Lake Pleasant Training Session Next Saturday 8/23

Is lake pleasant any colder than saguaro?

i.e. Wetsuit apropriate?

Okay, y'all - here is the plan for this Saturday...

We will meet at the north end of the parking lot by the four lane boat ramp at Lake Pleasant at 6:30am.  To get there, take Rt. 74 West (Carefree Highway), which can be accessed from either I-17 or Lake Pleasant Rd., to Castle Hot Springs Rd.   Castle Hot Springs meets a T-intersection stop sign where you take a right on Castle Creek Dr.  You will see a guard shack where you pay park admission ($5).  Proceed past the guard shack and continue on the winding road into the parking lot.  We will do a 30-45 minute open water swim by the north end of the lot.

After the swim, we will ride the Tribal Sprint course and return to the parking lot where we started.  At each intersection, the riders in the front will wait for everyone to catch up so no one gets lost or misdirected (no drop).  The course leaves the parking lot, returns along Castle Creek Dr. and turns left at the guard shack at Castle Hot Springs Road.  We will make a left at the main entrance to the park on Lake Pleasant Access Rd./North Park Rd.  At South Park Rd., we turn right and continue to a turnaround at Overlook Rd.  When we return to North Park Rd., we take a right.  We'll continue along the ridge making a right onto Peninsula Rd. and down a healthy downhill by Scorpion Bay Marina to another turnaround on Operations Center Rd.  We'll then return up the hill and back along Lake Pleasant Access Rd./North Park Drive.  We'll continue onto Castle Hot Springs Rd., onto Castle Creek Dr. and back to the parking lot where we started.  I know this may sound confusing, but it's much simpler when you are there - and we'll make sure that no one is left behind.

After returning to the lot, any that are interested and have time can do a trail run along the Pipeline trail.  The trail head is at Cottonwood Lane along Castle Creek Rd., which you pass on your way in and out between Castle Hot Springs and the parking lot. 

If you've never been, Lake Pleasant is a beautiful and fun place to train.  I hope to see you there on Saturday!  If you have any questions, post them here or PM me.  You can also PM me if you would like my phone number in case you have trouble on the way to the park.  I have also included a link to the park maps below if you want to make the written directions make more sense.  The Lake Pleasant Regional Park 3D map is the most thorough on the list.

http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/lake_pleasant/Maps.aspx

I would carpool, but would have to meet you halfway.  Maybe I can meet you in Tempe at Cody's and we can all carpool up there. 

Car Pools are cool!  I have a rule though.... NO talk radio (Cody) and no NPR (Tanya).  Music or conversation only.  Don't care what kind of music, except country.  That kind of music is forbidden in my vehicles. 

We could fill the truck up if Keri wants to join in.

What say ye, cool kids?

Depends....do we want to have a little cook-out there at the park when we are done?  If everyone brings something we could have a nice little shin dig!!! Even if we don't "cook out" someone could bring donuts, someone fruit, someone juice and water.  What other breakfasty-brunchy type stuff could we throw out? 

That's what I'm afraid of!!  Hahaha!

Where's a good place in Tempe to leave my car that's just off the 202?

Tempe Bike.  Cody is on first name basis with those guys.  2 minutes off 202 and I can pick everyone up there. 

Well I expect to be chomping on fresh baked goods on our ride out west!