Paso Robles Sunday

Today’s plan was for a short bike ride from 10:00 am until noon and then wine tasting.  Well the bike ride was actually from 11:00 until 2:00 followed by lunch in the RV, which only left time for one winery. We chose Grey Wolfe, which we had visited on previous trips.  For thee bike ride, we drove to Santa Margarita.  The vegetation here was considerable different than what we had seen the past two days in Paso Robles.  We saw much more forested areas and were surprised at the amount of climbing – over 2,000 feet in 27 miles.

Above, how I see the world.  Below, Paul and Pat at the top of a three mile climb.

Paso Robles Saturday

It’s weird that a day with such a cold morning (32 degrees) can turn out so pleasant.  Of course it helps if you don’t start riding until 11:00 am.  We rode a variation of the Hog Canyon route.  Although the scenery is not as good as is was in Solvang and some of the roads aren’t as good, it was still a great ride.  Mid-way through the ride we develop a plan to have lunch at Matthews Restaurant at the Paso Robles Airport.  No one told us the restaurant was closed. So the backup plan is lunch at Pat and Paul’s RV.

Above: Oxen Canyon Road. Below: friends, food, wine and chocolate!

Paso Robles Friday

The original plan was to go for a ride out of Solvang and then drive 95 miles north to Paso Robles, where we meet another BAC group on Sunday.  But the cold weather in Solvang caused us to change our plans – drive to Paso and ride later in the day when it is warmer.  Besides, our cycling/tandem friends Pat & Paul Woerner are driving down from Walnut Creek to spend the weekend with us.  Maybe we can ride with them. – And sure enough, our schedules mesh. We arrive in Paso about the same time and get in a nice ride.  Then we imbibe is some serious wine tasting.

Above: from ride out of Paso Robles with Pat and Paul (hiding Brenda) in photo below

Solvang Thursday

 

 

 

 

Photos above are from last night’s Farmer’s Market.

Again, it’s colder this morning – 31 degrees at 7:00 am.

While we’re waiting for it to warm up, a note about this blog. It began in 2009 to record my ride across the U.S.  I don’t blog daily; only when we’re on a bike tour.  --- Sometime last year my photos started disappearing and I still haven’t figured out why.  --- Somewhere along the way I discovered the “flag counter” which keeps statistical data on access to your blog.  In addition to the US (679 different people have looked at it), there is Canada (56), Italy (31), Netherlands (24), United Kingdom (11), Ireland (5), Ecuador (2) and one each from Sweden, Trinidad and Russia. What? No Australia?

By 11:00 it’s still not 50 degrees so we say “What the hell; let’s drive to the beach.”  After all Flat Jaxon needs to see the Pacific Ocean. (More on Flat Jackson, see below, in a later blog.)

Back at the Wine Valley Inn in Solvang I prepare for a ride.  It’s 2:40, less than 2 hours before I’m supposed to help set up Happy Hour.  Brenda tells me not to worry, she’ll cover for me.  So I ride up Ballard Canyon road, reversing yesterday’s return route.  I continue on Foxen Canyon but the road surface is so bad I turn around.  All total, I only get in 18 miles – but they are quality miles.  Ballard Canyon is as pretty as ever as shown on the photo below.

Solvang Wednesday

 

Another beautiful morning in the Santa Ynez Valley, although quite a bit colder than previous mornings.  We have no qualms about our long sleeve jerseys and I wear both leg warmers and glove liners for the first time.  Once again we don’t leave the Wine Valley Inn until after 10:00 am, quite late compared to our normal departure.

Left: Wednesday’s Wardrobe: the “Black and White Kit”

 

 

 

 

 

Right, scene from Happy Canyon Rd

 

We decide to ride out Happy Canyon road.  On Monday we rode part way up Figueroa Mountain Road.  Had we continued over the mountain we would have been on Happy Canyon.  Thus we’re approaching the mountain from the other side.  But we have almost 10 miles of very gradual ascent before we get to steep switchbacks.  And it is here we turn around. Photo below: Vineyard in Happy Canyon.

Back in Los Olivos, we again have lunch at Panini’s.  For the return we chose Ballard Canyon road.  After a short but steep climb (see photo below), we have a downhill run until we get close to Solvang.

For the Velo Veterans freezing in Dallas, eat your heart out guys .  See Wednesday's Ride 

View from highest point on Ballard Canyon Road

Solvang: Monday and Tuesday

We’re in Solvang, California for an annual Bicycle Adventure Club event called “Solvang Winter Break”.  There are 38 of us here for 5 days of cycling. And well, maybe a little wine tasting.  Our headquarters tell it all, the “Wine Valley Inn”.

