Share the Road - Training #16

In the Malibu Canyon. I have long wanted to cruise along the beautiful hills of Malibu Canyon. I have been riding along PCH looking up at them for long enough. So, when I studied the map last night, I discovered my error from the other day (Mulholland goes over Sepulveda rather than intersecting with it), I thought I had unlocked the door. Perhaps I did. I just didn't bring the other keys with me...or I wasn't looking for the next door...or road... At any rate, I busted my butt up some pretty steady climbing hills to the point of Mulholland and Encino Hills Dr./Rd.. I was WAAAAAAAY up top at this point and looking down on the valley. Pretty. The turn down Encino Hills was a serious turn down by what I could see -- a steep grade. However, there was no alternative for Mulholland -- it seemed to end there. So, I thought it might just connect with Encino Hills for a moment, then reconnect with Mulholland later. Fair enough. Whoosh, off I go...oh...my...goodness... This is a SERIOUS hill with no signs of letting up. Lots of sharp turns, very residential, a car could pull out at any second. My brakes are beginning to heat up (you feel them get soft and can, at some point begin to smell them). The fact that I'm on the wrong road is a given at this point. The question is whether or not I'm going to survive the downhill. I do. Cool. Deep breaths. And now...where am I? I have no map. I am NOT about to try going back up that hill -- my truck would want to kick my ass for pointing it up that direction and pressing the gas pedal. So I go down what appears to be a major road: Hayvenhurst. I think I've heard of it. Thankfully after a mile or so, it lets on to Ventura. All good, I know where I am. Way off course, but I know where I am. I cruise Ventura up to Topanga Canyon Road, thinking the whole while -- how far off course am I? I really didn't allow for myself (timewise) to have too much of an adventure this morning... Made it to Topanga Canyon, up I go into the wild Malibu yonder. I reconnect with Mulholland -- hello, sir! How have you been? -- and find Old Topanga Canyon Road. Nice. Some good climbing, then some serious downhill with curves enough to make me queasy. All the while, it smells like nature up there -- some pretty, some not so pretty. But it isn't the typical gas and asphalt. Cruising down the PCH side of Topanga was a little hairy as traffic had picked up and the roads were wet in places. That always makes me a bit nervous as a slide-out is one of my worst nightmares. No slide. All safe. A three hour journey all told. I don't know how to compute the miles -- or I don't really have the desire to do so. It's enough to know I worked hard, adventured, got lost and overcame. A good ride.