Three great bike rides in Sonoma/Marin county, California

Trip 1: Dry Creek Valley -- Sonoma Wine Tour

Summary	Image Gallery	Trip Map
Date: April 2, 2001 Route: Starting Healdsburg, NW on East Dry Creek Road, to Lake Sonoma. Climbed to Lake Sonoma Overlook. Retraced route until Yoakim Bridge road, then crossed to West Dry Creek Road, crossed back to East Dry Creek Road via Lambert Bridge Road, and returned to car. Total distance: ~30 miles. Total climb: ~1000 feet	Click Here

We were excited this morning. First long tour on our new bikes, first vacation in too long. Our plan was to ride up and down Dry Creek Valley (west of Healdsburg, in Sonoma County), merrily sipping wine at all the wineries along the way. Our plans changed, but by the end of the day, we felt satisfied.

Mile	Action	Comment
0	Healdsburg - Dry Creek Road	Good, wide-shouldered road here.
2.5	Cross Lytton Springs Road	Whew, it was cold! And what a headwind!
4	Cross Lambert Bridge Road	Take note: Good food at the Deli! Terrain is fairly flat; stays just below 200'
9	Cross Canyon Road	Road is smooth & pretty flat, but shoulder narrows after Lambert Bridge Road.
13	Reach Warm Springs Dam	Keep going up the paved road. Do you see the big dam? 400' climb in next 2 miles!
15	Left on Skaggs Springs Road	Signs should point to Gualala, and Lake Sonoma Overlook. Start with straight, nasty 200' climb.
15.5	Right to Lake Sonoma Overlook	Killer climb! 200' in a quarter mile! But nice views! Another.
17.5	Back to bottom of dam	Go back the way you came. Control your speed on the steeps! 50 mph comes quicker than you can imagine.
20	Ferrari-Carano Winery	Great flowers, but they charge $2 for tasting. :(
21	Right on Yoakim Bridge Road	Cross Dry Creek.
21.5	Left on West Dry Creek Road	This road is hillier, more narrow, less crowded, and more scenic than E. Dry Creek Rd. Elevation oscillates between 150' and 200'.
25	Left on Lambert Bridge Road	Stop at the cool wineries here. We hit Pezzi-King Winery and came home with a bottle. You'll cross a cool old bridge. Yes, it's named "Lambert Bridge".
26	Right on Dry Creek Road	Don't forget to get lunch at the Dry Creek General Store!
30	Finish in Healdsburg	Congratulations! You just did a 30-miler.

Trip 2: High Above the Sonoma Coast

Summary	Image Gallery	Trip Map
Date: April 3, 2001 Route: Climbed Meyers Grade Road. Turns into Seaview Road. Rode until Fort Ross School and retraced route back. Total distance: ~19 miles. Total climb: ~2000 feet	Click Here

A mind-blowing ride, with a first hill that thwarts casual attempts at climbing it! In most places along the California coast, it is difficult to ride high along the coast range, since the drainage -- and deep canyons -- are generally perpendicular to the coastline. However, the San Andreas Fault comes ashore near Jenner, California, and the drainage of the Gualala River actually runs parallel to the coast. Meyers Grade Road, later Seaview Road, runs along a high, fairly flat ridge, often with a good view of the coast. We did this ride on a cold, clear day, and managed to beat out some nasty thunderstorms. We will not soon forget this incredible ride. Please enjoy our feeble attempt to immortalize it with words and pictures.

Mile	Action	Comment
0	North, Highway 1	About 3 miles north of Jenner, on the left side of the road, is a good parking spot. Starting elevation: 600'
0.5	Right, Meyers Grade Road	Starts flat, but watch out -- the first road sign you'll see says "18% grade ahead"! In about 1.5 miles, you will climb 1000'. Prepare to battle this amazing road!
1.5	Thick grove of trees	When you are in this grove of trees, you may think you are done with the climb. Ha! Think again. You climb from 1000' to 1100' in the shady grove.
2.0	Top of Hill	Done! When you finish this incredible climb, your altimeter will read around 1400' and your eyes will be rewarded with this view.
5.0	Cross Fort Ross Road	The terrain is rolling, oscillating between 1400' and 1600'. Dig out the climbs and enjoy the 35 mph downhills. Oh, and don't forget to enjoy scenery up here! The road is now named Seaview Road.
7.5	Start a steep downhill	Be careful! After the village of Seaview, you start a long downgrade, at the end of which you'll have lost 500' of your hard-earned elevation.
9.5	Turn around - Timber Cove Road	The Fort Ross School, a good water stop, is near this junction. We turned around here, but you can easily keep going, and have many choices. Elevation: 1000'
19	End - Retrace your steps	But don't forget to enjoy the scenery, especially in the high sections on Meyers Grade Road, near the start: Pic 1 | Pic 2 | Pic 3.

Trip 3: To the Point Reyes Lighthouse

Summary	Image Gallery	Trip Map
Date: April 4, 2001 Route: Parked on Sir Francis Drake Blvd., just south of the radio towers. Followed road to the end, stopped at Point Reyes Lighthouse. Total distance: ~19 miles.   Total climb: ~1900'	Click Here