Stinson or Mt Tam

3am and I'm wide awake with anticipation. San Bruno mountain? Ocean Beach? Insane Hawk Hill repeats?   As creative as I was, there was only one ride for me today. And that was to hit Mt. Tam.

5:20am and I confirmed my route, as I turned right towards Mill Valley. It's dark outside and I decided to race the sun to Stinson Beach. I brought my own sun of course. Shining 1,200 lumens on the road helped keep me from freaking out. As close to the town of Mill Valley as you are, up on the mountain away from civilization things are different. Beautiful, yet you have no idea what's lurking in the trees. As long as I followed my beam I was good. Only occassionally was I reminded of my solitude by looking behind me into total blackness, as the creeks echoed up the ravines.

I was unprepared for my next choice. At Pan Toll I could continue 4 miles up into thin air and warmer climate (it was already at least 74), or descend into minimalist fog towards the Ocean's edge. But, as I'm always a sucker for the beach, Stinson won out. She rewarded my effort with a brutal return uphill accented by sweeping forest vistas invisible to my original descent. 

Despite the pain I was all smiles, and I pressed on, holding off several cyclists along the way...even chased down an electric bike though he got me in the end. Overall, I'm riding into good form. Finally, results but I'm still vexed with my next question. What to ride tomorrow?