Solvang, Danish for “sunny fields”, is in the Santa Ynez Valley.  It was founded in 1911 on almost 9,000 acres of the Rancho San Carlos de Jonata Mexican land grant, by a group of Danes who traveled west to establish a Danish colony far from the Midwestern winters. It was incorporated as a city on May 1, 1985.

Monday was a perfect cycling day.  It was a perfect day for almost anything outdoors.  The temperature started in the 60’s and  got to the mid 70’s, under a brilliant sunny sky and with a mild Westerly wind. 

Brenda and I rode to Los Olivos and then about 9 miles up Figueroa Mountain Road.  This is the road that Lance Armstrong and the Discovery Team used for Tour de France training every January. We didn’t go all the way up but we did one climb which seemed like a mile and had grades up to 15%.  Ok, so we walked a little of it. We turned around and went back to Los Olivos for lunch at Panini. Back in Solvang we stopped at the bike shop.  Brenda returned to the motel while I rode to Nojoqui Falls.  After happy hour, six of us had dinner at the Los Olivos Café.

Brenda returning on Figueroa Mountain Road

A composite photo, combining 11 individual pictures.

Tuesday was another glorious day, although not as nice as Monday’s.  It was colder in the morning and didn’t warm as much – maybe to the mid 60’s.  But mainly we has a fairly strong Westerly wind; I’d guess 15 mph.

We chose to ride a perennial favorite, Santa Rosa Road (photo above).  This road parallels US 246, but is south of the Santa Ynez River.  it’s a road through orchards, farms (We passed laborers picking broccoli.), horse ranches, vineyards and at least three wineries.  The wineries include Sanford and one of our favorites, Lafond.  We rode West to Lompoc, had lunch and then retraced our path on Santa Rosa Road.

See details of today’s ride at  Tuesday's Santa Rosa Road Ride

Test

My photos have disappeared from the blog. What happens if I add a new one?

DI +1 Cinque Terre

On Saturday a chartered bus took us back to Firenza and everyone had their own reservations home. At least three couples were going back to Rome.  The Carlson’s, Brenda and I had planned three nights in Cinque Terre, five villages built in the mountains on the Mediterranean. In addition to walking paths, the villages are now connected by a train, and together form a National Park.  We spent the entire day Monday walking the paths and riding the train.

Our “room” is in Vernazza, shown above.  A couple of photos from today’s hike are shown below.

 

 

 

 

After a strenuous day of hiking on Monday we took it easy on Tuesday, mostly roaming through the largest town Monterosso.  The train took us back to Vernazza for a picnic lunch on the pier: foccacia, wine and gelato.  Tomorrow we return to Firenza and Wednesday to Dallas.

Due to unknown technical problems, I have not been able to update the slide show for this tour.  When I resolve this, I’ll post a blog to this effect.  Otherwise, the next “planned” blog will be in (possibly) in February from California but definitely in April 2011 when we spend 4 weeks cycling in in Spain.

DI 12 Todi to Orvieto

Photo: Todi from 10 km towards Orvieto

Today is our last riding day and a glorious day it is. In terms of terrain and distance it is much like yesterdays – two long climbs in the morning and a then steep climb into town at the end.  The first two climbs are gentle and don’t require the low “granny” gear. Between the two climbs we stop at Prodo for coffee. Harry wanted to buy property in this quaint, isolated community.  See photos below.

 

 

 

 

The second downhill is especially nice; an extremely smooth road, gently downhill, wide switchbacks, sometimes tree lined, sometimes spectacular vistas.  I did not stop to take pictures, merely savored the moment.  -- The climb into Orvieto was very steep and with heavy traffic.

I forgot to mention that, 10 km from the end of the tour, I had a flat tire. I believe this was the first flat tire any of us had the entire 12 days.

We were in town by lunchtime so had plenty of time to dissemble and pack the bikes.  It takes approximately an hour, depending on several factors.

Click here for details on today's ride.

MEET THE RIDERS

You’ve met the ten couples who are riding, so today you’ll meet the people who designed and conducted the tour for us.

At left is Luca our guide. Luca is a geologist, teacher, spelunker, climber, canyoneering guide, former local champion skier, and who knows what else.  He has guided us, assisted us, and taught us.  Luca has made this more than just a bike tour; I think we all now know more about Italy and Italians.

Behind the scene, however, is the team who had designed and planned the tour as well as make all arrangements –‘where we go, where we stay, often what we eat. They prepare a “road book” for each of us which describes in excellent detail the roads we ride on, the turns we make, etc. Click here to learn more about Viadelsole's staff.  Because of another tour that Viadelsole did for us in 2005, I’ve been emailing with Bepe for over 6 years.  This is the first time I met him. Photo on right was taken this morning when he drove out to tell us “good-bye”.

