This 130km populaire is qualifies for the San Diego Rando(m) Explorer award. Jonah Gray, doctoral candidate art history at UC San Diego, will be the ride leader and curator for this populaire.
One of San Diego's best kept secrets (or just not commonly known fact) is the numerous sculptures by Niki de Saint Phalle on public display. This 130k (80-mile) populaire will take you to 5 of her works between Escondido in the north inland region to San Diego Convention Center by the bay.
Starting in La Jolla Village by UC San Diego, you'll ride through Rancho Santa Fe and then up Del Dios Hwy passing the Hodges Dam and Lake Hodges to reach the California Center for the Arts, Escondido to see her first piece, "Grande Step Totem." Continuing a little further south in Kit Carson Park, after riding on a short stretch of dirt trail, you'll come upon "Queen Califia's Magic Circle", known as her only American sculpture garden and the last major international project. The garden on the weekend is open to visitors on the 2nd and 4th Saturday. Due to the Santiago 300k night training brevet and Memorial Day weekend, this populaire is scheduled on the 3rd Saturday when it is closed, but still viewable through the gates.
Returning to paved roads, you'll start your journey south along the Black Mountain Rd/Kearny Villa Rd thoroughfare that runs along I-15 through the interior sections of the City of San Diego. Aside from passing Black Mountain and Los Penasquitos Preserves where you'll salivate over trails for a future gravel event, most sections of town you'll ride through will be industrial and commercial. If you are into naval aviation, MCAS Miramar, which was the former home of Top Gun filming location and Fightertown USA, may be of interest. After climbing up the I-15 bike path on the southside of the San Diego River, you'll pass through quaint neighborhoods of Normal Heights, University Heights and North Park to reach Balboa Park and visit de Saint Phalle's next artwork, the "Nikigator" located by the Mingei International Museum. Whereas most artworks are guarded by docents who will with a stern voice ask you to step back if you are too close, let alone touch them, this fun and welcoming sculpture invites both children and adults with childish inclinations to climb on or crawl under (not advisable if you have cycling cleats). For a challenge, there is another "secret" Niki sculpture that is within 50 meters yet not to be seen when standing by the Nikigator. You may search for it and brag to others about your discovery. By the Nikigator is the Craft Cafe where you can order and enjoy a decadently expensive coffee drink and people watch as you look out toward the plaza.
After your visit to Balboa Park, you'll continue south to reach San Diego Convention Center to see "Coming Together". In many ways, this sculpture represents the spirit of randonneuring: people of various cycling backgrounds soming together to share our joy of exploring each nook and cranny of our various communities while doing so in the company of like-minded friends regardless of our differences in backgrounds, views and bagel preferences. That the wheel in all its forms (carbon vs alloy, spoke count, 29 vs 700 vs 650, road vs gravel vs mountain, etc, etc) represents our coming together to celebrate our commonality like the circle of the wheel: we all are 3.14 regardless of our various manifestations.
On your return to the finish, there are 3 bonus sculptures should you decide to visit. All are located in the Waterfront Park by the County Adminstrative Building: the "Baseball Player", the "Seal" and the "Serpent Tree." As a word of caution, to see the Serpent Tree up close, you will need to dismount and walk.
After the downtown trek, you'll ride up along the usual Rose Creek/Rose Canyon bike path to reach the final de Saint Phalle sculpture: the "Sun God". Located in the UC San Diego campus, this work of art, commissioned by the Stuart Collection, was Niki's first outdoor commission in America. Since 1982, UCSD students have adopted the Sun God as a focal point of their annual celebration.
For the finish, you'll roll back to La Jolla Village where you can enjoy a post ride meal and libation at BJ's to celebrate a day of exploration on your bicycles, pondering or not John Keats's ending to his poem "Ode on a Grecian Urn":
When old age shall this generation waste,
Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe
Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say'st,
"Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."
Jonah suggested a post-ride exam to review your knowledge of the various pieces you've seen and perhaps an extended dissertation on the Niki's art in the context of modern art history. As your RBA, I will accept your EPP activity link as proof of completion.
If you are joining us for the first time, you will need:
ALL SAN DIEGO RANDONNEURS EVENTS ARE ONLY OPEN TO PARTICIPANTS WHOSE RUSA MEMBERSHIP IS CURRENT.
You will need to register for this ride in advance. There is no day-of registration. Start/Finish will be staffed. SAG support and staffing at a control along the route will depend on volunteers available for this event.
All riders must follow RUSA rules. Helmet, lights and reflective gear are a must (lights and reflective gear must be worn between dusk to dawn). Riders must follow all local traffic laws and regulations.
Although bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists and are subject to the same rules and regulations, it is crucial that bicyclists pay attention to traffic signs and signals and follow all rules to reduce the risk of collisions, while on the road. Refer to the California Driver Handbook to become familiar with these rules. This excerpt is found at the DMV website for Sharing the Road (FFDL37) and can be read here.