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Meeting Day:  Meet in Pacifica at the village of Rockaway Beach.  Lodging in an oceanfront room at the Best Western Lighthouse is included, as is dinner at a fine local restaurant within walking distance.  Our group will meet to discuss the tour, and then head out to dinner together.  Pacifica is about 7 miles from San Francisco Airport, and can be reached by taxi.  Contact us if you would like us to help you arrange transportation from the airport.

Day 1:  In the morning we head out of Pacifica along coastal Route 1.  After a steady climb along the cliffs of Devil's Slide, and a descent back to sea level, the rest of today's ride will be relatively flat.  We follow the coast to Pescadero Beach, then we head inland a few miles to the quaint town of Pescadero.  After lunch and some browsing in Pescadero, we ride the final miles of the day to Butano State Park, where we spend our first night under a canopy of towering Redwoods.  Watch out for newts as you enter the park!  If your legs are longing for a little more riding after we set up camp, this is a beautiful area with many options for cycling and sightseeing.  The facilities at Butano are basic - running water but no showers - but the setting makes up for what is lacking in creature comforts!  Today we ride 37 miles.

Day 2:  After a hearty breakfast we continue our journey down the coast to Santa Cruz.  At Santa Cruz we head inland, climbing through meadows and forest into the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains.  We finish our day with a steep descent through lush forest to Big Basin Redwoods State Park and another night camped among these silent sentinels.  Big Basin has hot showers - yes!  Today’s mileage is 46 miles.

Day 3:  The morning begins with a long climb on a very quiet road, from Big Basin up to the ridgeline of the Santa Cruz Mountains.  We follow the ridge along aptly-named Skyline Boulevard, finishing our day with a fantastic descent to Portola State Park.  Once we make camp, you may want to take a nature hike through the Redwoods, or just enjoy a hot shower and bask in the peace of this amazingly quiet and beautiful canyon. Today’s mileage is 32 miles. 

Day 4:  This morning we start by reversing the fantastic descent you enjoyed yesterday afternoon giving you time to truly enjoy the beauty of this area.  Once you've gained the ridgeline again, the rest of your ride today will be relatively flat, with one long descent from the ridge to Crystal Springs Reservoir.  About 10 miles of today's ride is on quiet bike paths -- you'll never guess you're passing through the famous "Silicon Valley" as you wind your way through the woods along two reservoirs.  At the end of the bike path we take a bike-friendly route into the city, using quiet roads, bike lanes and paths.  After passing through Golden Gate Park, we make our way to the Bay, where we stay at the water front Fort Mason Hostel.  This is a popular stop for bike tourists and international visitors, with many cyclist-friendly amenities and a great location on the San Francisco water front.  You're on your own for dinner tonight, to give you an opportunity to choose from the many culinary and ethnic delights of San Francisco.  Today’s mileage is 62 miles.

Day 5:  We can hop onto a bike path right outside the hostel, which will take us along the bay to the world famous Golden Gate Bridge.  We cross the bridge on a dedicated bike path, stopping of course for the incredible views and photos.  Next, we pass through the bike-friendly (or maybe we should say bike obsessed!) town of Sausalito, stopping for a treat at Caffe Triesté, a favorite haunt of local cyclists.  More bike paths and quiet streets, including Paradise Drive (aptly named!) will lead us North along the water, to Point San Pedro and a visit to China Camp.  China Camp, now a state park, was the site of a thriving Chinese shrimp-fishing village in the 1880s.  From here we follow a winding valley up to a saddle deep in Marin County.  At the top, we take a break in an idyllic meadow to soak up the view.  Then down we go, into the very heart of spectacular Marin County, passing through the postcard-perfect hamlet of Nicasio on the way to Point Reyes.  For the next two nights we camp at the Olema Ranch Campground, close to the towns of Olema and Point Reyes Station and central to the many terrific activities on Point Reyes.  Enjoy a hot shower, while our guides prepare a delicious dinner.  Today’s mileage is 63 miles.

Day 6:  Today we leave the tents in place and explore the area.  There are many great options, from an ambitious day tour, to a short ride to the beach, to an afternoon browsing books at Point Reyes Books and noshing in the Bovine Bakery.  Our guides can give you ideas for exploring on your own, or go for a ride with you.  To celebrate the last evening of a great tour, we'll enjoy dinner out tonight, at a fun cafe in Point Reyes Station.

Day 7:  As we leave Point Reyes and head back towards San Francisco, you'll already be thinking about how soon you can return...  After a pleasant ride through the countryside with some gentle climbs, we wind our way along quiet streets to the little town of Tiburon.  There we grab a quick espresso and pastry before boarding the ferry to San Francisco.  From the ferry, you get to look back at the Golden Gate Bridge, and across to the San Francisco skyline.  Wow!  After the ferry docks at Fisherman's Wharf, we head back to the ocean on bike paths, and then follow the coast south to our starting point in Pacifica, arriving mid-afternoon.  Today’s mileage is 56 miles. 

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