On a fine late October day a few years back my best friend and I made our way to Walnut Creek then rode up North Gate Road and Summit Road to the top of Mt. Diablo. The rains had started a couple of weeks earlier so there was plenty of fresh green vegetation, the weather was great, and the ride memorable in a number of ways. Perhaps the most memorable is that when we descended down the mountain that day my best friend had taken on the additional title of fiancee.
Since that day we have celebrated the last weekend of October by climbing Mt. Diablo; we have gone up both North Gate and South Gate, done a loop including both connected via roads through the pricey ‘burbs below the west flank of the mountain, and a circumnavigation of the mountain after climbing to the summit. This year The Wife had said we could skip the ritual and I was willing to honor that request.
Our friend Erika had never climbed Diablo, one of the few roads in the Bay Area she has not ridden, and was wanting company for a ride to the summit. Her and I had been talking of doing the ride this autumn, but various travels schedules had been in the way through September and most of October. Saturday of last week would have been workable, as The Wife was at the Surf City CX clinic, but I was not up to it and no planning had taken place. 
We finally put a stake in the ground and decided on this weekend, and The Wife decided to join in the fun. This morning we met, not too early, in Danville and did a nice, peaceful ride up South Gate and Summit to the top. Since The Wife has been suffering with back pain, and Erika with knee issues, we agreed to take it easy and just enjoy the trip. It was a spectacular day, with beautiful weather, courteous drivers, and lots of friendly cyclists. Most friendly as a club group whom we leapfrogged most of the way; I had ridden with a couple of members and had inquired about membership which they claimed was open but since all the members were of a particular ethnic group I doubt if my application would be accepted. Nevertheless, they were enthusiastic and the front part of the group was cheering from the upper parking lot as I wove my way through the remainder of the club as I sprinted that last couple hundred meters, the steep part, to the top. 
They stayed and cheered the rest of their group, Erika, and The Wife, plus a couple of more anonymous riders as they made their way up that last killer section. Great attitude and camaraderie!
Erika has now done her summit of Diablo, The Wife and I had yet another ‘anniversary’ ride to the top, and for today we had a lot of new friends. What more could we ask?
Update: Additional pics are here.
