The idea today was to ride Pt. Reyes and Bolinas gravel but after a lot of discussion we did this ride... which isn't even the one planned but it was the best ride! One of the many highlights of the ride was exiting from Meadow Club and seeing Kathryn, Stephanie, John, and Becky! I got to ride with Kathryn on her birthday ride until Alpine Dam. That was a bonus! When we got to Bolinas Ridge, Emily thought she had lost the lens hood on her 30mm for the 4th time. That lens hood is so prone to falling off. She was so resigned, she didn't even bother to look for it. But since we had just come up Bofax, I was thinking, there's no way she wouldn't have heard the plastic drop on the road so I walked back to the trailhead and saw it right there on the ground at the edge of the road about 20' from where she was standing. :) It was supposed to be cold and windy today but somehow it was not windy and much nicer. The only time we really encountered any significant headwind was on Nicasio Valley Rd. It did rain more than I thought it would last night and the trails were muddy with some big puddles and lots of downed branches. We were supposed to go down McCurdy Trail to Olema Valley Trail and then climb back up Randall Trail but given the conditions, we just decided to stay on the ridge. It was my first time on Bolinas Ridge north of Shafter and the views were spectacular. Too bad the trail was super bumpy. I didn't like that part. After Samuel P. Taylor, Randall and Isaac decided to head back up to San Geronimo Trail while Emily, Catherine, and I continued on the original route. Lagunitas Grocery was originally going to be our lunch stop but we just got a snack instead since we cut some miles and climbing out, opting to wait and go to Way Station for burgers after the ride. Catherine ended up getting the last tamale which was a blessing in disguise. Unable to decide, I just order a hot dog which totally hit the spot. The tamale ended up being dry anyway. On the way back we did Loma Alta for the first time. The views were spectacular and the descent was so much fun. During the climb, I just had tons of energy and was flying passed Catherine and Emily. I said I had Hot Dog Legs. Catherine, "That sounds like a bad thing." :) Emily hasn't been riding for the past couple of weeks and was feeling it most of the ride, ultimately cramping on the final climb. I guess she was having Sabbatical Legs which means Catherine had Tamale Legs. :) At the top of Loma Alta, it was really windy since the peak is fully exposed with 360 degree views. From that point on, we were feeling cold. By the time we got to the bottom, the sun was going down and the temperature dropped significantly. We enjoyed our food but we were also shivering by the end. It was another stellar great day!