A spur of the moment outing; I needed some exercise.
Drove 24/680/Diablo Rd., parked at 2 PM
in the last dip before the houses stop.
The ascent (11 miles, 600' up to 3849') took 1:50 at a solid, steady pace.
Only physical problem: numbness in fingers/toes.
It was beautiful, sunny, almost windless, 75-80 degrees.
Lingered at the top for a few minutes,
ate one of those Power/Granola bar hybrids.
A 60-ish Bechtel retiree was holding forth on the sights and their history.
Did you know that Pittsburg (CA) is so named because coal was mined there?
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The giddy descent took 25 minutes.
I stopped for a Mango Smoothie at the Danville Taco Bell.