The Bicycle Adventure Club - Come Ride With Us!

CA Central Coast and Wine Country

May 8th to May 22nd

Ride Director: Roy Brubaker
Ride Co-Director: Kristi Brubaker
Report by: Deborah Caplan

This trip offers the best in Spring cycling in San Luis Obispo (SLO) and Santa Barbara Counties, enjoying both the coast and inland wine country. 

21 BAC participants - from as far away as Ontario Canada, Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Tennessee, Michigan, Washington state, Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico and California. Some have been on many BAC trips. For others - this was the first time.

There were two couples riding tandems, five on e-bikes and the rest on road bikes.

Although rated 2B - the climbs and wind proved challenging - the exceptional vistas of the rugged California coast made it all worth while.

Day 1  Biking to Morro Rock and through the town of Morro Bay was fun!  Old Creek road that followed was challenging with around 3,000 feet of climbing in hot and windy conditions as we rode to San Robles.  The spaciousness of the rolling hills and the vast variety of wild flowers helped to focus on the beauty!

Day 2-4 - Paso Robles for 3 nights - Wine tastings, Sensorio light experience, loop rides to Mission and Sculpterra Winery.

Day 5-6 - Paso Robles to Cambria

Peachy Canyon still has elevation to tackle but beautiful vistas along the way.  Bluebird inn is a nice low key hotel with a large lobby and fireplace offering tea, coffee and Mexican hot chocolate during office hours. 

The following day there were rides or Uber to following points

-   Elephant seal rookery- creatures almost extinct in early 60’s - are now off extinction list - Fascinating to watch. 

-   Hearst Castle and Ragged point- Breath taking views - start of Big Sur

Day 7 - Cambria to Pismo beach - went through Morro bay beautiful vista- Bike paths great

No headwind 

Pismo beach hotel on board walk - great views of surfers - and ocean 

Day 8 - Pismo Beach to SLO

Beautiful ride by sand dunes - ride along beach.  Trip to Lopez Lake offered roadside views of orange and lemon orchards laden with fruit.

Stayed Quality inn in SLO- very enjoyable 

Day 9 - SLO to Santa Maria Inn 

An old inn dating back to 1917 - Beautiful- Stately - group dinner at this fabulous Inn 

Day 10-12 - Santa Maria to Solvang 

A Scandinavian themed town - with delicious food  

Hans Christian Andersen museum with a cool book store.  

Happy hour discussion and sharing of gadgets to enhance riding

Day 13 - Solvang back to Santa Maria - We had most of the climbing in the first half of the ride followed  by several miles of exhilarating descent followed by incessant headwinds creating “virtual elevation” in the final descending miles.

Day 14 - Santa Maria to SLO 

This was another fast riding day with only 1,000 ft of elevation riding the previously traveled route in reverse. Afterwards we cleaned up for our group farewell dinner at the unique and storied Madonna Inn. It is a true architectural spectacle, blending Swiss chalet influences with bold, whimsical designs. Built in 1958 by Alex Madonna, a construction magnate, the inn was designed to be completely unique, with no two rooms alike. The signature pink color extends to lamp posts, trash cans, and even the dining room, creating a playful, kitschy aesthetic. The inn  features hand-carved woodwork, stained glass, and elaborate murals, adding to its storybook charm. We all enjoyed quality food and drinks that night before saying our farewells and returning to the hotel to pack for an early departure the next day.

It was truly a wonderful ride and left us with an appreciation of all Central California has to offer.  Most enjoyable was getting to know everyone through the group dinners, happy hours and rides.  BAC mission-  Friends Leading Friends on Rides exceeded my exceptions.