A four-night bicycle-camping trip in Henry Coe State Park on Labor Day weekend, starting from home in downtown San Jose, California.
During the 22-mile ride down Monterey Road from downtown San Jose to Morgan Hill, I stop at the tackle shop for drinks.
Dunne Avenue winds its way to Henry Coe State Park some 2500 feet above the town of Morgan Hill.
On the way up the hills Dunne Avenue passes Anderson Lake and continues onward and upward.
Looking down toward Morgan Hill on a different angle from this same area.
An upper valley along Dunne Avenue getting close to Henry Coe State Park.
Baby raccoons in the trash cans at Henry Coe State Park headquarters.
After signing in for backpacking sites at Henry Coe State Park headquarters, I head down to the hidden Yerba Buena campsite.
I've completely lost the trail to Yerba Buena campsite because grasses have taken over.
I finally make it to the Yerba Buena campsite with its picnic tables hidden in the shade of many big old oak trees.
Tent is set up at the Yerba Buena campsite, home for the night.
Up on top of the world on Manzanita Point Road
Poverty Flat Road forks off to the left from Manzanita Point Road
Switchback on Poverty Flat Road on the way down
Descending Poverty Flat Road
Crash location while descending Poverty Flat Road
Poverty Flat Road crosses Coyote Creek
The road through Poverty Flat alongside Coyote Creek
Poverty Flat Road rises steeply out of Poverty Flat
Poverty Flat Road rolls up and down along Jackass Mountain
Junction of Poverty Flat Rd and Mahoney Meadows Road
Mahoney Meadows Road drops down to Coyote Creek
Los Cruzeros
Los Cruzeros squirrel
Dry Coyote Creek at Los Cruzeros
Willow Ridge Trail rises out of Los Cruzeros
Heading up out of Los Cruzeros along the Willow Ridge Trail.
Poison oak woods on Willow Ridge Trail
Willow Ridge Trail rises out of the poison oak forest to a more meadowy area.
Break time on the lower-middle section of Willow Ridge Trail!
One of many steep sections on Willow Ridge Trail
A rare flat stretch along Willlow Ridge Trail
Looking back down another steep part of the trail.
Big manzanita along the trail.
Approaching Willow Spring
Willow Spring itself
Top of the Willow Ridge Trail, where it meets Willow Ridge Road, also called "roller coaster ridge"
Up on the ridge finally on Willow Springs Road.
Sunset approaching along Willow Ridge Road, getting higher.
Up on top of it all on Willow Ridge Road.
Willow Ridge Road, lots of steep ups and downs as it rides on the ridge top. I have to drag the bike up some of the steep hills
My last decent photo along Willow Ridge Road before it gets dark.
Morning at Mississippi Lake with a bit of shade thanks to the ramada.
Mississippi Lake itself behind the tent.
Bear Spring Road heads northward away from Mississippi Lake.
Bear Spring Road meanders through the grassland along the dry creek.
The tub at Bear Spring is full of nice cool water.
I go for a walk up one of the rocky hills by Bear Spring.
Pumping water from Bear Spring.
Standing in a patch of stachys albens (?)
These stachys (?) plants fill the entire creek bed.
Close-up of the plants and their blossom stacks.
Big pine cones litter the trail near Bear Spring.
Sometimes, the "road" rises above the dry creek briefly and then rolls back down to meet it again.
Riding along Bear Spring Road back toward Mississippi Lake.
One last hummingbird-attracting bloom remains on this thistle, which I believe is the California native red thistle.
Bear Spring Road (it's a trail, really) crosses the dry creek several times.
After spending a couple of hours back at my tent by the lake and having lunch...
The dam crossing the south end of Mississippi Lake.
View north up Mississippi Lake from the dam at the lake's south end.
The road rises up away from the lake toward County Line Road and Board Spring.
Elderly chamise bush along County Line Road.
Bike standing on the edge of County Line Road at the trailhead of the Hartman Trail (closed to bikes)
I walk down the Hartman Trail a few hundred feet and look back up toward County Line Road.
County Line Road is picturesque as it winds through chaparral and oak woodlands with amazing views off to the east
Board Spring Road veers off County Line Road into the brush in the middle of the photo on a slight downhill along the edge of the mountain.
The short (1/3-mile-long) road to Board Spring narrows.
At the end of the road is the spring and I'm ready to start pumping!
Pumping water at Board Spring.
Enjoying the view from Board Spring out across the Orestimba Valley.
On the way back to my campsite at Mississippi Lake, I stop to take photos along County Line Road on the ridge top
Back at my Mississippi Lake campsite under the ramada and old oak trees for the evening.
Moonlight (almost a full moon) at Mississippi Lake.
Packing up in the morning to leave Mississippi Lake.
Leaving Mississippi Lake on the old road.
A slow and mostly gentle climb up from Mississippi Lake to County Line Road, which rides along the ridge.
After a mile or so, I've made it up to ridge on County Line Rd, with great views looking back down to Mississippi Lake
County Line Road climbs slowly as the ridge rises.
Some amazing views from County Line Road across the Orestimba Wilderness and the ridgetops beyond.
