Del Dios/Elfin Forest Route

For the upcoming weekend (Saturday, August 11th):
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1211166

43 mile ride
Scenic and HILLY!!!
(We'll get the hills over with first and come back on the coast).

Meet at Fletcher Cove in Solana Beach 7:15 am for 7:30 departure.
I'll have route slips so no one gets lost.
In addition, I ride slow so I'll be the sweeper!
1 rest stop (not 2 as I mentioned earlier), after all the climbing in San Marcos.

Ride Description:

• Start: Fletcher Cove, Solana Beach
• Head east on Lomas Santa Fe (Hwy S8)
• Continue as Lomas Santa Fe becomes Linea del Cielo (mile 3)
• Continue as Linea del Cielo becomes (left turn) Paseo Delicias (mile 5) in Rancho Santa Fe.
• Continue as Paseo Delicias becomes Del Dios Highway (Hwy S6) (mile 8). Begin significant climb up to and past Lake Hodges.
• Near Escondido, Del Dios Hwy becomes West Valley Parkway. Stay on West Valley Parkway.
• At mile 15, turn left on Citricado Pkwy (in Escondido).
• Quick right at end of road onto Avenida del Diablo.
• Note--if you need a gas station, stay straight on West Valley Pkway for an optional rest stop about a mile north of Avenida del Diablo, at the intersection of West Valley and Auto Park Wy. To save time, we will try to forgo this stop and wait until we've finished all our climbing. However, there's not much for the next 10 miles so be prepared!
• Quick left on S. Hale Ave (heading north).
• Turn left on Harmony Grove Rd. (about 1/2 mile).
• *Stay on Harmony Grove Rd. (turn left before it turns into Enterprise Rd., immediately after passing Princess Kyra Pl. on the right. This is just past mile 16).
• Stay on Harmony Grove Rd. (turn left before Kauana Loa Dr. at ~mile 16.5).
• Turn right on Elfin Forest Rd. (not quite mile 21). (Harmony Grove turns into Elfin Forest at this point.) This is another stretch of significant climbing.
• *For bathroom break, turn right on San Elijo Rd. at mile 23.75 in San Marcos. Stop at park on left-hand side (baseball fields). Regroup.
• Continue South on San Elijo Rd. (turn right out of park, or if not stopping, turn left off of Elfin Forest Rd.)
• Turn right on Melrose Dr. just before mile 25 (If you go too far and hit Rancho Santa Fe Rd., turn right. Rancho Santa Fe intersects Melrose--you'd then turn left to continue).
• *Note--If you're crunched for time or tired and want to cut the ride short, stay straight on San Elijo Rd until you hit Rancho Santa Fe Rd and turn left to head South. A few miles down, turn right at La Costa Blvd., which will take you directly west to the coast, where you can turn left (south) at Coast Hwy and head home.
• Turn left onto Palomar Airport Rd. (Rte 12) off of Melrose at mile 28 and head west.
• Turn right on El Camino Real.
• Turn left on Faraday Ave.
• Turn left on Cannon (Flanaway dead ends onto Cannon).
• Take Cannon west to Coast Hwy. Turn left (south) on Coast Hwy (just after mile 33).
• Continue south on Coast Hwy for the next 10 miles until you reach Lomas Santa Fe in Solana Beach and turn right to get back to the start at Fletcher Cove
• You made it! Time to eat!