Back in 2020, there was a large fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains called the CZU Lightning Complex Fire. The fire took out a lot of Big Basin State Park. The main Headquarters, the museum, the visitor center, and much more all burned down to the ground.
I originally had ambitions to bike from my house all the way to the park headquarters and back about mid-July. But after doing what I considered a few training rides, I reassessed my abilities and pulled back on my ambitions.
Even as recently as my 50s and early 60s, I could do a ride like this. Admittedly, it took me longer than when I was in my 20s to 30s. But I could still bite off a ride like this and complete it in a reasonable amount of time.
However, I am now in my 70s. Just grinding my way up to Saratoga Gap is now what I would consider a long-distance goal. Back in my late 30s, I would ride up to Skyline and down Page Mill just to get to work at Stanford Hospital. Of course, that would be on the day when I long did the second half of the day shift.
On that day, I would stop at Horseshoe Lake and eat my lunch. Then fly down Page Mill Road to Junipero Serra and then to the hospital. Change clothes in the restroom and begin my day.
That was then, and this is now. So on Wednesday, Janet and I drove to Big Basin Park. Along the way, we stopped a few times so I could take some images. Then, when we reached the main part of the park, we got out and walked a few of the trails.
These images are what I thought captured the day. I DID download a couple of images of what the park looked like before the fire for comparison. I've pointed out those images in this posting.
