We've been talking about taking Kira on an MTB ride for a little while now and I've been wanting to return to Big Basin for even longer. Today it just worked out. After a little spin on both bikes in the parking lot, Kira decided to ride my Stumpjumper because it was more plush even though the narrower bars of my Epic EVO were more comfortable. Would this be an issue later? It was the Epic EVO's birthday yesterday and it was a good way to celebrate. The original forecast looked warm but not too bad. Well as soon as we started the first climb up Chalks Truck Trail, we were drenched and glistening in sweat. The sweat was trapping the bugs, that's how bad it was. The breeze and shade were very welcome. That said, it was gorgeous - clear blue skies with only one or two clouds on the horizon. Knowing the kind of dirt Kira is comfortable riding, Big Basin was one of the few candidates. I was a little bit unsure of how she would react to the 20% descent after getting to the top of Chalks Mountain. Luckily she had some other steep descents before it to get the feel of the Stumpy so by the time she got to the first big wall, she was able to "send" it. There was some initial coaching before she went with us yelling back and forth, her at the top of the hill and me at the bottom. Pretty proud of her for riding them as those would've been descents she would've walked on her gravel bike. After one more 19% descent, the rest was a piece of cake. We stopped at the old treehouse/train spot for a snack and to show Kira. They've built a new tall, tiny house on the Gazos Creek Trail corner of the property. While we were there, Anna Lindström , Jan Lindstrom , and Larry Narachi showed up, coming from Johansen Rd. It was great to run into them. We had ourselves a mini Gravel Bike California meetup. 😂 After being mostly out in the sun, now we were getting under the canopy of the trees where it was much nicer. The descent down to the park HQ through the forest is so nice, even with so many charred trunks. The new growth has gotten much taller now than the last time I was there and it's making it much greener than before. From the climb of N. Escape Rd. and Hwy 236, all the way up China Grade to the top of Johansen Rd., it was hot! I think Kira was melting. It was so nice to finally be descending again. We were also back in the forest and in the shade which was great. I forgot that there's some climbing on Johansen and on the first climb, I was startled when a rattlesnake on the left edge of the trail started to rattle its tail loudly. I had already passed it so I don't if it was reacting to me or Kira behind me. Once again, I was on a climb and it was behind me so I wasn't able to get a photo of it. Kira didn't want to go back to get a photo for some reason. All the forest sections were magical and I think those were Kira's favorite parts of the ride too. By the time we got to the bottom of Gazos Creek Trail, she was ready to be done. I think she was mostly hungry so we went to Highway 1 Brewing Company for some burgers and tots/fries.