Stagecoach 400 - Day 4 - Zero Day at Vineyard Hacienda in Rancho San Diego, CA
Date: March 15, 2022
0 Miles
Rancho San Diego, CA
After my late night arrival, and looking at my schedule, I realized I had some flexibility with riding moving forward. First off, a significant heat wave was due to hit the entire SoCal area over the next few days. Looking ahead to Anza-Borrego, it was obvious that most of the daily highs were going to be well over 100 degrees - especially in the washes and canyons. After last summer's theme of heat domes and exclusive night riding on the Sierra Cascades route, I wasn't feeling it to ride through those temperatures. So, I made the decision to come back and ride all those desert sections this winter when temps would be more amenable (see Fully Anza-Borrego). I would modify the Stagecoach 400 route to ride the area and enjoy the San Diego area.
I started by making today a Zero Day, especially after the place I was staying offered me a great rate as a cyclist. I spent the morning enjoying the gardens on the grounds, swimming in the pool, sleeping, and absolutely relaxing. I also worked on adjusting the route to loop back into Escondido after a pit stop at the ocean once more in order to visit my Aunt Martha. By mid-afternoon, I biked to the local movie theater to see The Batman - I had the whole place to myself and loved the movie. Evening came on, I biked back and around the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge before returning to Vineyard Hacienda.
