Dates
Friday, May 17, to Saturday,  June 1, 2019.

 

Registration
Closed.

Cost

Covered by CCE.  Participants will be required to do volunteer work for Strawberry Fields Forever FUNdraiser for our exchange programs and also to work during the program in the kitchen, loading, setting up camp, and everything needed to make the trip successful.  Participants will pay for transportation costs to and from San Francisco area (flights), and will need money for incidentals like eating out, shopping or drinks.

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Lodging
Tent camping up to 12 nights, homestay possible for 4 of those  (all nights with showers), hostel 3 nights.  We will provide camping equipment; it is not new. You can bring your own tent and sleeping bag if you wish.

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Bikes

We borrow loaner bikes for participants; they are not new and may not be exactly what you are familiar with.  We try to find everyone a bike they are happy with. You can bring your own bike if you wish.
 

Start and finish

Santa Cruz/Watsonville, California.
 

Weather

It is common to have cool, foggy, drizzle in the mornings with sun in the afternoons.  Lows average 10 - 12 C. and highs average 16 - 18 C. Any weather is possible. 

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Itinerary

Participants will arrive on Friday, May 17, depart on Saturday, June 1. For the first 3 days, participants will be in Santa Cruz helping to prepare for, run and clean up after the Strawberry Fields Forever FUNdraiser, which is an organized Century ride. This is the volunteer effort that supports our program. There may be homestays or tent camping during the first 3 nights.

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This is not a beginners bike tour! It will be a hard ride.  Ride days will be up to 85 kilometers and 900 meters of climbing at an average pace of at least 16 km/h.  After riding you will have to help set up camp, help cook, clean up etc. To be accepted you must have been on a bicycle tour before and ridden 80 km a day for several days in a row. In the past we have had participants who claim to be able to do the ride, but could not. Please do not apply if you cannot keep up! You will be unhappy and we will be unhappy too.

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Daily schedule (tentative)
 

Friday, May 17. Arrival at SFO San Francisco International Airport or SJC San Jose airport. Sleep in Santa Cruz/Watsonville, camping or homestay.
 

Saturday, May 18. Volunteer work for SFF event, bicycle fit, program presentation. Sleep in Santa Cruz/Watsonville, camping or homestay.
 

Sunday, May 19. Volunteer work at the SFF event. Sleep in Santa Cruz/Watsonville, camping or homestay.
 

Monday, May 20. Clean up,  local bike ride. Sleep in Santa Cruz/Watsonville, camping or homestay.
 

Tuesday, May 21. Bicycle tour begins. This is a long day. Must leave early in the morning. Public transport and ride to Casini Ranch Family Campground, Duncan Mills. We will take a car to a train, short bike ride to a ferry, then another short bike ride (10 km) to another train, then bike about 45 km/ 250 m elevation to campground.

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Wednesday, May 22. Day ride Sonoma County, sleep at Casini Ranch Family Campground, Duncan Mills. There may be a choice of rides today or you could relax at the river.

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Thursday, May 23. Ride to Point Reyes, sleep at Olema Campground.  
About 80 km/700 m.
 

Friday, May 24. Day ride to Lighthouse. There may be a shorter ride or a hike to the beach, or you could go into Point Reyes Station, go to the bakery and look around the small town. Sleep at Olema Campground.
About 80 km/900 m.

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Saturday, May 25. Ride to San Francisco, sleep at Hostelling International San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf.  
About 65 km/800 m.
 

Sunday, May 26. Day ride in San Francisco, sleep at Hostelling International San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf.
About 40 km and the famous hills of San Francisco.
 

Monday, May 27.  Free day to explore San Francisco, sleep at Hostelling International San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf.
 

Tuesday, May 28. Ride to Half Moon Bay, sleep at Half Moon Bay state beach. 
65 km/800 m.

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Wednesday, May 29. Day ride. We will have a long and short ride available.

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Thursday, May 30. Ride to Santa Cruz or Watsonville. Sleep in Santa Cruz/Watsonville, camping or homestay.  
100+ km/600 m.
 

Friday, May 31. Clean up,  farewell dinner. Sleep in Santa Cruz/Watsonville, camping or homestay.
 

Saturday, June 1. Departure.