County Line Road slowly rises along the ridge.
Heading toward the top of Bear Mountain, County Line Road passes through oaks and chamise chapparal.
The views from County Line Road across Orestimba Valley are quite impressive along the upper parts of County Line Road.
An old gate on County Line Road before the final rise where County Line Road veers westward and becomes Bear Mountain Road.
County Line Road rolls up and down along the ridge as it rises to reach the summit of Bear Mountain Road.
One final big hill at the top of County Line Road, which is easier for me to drag my bike up, rather than try to ride it.
At the top of Bear Mountain Road.
Bear Mountain Road drops off toward the valley below me.
With much downhill to come, I look back up at the distance I've already dropped down.
At the junction of the Bear Creek Trail: Bear Mountain Road heads downhill
Bear Mountain Road drops off steeply several times on the way down.
There are many uphills on the way down.
Another drop-off on Bear Mountain Road.
More rolling ups and downs on the way down.
Looking back up one of the short steep hills that I just came down on Bear Mountain Road.
More ups on the way down.
The bottom of the road in the canyon at Coyote Creek becomes visible.
Getting closer to Coyote Creek at the bottom of Bear Mountain Road.
One steep final hill on Bear Mountain Road to the canyon bottom at Coyote Creek. This segment is steep...
The bottom of Bear Mountain Road crosses Coyote Creek, which is dry at this time of year.
The road crosses Coyote Creek several times; here is another crossing.
I approach my destination down here in the canyon, Arnold Horse Camp
Another dry crossing of Coyote Creek as I approach Arnold Horse Camp.
Arnold Horse Camp, my destination for the day, is hidden in the trees at the centre-right, up the road from the dry Coyote Creek
Walking the bike up the short road to Arnold Horse Camp.
Approaching the cabin at Arnold Horse Camp.
The cabin at Arnold Horse Camp sits in the shelter of a big tin roof
Inside the old cabin at Arnold Horse Camp is a bedroom equipped with a mattress, and probably hantavirus from the mouse dropping
Living room in the cabin at Arnold Horse Camp
Decomposed scarf and water bottle decorate the living room wall.
The kitchen at the cabin at Arnold Horse Camp
Just a drip of water from the water spigot.
Nice cool water is piped from the spring into this big Rubbermaid tub. Two creaky chairs invite visitors, sort of.
Toads living in the spring water at Arnold Horse Camp.
The old corral
My tent is set up, home is ready for the night!
Starting a short hike down the Narrows Trail
The Narrows Trail runs along the dry Coyote Creek.
The dry creek bed of Coyote Creek can be tiring to walk on after a while with all its small rocks
A small pool of water remains from last year's wet season.
Animal bones along the creekbed.
The trail follows the creek, but sometimes rises up the bordering hills a bit.
A big grass tuft (muhlenbergia, I think) sits in the dry creek bed.
Old oaks along the dry Coyote Creek, some 1200 feet above San Jose and Silicon Valley
Old corral fence and tarweed
A trail of thousands of ants stretches across the Narrows Trail
More tarweed
Red bugs
Madia elegans growing along the Narrows Trail
Back at Arnold Horse Camp, I guzzle lots more water.
Time to prepare yet another add-boiling-water-to-bag camper's meal.
I sat on that old kitchen chair next to the spring tub and several toads jumped out of the cracks in the worn-out upholstery!
Morning near Arnold Horse camp. Last night at about 23h, I moved the tent and everything.
The tent in the canyon down by dry Coyote Creek.
The tent dismantled, everything packed up and ready to mount on the bike for the return ride to downtown San Jose today.
I walk the bike up the creek canyon to the bottom of Blue Ridge Road, where I begin the first climb of the day.
Rising slowly up Blue Ridge Road and looking back down toward the Coyote Creek canyon where I started a while ago.
I finally make it up to the little plateau around 1800 feet (Arnold Horse Camp sits down below in the canyon at about 1250 feet)
I turn on Poverty Flat Rd and begin heading out of the park the same way I came in.
Entering the forested area, still above the canyon.
Some scenic drop-offs alongside the road into the canyon below.
Snake track across the road near the junction of Jackass Trail.
I tackle the tough trek up Poverty Flat Road toward park headquarters.
This hill on Poverty Flat Road always kills me when I climb it.
Whew, the worst is over as I reach the upper stretches of Poverty Flat Road, which aren't quite as steep.
After finally reaching Henry Coe Park's visitor centre at about 2600 feet, I take a long break and fill up on water.
The downhill on Dunne Avenue begins.
Dunne Avenue winds its way slowly downward.
Some amazing views of the Anderson Lake area on the way down.
Heading down the lower stretches of Dunne Avenue into the Silicon Valley town of Morgan Hill.
Orchards along Monterey Road near Morgan Hill
The old 15-mile stop restaurant, presumably 15 miles outside of downtown San Jose.
Approaching the recently built Bailey Road overpass across Monterey Road in the suburban sprawl of south San Jose
Entering San Jose's suburban sprawl along Monterey Road for real now, passing by a street called Grandwell Way.
Monterey Road passes under the Blossom Hill Road underpass.