DI 11 Spoleto to Todi

Although you rarely hear of it, Spoleto has been in important city for over 2,000 years. Yesterday many of us had difficulty getting into town. Some had more than others; see photo of Jim Hoyt. (Where’s the cyclocross-bike when you need it?) Several of us were led into town by a California cyclist who has been cycling out of Spoleto for several days.

And this morning, Brenda and I weren’t the only ones who had difficulty getting out of town. The man who had served our breakfast at the  hotel saw our predicament and led us out of town as we followed his car.

Today, on the road to Todi (click on the Todi link, it’s very interesting) we travel a little while on SP3 – the third Roman Road, this one going through Venice. It is a beautiful sunny day.  We have two pretty climbs and then a third to get to the town. We’re in town a little after noon so shower and then go into town for lunch and to explore the town.

Click here for details of today's ride.

 

 

 

 

 

Pictures above are near the top of the first climb and at the top of the second climb

Churches in Todi, neither of which is the Cathedral.

Above, street scenes in Todi

MEET THE RIDERS

Brenda and I have lead 5 tours for DATES; we’ve also led about 10 tours for Bicycle Adventure Club. Since retiring 10 1/2 years ago, we’ve been on 40 to 50 bike tours. I’m the only remaining member who attended the first DATES ride in 1990. We are currently serving as DATES chair-persons. Brenda’s other main interest is cooking.

We’re very fortunate in having such a great group of DATES members and friends who share our love of cycle touring and are fun to be with.

Photo was taken yesterday at the lunch and wine tasting.

DI 10 Assisi to Spoleto

Today’s ride is probably the easiest of the tour, as long as you don’t take the afternoon route to Montefalco. At most, two couples did this.
We have a special treat today, a picnic lunch, wine tasking and winery tour at the Dionigi di Mancinelli Chiara winery outside of Bevagna. The tasting was designed around 4 wines but many of us tasted six. And several of us ordered wine to be shipped to the US.











Roberto and Caroline were wonderful hosts. We had more food than we could eat and the wine pourings were very generous.





On TODAY'S ROUTE many of us got lost, some more than others, getting from the bike path to Spoleto.
Below a group picture at the winery

MEET THE RIDERS

Al and Cheryl Minvielle are from San Francisco, which is named after St Francis of Assisi. How they got involved with DATES is a long story! Cheryl retired from United Airlines and Al recently retired as “Director of Special Activities” an the University of California, San Francisco. They have previously toured with John & Brenda in Texas, Ireland and Wales. All of these were with Bicycle Adventure Club.

DI 09 Il Poggiolo to Assisi

This is being written at 9:30 am Tuesday morning.  Everyone was ready to leave about 20 minutes ago when it started raining – hard.  So we’re waiting out the rain. I’m told there was a major storm last night with lightening and thunder but I slept through it.  -- Later: The Carlson’s and Brenda and I leave about 10:20 and get rained on, mostly gentle but about 20 minutes of hard rain where I had difficulty seeing the road through my fogged glasses.

We do not stop at the ceramics factory in Duret (Yea!).  We hear that two of our couples spend considerable money at this facility. We have difficulty finding a restaurant open for lunch but do find a pizzeria about to close at 1:45 and he makes us a great “to go” bag which we eat as soon as we get to the villa.  Tonight’s villa seems to be a modern facility but they don’t have internet. Grrrr!

On the way into town, looking for lunch, we pass Santa Maria Maggiore (shown on left), the city cathedral until 1020. I think I read or was told this is where St Francis of Assisi died but cannot confirm this.

 

 

In Assisi we visit Basilica di San Francesco which was started just 18 months after St Francis died on October 4, 1226. The basilica has two churches, one on top of the other. St Francis tomb is below the lower church but I believe the crypt wasn’t dug until the last 1800’s. The basilica was severely damaged in the 1997 earthquakes but restoration has been completed.

MEET THE RIDERS

Jim and Melody Yuhn ride both tandems and road bikes. Jim has a new Trek Madone waiting for him when he returns to Dallas. In addition they ride motorcycles.  Jim has a Yamaha FJR (I think that’s it) 1300. Melody has moved up from a Vespa scooter to a small (250 cc) motorcycle to a respectable Honda 650. They take weekend tours on the motorcycles. The Yuhn’s (in addition to the Hoyt’s and the Bryant’s were with us in 2005 for the BAC Costa a Costa ride across Italy. A few of the places we’re staying, including last night and tonight, are repeats from 5 years ago.) Several of our riders have developed colds or some sort of upper respiratory infection. Today was Melody’s turn. Damn.

After last night’s storms and today’s off/on rain, we have a nice sunset at the villa