Bob was playing around with a Santa Cruz route but was otherwise feeling uninspired. Ant wanted to redo this TdC x TdPSL route to Hops and Beans this past Monday but I couldn't go so I suggested it to Bob. Just before Bedwell Bayfront on the north-south section of Haven Ave. just before turning the corner to the Porsche dealership, there was a woman wearing the green Fatcake kit from 2017 with an older EF Education pink (that's not quite pink) helmet going the other way. I couldn't tell who it was. It was almost completely overcast until we got to Fremont keeping the temps pleasant. The roads were so quiet. With the gray skies, it felt a little apocalyptic but I liked how peaceful it was. Even the winds weren't that bad feeling far lighter than forecast with the exception of the wonderful tailwind we got on the levee at Coyote Hills. I tried the pulled pork sandwich at Hops and Beans and I think it might be the best one I've ever had. It was really good as was the strawberry smoothie I got. I did wish it came with chips or fries but then I remembered we still had DoughWeiMe to come. All the dirt sections were so nice but by the time we got back to SF Bay Trail/Alameda Creek Trail, Bob had had enough gravel and wanted to ride the paved path. Of course we were only on it for like a mile before we were back on dirt in Coyote Hills. He didn't like the singletrack of Muskrat Trail. It was so smooth and pleasant. Since the last time I was at Coyote Hills for my birthday, it seems like they've trimmed back the vegetation, if that's even something they would do there. The reeds were so tall and "towering" above us last time and this time it was much lower. On the way back we decided to take a different route and I misnavigated and ended up on the wrong side of the tracks. I was trying to avoid Middlefield and go through Atherton but we ended up on Middlefield anyway. At least we missed most of the worst parts of it. There were a lot of people out riding without helmets today. We didn't get the memo about casual, no-helmet, Sundays. Sadly, I missed out on getting 69 mi. If you can believe it, Bob and I actually had a debate about whether 69 or 70 mi. was the better total to have. There is no contest obviously. 🤣 Update - Bob figured out what happened. We were searching for Valparaiso, which I was pretty sure was just a couple blocks after we turned on to Middlefield, only we didn't realize that on this side of El Camino, it becomes Glenwood Ave. 🤦‍♂️