riding for Tacos in Davenport

Boris Foelsch

Being less than fully employed once again, I've had the
chance to do some more Santa Cruz county exploring.

I set out late (11:30 am) from Palo Alto with no clear
destination in mind, just knowing that the San Mateo /
Santa Cruz coast was going to be part of the ride. My
riding partners friends are all working or out of town so
this was solo.

Once at the Foothill expressway, I decided to head toward
Hwy 9. It was warm and I was concerned about the heat and
staying hydrated. I forgot that weekdays mean lots of gravel
trucks until you pass the quarry at Stevens Canyon. The
climb up Redwood Gulch was uneventful and not too hot. Much
like the Sequoia Century a few weeks earlier. I munched down
some lunch at Saratoga Gap, which was remarkably quiet even
for a weekday in summer. I decided to head toward Felton via
Hwy 9. I can never decide whether climbing or descending 9
is a better deal. It takes a long time either way, gradual
and smooth.

I got some water and Gatorade in Boulder Creek and continued
west on 9. The traffic was really getting to be annoying. So
when I saw Alba road, I decided to bite off that monster
climb instead of staying on 9 any longer. I took it really
slow, so it wasn't a problem. Nice and shady and very pretty
and quiet too - nothing but stellars jays and the occasional
crow, very few cars. I then took a left at Empire Grade
thinking that I'd head down Bonny Doon Rd. I got to Ice
Cream Grade and took the right and had forgotten that it's a
downhill. I was prepared for another climb, but that was a
benign mistake. This was when the fog set in. I took the
left on Martin and then got on to Pine Flat. At the
intersection with Bonny Doon, I forgot that the road sign is
turned 90 degrees like it always has been and I accidentally
stayed on Pine Flat instead of heading down BD. I then found
myself turning back onto Empire Grade and passing the
previous intersections again. Not a big deal, but I had a
lot of riding left to get back before sunset.

So, once again, down PF to BD - cold downhill into the fog.
I stopped for something to eat in Davenport. I like the
Whale City Bakery but didn't want pastries or coffee at that
point. I checked out the La Cabana Taqueria and decided to
get a fish taco. I can say without reservation that it was
the best I've ever eaten.Wow! Upcoming hill climbs be
damned, I got another. Great menu, including cactus Tacos.
Now I had to face the 25 miles north on Hwy 1 to Pescadero.
Fortunately for me, the wind direction check I had done on

http://sfports.wr.usgs.gov/cgi-
bin/wind/windbin.cgi?x=94&y=352

before setting out still was correct, only it was strong
now. 25 miles with a strong tail wind was fine. I was riding
the same speed as the wind so I could hear the surf most of
the way. With such a good tailwind, I stayed on 1 instead of
cutting over to Cloverdale Rd at Gazos Creek Rd. The fog was
all to the south and it was clear further north. The normal
summer pattern seemed reversed. The flowers all along the
way were amazing. I can't name any of them, since they are
mostly coastal native varieties I don't see often.

Rolling into Pescadero, it was almost 6:00 pm. The Arcangeli
bakery was closed already (and long out of the excellent
apple turnovers!) so I went to Muzzi's and was given some
good Colombian coffee for free - they were closing and it
was going to go to waste. Sweet!

The Tacos mostly digested by then, I grunted up and over
Haskins Hill and then up West Alpine. I didn't get out of
the fog until Alpine. I made it home just before dark. Not a
single unpleasant incident and amazing scenery. I had hoped
for a shorter time, but between opting for Alba and then
missing that turn, it wasn't bad.

I'm ready to plan my next ride around that Taqueria.
Unfortunately, doing the ride counterclockwise would
probably rule out the Tacos. Chowing down on spicy food at
the bottom of Bonny Doon road isn't a good plan.

Boris