyone know what this fruit is? Can I eat this?

It was almost 2pm and it's already been 4 hours and 30 minutes since I've started riding this morning. I was tired and hungry. After all, I've just conquered Mt. Hamilton and licked the Lick Observatory! I called my friend to see if he was at Coffee Lovers, but he was in LA visiting his folks in LA. I was hoping to get him to buy me lunch and pay him back in pesos, but may be next time.

I hopped in Jack in the Box. I had the sirloin steak and egg breakfast burrito (without cheese) with fries. I devoured it and I was ready to take a nap, but I still had to ride back home. I rode back carefully since there was a lot of traffic, took a hot shower and a nice, long nap to get ready for my first day of work on Monday.

Total time: 3:50:48
Total Distance: 47.76 miles
Avg:12.4 mph
Max: 36.6 mph