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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’ll head inland a few miles to the quaint town of Pescadero, where we'll be staying for the evening in a local B&B.  After lunch and some browsing in Pescadero, you can relax at the B&B, go to the beach, or ride over to Butano State Park, a few miles away, to check out the towering Redwoods.  Watch out for newts as you enter the park!  If your legs are longing for a little more riding, this is a beautiful area with many options for cycling and sightseeing.  Today we ride 33 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 our evening's stop in the little town of Boulder Creek.  Today’s mileage is 53 miles.

Day 3:  The morning begins with a long climb on a very quiet road, from Boulder Creek through Big Basin Redwoods State Park and up to the ridgeline of the Santa Cruz Mountains.  We follow the ridge along aptly-named Skyline Boulevard.  Once you've gained the ridgeline, the rest of your ride today will be rolling to 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.  We'll be staying at the Seal Rock Inn, overlooking the coast.  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.  Our guides can suggest some good dining options close to the hotel.  Today’s mileage is 75 miles.

Day 4:  After breakfast, we will follow the shoreline 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 following a winding valley up to a saddle deep in Marin County.  At the top, we'll 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 three nights we will be staying in a B&B in Point Reyes Station, to give you plenty of time to enjoy the fantastic day tour opportunities in this area, or just relax and explore the Point Reyes National Seashore.  Today’s mileage is 63 miles.

Days 5 and 6:  For two days you'll be free to explore the area.  There are many great options, from several ambitious day tours, 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.  One of these nights you'll be on your own for dinner, so you can indulge your whim, whether it's one of the more casual eateries in Point Reyes Station or the critically acclaimed Olema Inn nearby.   

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'll grab a quick espresso and pastry before boarding the ferry to San Francisco.  From the ferry, you'll 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'll follow the bay 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 65 miles.

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