by Dennis Augustine
Bill and I set off from Los Gatos on a crisp, sunny morning, ready for a 21-mile ride that would take us through some of the most serene and scenic backroads the South Bay has to offer. With a light breeze in the air and clear skies above, we pedaled past rustling oaks and quiet lanes, aiming for the gentle climbs of Mount Eden.
As we rose through roughly 1,400 feet of elevation gain, we passed vineyards neatly tucked into the hillsides and trophy custom homes perched like quiet sentinels above the valleys—each one a work of architectural art basking in golden light.
Somewhere between the climbs and switchbacks, we came upon an open meadow. There, moving with calm and grace, were wild turkeys and deer, mingling without alarm. They barely noticed us as we came to a stop—nature in perfect coexistence, a living postcard.
Reaching the Stevens Creek Reservoir, we paused for a breath, soaking in the glimmering water and tree-lined edges. There were people fishing and nearby a Canada goose with his mate and their adorable goslings pecking at the ground for food. Then came the reward: exhilarating downhills, the kind that make you grin wide and let out a holler just for the joy of it.
We rounded our loop toward Bubb Road where a familiar local legend waited—Bubba the Bear. There he was, like always, posted up with a stoic, watchful gaze. We stopped, tipped our helmets in respect, and carried on, spirits high before heading home along side the dirt and pebbled path of the old Union Pacific railroad tracks.
