Training ride 8/5: Nicasio-Marshall Loop

This was my last Wednesday ride for the season because I'll be back at work on Wednesdays (and every weekday) from now on.  

We had another large turn out for this ride, which started in Nicasio.  It was a bit cool, but predicted to be 85 degrees in nearby San Rafael later in the day.  We started out on Nicasio Valley Road and then turned east on Pt. Reyes-Petaluma highway (toward Petaluma).  There is a steep but short climb without much shoulder shortly after making the turn. The sun was already out when we reached the climb and it was warming up.  After the downhill, we rolled along and then passed the French Cheese Factory.  I would have liked to stop and taste the cheese, but we had just started the ride.  If you have a chance, it is a nice place to stop and relax.  There is cheese tasting and for purchase, as well as other food items.  The grounds have a picturesque pond with picnic tables around it.  

There isn't much in the Nicasio square: a baseball field, this fire department, the Roadhouse and a church (shown below).

We continued on to Hicks Valley Road, which had more rolling hills.  We saw a group of young deer on the way.  One was very skittish and I was mildly concerned that it would dash in front of us, but it stayed on the side of the road.  Hitting or being hit by a deer can be bad for all involved.  Perhaps you have seen the YouTube video of the mountain biker in a race in Africa getting knocked off his bike by an antelope buck?  If not, you can see it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2oymHHyV1M.

Once on Hicks, there was very little traffic, which is much more relaxing.  After a short distance, we turned on to Marshall-Petaluma Rd. toward Marshall. There is a lot of nice scenery on this road.  It does some very mild rolling and slight down hill on which you can pick up some speed.  We did have a headwind, but not too bad.   After a very enjoyable few miles in that vein, we climbed for a few miles to reach the top of the Marshall grade, where the fog was in.  There is some great down hill from there just about all the way to highway 1.  The road comes to an abrupt stop at a stop sign just before the highway.  We turn south on highway 1 for just a short distance to the Marshall Store where it was time for a lunch break.  Of course you can get oysters, which all the local places serve, but you should also try their clam chowder.
 

As you can see, they serve oysters at the Marshall Store.  In fact, as you ride along the highway, you can see crushed shells everywhere. 

View from the deck of the Marshall Store.

The sun had come out by the end of our lunch break.  We continued south on highway 1 over some rolling hills and alongside Tomales Bay to Pt. Reyes Station and the Bovine Bakery for another break. During the break at the bakery, I found that there is a bench in the pocket park next to the bakery that was donated by Grizzly Peak Cyclists with our club name on it.  Sadly, its useful life is over, but I hear that we will donate for another bench from the proceeds from the century ride we hosted in May.  

We returned to Nicasio via Platform Bridge Road and Pt. Reyes-Petaluma Hwy. It was a warm return to Nicasio, but not 85 degrees.

The church on Nicasio square.

Stats:
40.94 miles
1,852 feet of elevation gain (but it sure felt like more on the Marshall grade)