Once upon a ride... (a Homage to Ray Hosler Cycling Adventures.)

[Manuel Acosta]

After reading one of Ray Hosler's adventures of him and various of
other Bay Area cycling legends attempt to ride over to Portola Park
through Big Dipper Ranch.( You can read this story and others on his
website here http://rayhosler.wordpress.com/2011/10/02/once-upon-a-ride-2/)
It inspired me to go on an adventure myself. Being Rivendellish in
spirit but not via bike I decided to head out on the road towards the
Pleasanton Ridge Park looking through a way to get to Castro Valley.
Surprisingly my friends are a lot more smarter when they hear, "Want
to look for a way through Castro Valley via mountain biking trails on
a road bike?" Sadly this ride went solo. And off I went not really
following any route just riding. Once I got to Pleasanton Ridge Park I
decided to follow a group of mountain bikers. While riding up a hill
they jokingly told me my tires were balled, I replied if they knew if
there was a cafe shop near the top we exchanged laughs and nods as I
make my way towards CV. As I ride down Cowing Trail I see a sign that
says "Trail End Ahead 1/3 mile". At this point of the ride I get one
of those WTF moments. I get stuck at my first locked cow gate. Here I
sat and thought about my options: turn back and back track my way back
into Pleasanton or hop the fence and risk getting shot for
trespassing. Being stuck on a time constrain and by myself I did the
most reasonable thing; hop the fence and book it to the closest road.
I have feelings of guilt and excitement as I bypass cows and find
myself hopping more fences until I reach a beautiful hill overlooking
the nearest road Palomares! I'm gitty that I finally found my exit out
and I ride/walk down to hop the last fence. While it was an adventure
I don't ever recommend trespassing private property. So in case you
were wondering Pleasanton Ridge does not connect to Castro Valley.

Pictures Proved it happened:
http://flic.kr/s/aHsjxVNBA4


Anyone ever accidentally found themselves trespassing on private
property? What do you do if the owner catches you?

-Manny "shouldn't be riding a road bike on mountain trails" Acosta

[René Sterental]

Great adventure Manny! Great photos as well.

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[cyclotourist]

Yes, a great set of photos for sure. I could have faved them all!

--
Cheers,
David
Redlands, CA

**

[Pondero]

I was out exploring a new route near the house one day. I was seeking
an out-of-the-place for a micro-tour. To my delight, the paved county
road turned to gravel, and the gravel turned to dirt, and the dirt
turned into double track. I was thrilled. It appeared that not only
would I find my nice solitary place, it would also be very close to
home. It would be my time constrained go-to.

At the top of a short, steep rise, I found a large flat rock. It was
perfect place to sit a brew some coffee. I set up my gear, and
reveled in the quiet. Things were going so well that I decided to
take out a little homemade device that would sit atop my Kelly
Kettle...and warm Pop Tarts.

I've got one Pop Tart on the device, another just-warmed Pop Tart in
one hand, and a fancy cup of coffee with flowers on the side in my
other hand. It was perhaps the most goofiest of my goofy
moments...when I hear the jeep. I see the rancher with dog in the
back come up the steep rise, looks left, sees me, double takes, and
his jaw drops. He didn't look happy. I don't think he was expecting
what he saw. He slammed on the brakes, cut the engine and stares me
down. Then he says, "Just what do you think you are doing here?!"

It didn't take me long to figure out I was in a fix. So I used my
goofiness to my advantage. "Out exploring, and having a snack," I
said, like maybe that's what we both were doing. He told me I was on
private property. I apologized, respectfully and appropriately called
him "sir", and told him that I was just following the road and hadn't
come across any signs or fences, and that I'd pack up and leave. He
smiled and said, "Okay, take your time. Nice day, isn't it?"

Then I turned the event (leaving out certain details) into an
instructional blog post on micro-touring...

http://chris-pondero.blogspot.com/2009/12/coffee-camp-pop-tart-smoke-out.html

...and that's what happened when I found myself accidentally on
private property, and the owner caught me.

[Tim McNamara]

In some cases (apparently there are quite a few in the Bay Area, reading Ray Hosler's various reports and also some other reports) there are at times rights of way through private property. The landowner may not understand that or may understand it and still try to keep people from exercising the right of way. They may erect fences with gates across the right of way that are illegal and/or misleading.

Minnesota and Wisconsin have various access laws for hunting and fishing; there are requirements for property owners to post "no trespassing signs" to notify those seeking access. Without proper posting, legal access can be assumed. I don't know if any of this applies to Manny's or Pondero's rides.

[Smitty-A-Go-Go]

I was indoctrinated at a very young age not to trespass onto private property. My dad had many stories from his youth (he was raised on a farm near Tulare, CA) of shooting trespassers with rock salt. No questions asked. It was family policy... you see someone you don't know on the farm, you shoot them with the rock salt. It was a relatively small family farm though, not a ranch with hills, trees, and  a road system. It was more a situation that the trespassers were there to steal crops. I can't imagine cow theft by bicycle is very common. 

All that said... I have a friend (no, it's not me) who loves to fish lowland ponds (I do like to fish but I prefer high mtn lakes). Many of the ponds in Western WA are on private land. He regularly trespasses to fish these ponds. He's been caught several times. His default is to play dumb. He's charming in a nerdy sort of way that you might not expect from a trespassing fisherman. It works for him. 

If I do find myself in a trespassing situation, I'm already committed to the "play dumb" strategy.

--Smitty       

[René Sterental]

This is such a cool story, Pondero! And I love how you blogged about it and the photos you posted to give it character. Too bad you didn't take a photo of the rancher... ;-)

René

[Ryan Ray]

I'm surprised you didn't take THIS bike :)

Those trails look perfect but I really didn't need to see these right now! You just added fuel to the move-back-to-california fire.

Iv'e been shot at (rock salt) as a kid digging up BMX jumps on neighboring land so I'm a little timid trespassing. Particularly if I'm on my own!

[Ryan Ray]

Oops THIS bike: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mannyacosta/6664794655/in/set-72157628787994115/