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History
Route Sheet and Map for Day 1
Route Sheet and Map for Day 2A
Route Sheet and Map for Day 2B
Route Sheet and Map for Day 3
3-Day Ride to the Start of Sierra to the Sea
San Jose to Patterson to Columbia to Bear Valley
June 16-18, 2016
Ride Leader - Don Axtell
This ride was created to give people on the Sierra to the Sea Tour (S2S) the option of riding up to the start in Bear Valley and not take the bus. This ride is also good for people that are not on the S2S, as this 3-day ride is a very fine mini-tour all by itself.
In past years, the S2S has started in Columbia and so this ride used to be a 2-day ride to Columbia. Again this year, it will be the same ride as before up to Columbia, with a third day added to get up to Bear Valley.
SAG vehicle(s) will be along to carry everybody's gear. People on S2S should bring their full S2S tour bag for transport up to Bear Valley. Those people just doing the mini-tour will (hopefully) have smaller bags to carry. People not on S2S will be able to coordinate with others on the S2S who are looking for somebody to drive their car back. Please study the SAG Details.
Whatever arrangements you make for this trip, please let Don know what they are. This way he might be able to assist in hooking people up to share a room or coordinate transport. Don might be able to help, but please be aware that you are responsible for making your own arrangements.
Day 1 - Thursday June 16
We plan to leave at 7:00 AM, from Don's house (4637 Holycon Circle, near Branham and Snell). It is best if you can ride your bikes to the start, or get dropped off. You could drop your tour bag off a day or two before. If you need to leave a car, there is space on his street.
The Day 1 route is 73 miles with 6600 feet of climbing. We climb up over the top of Mt.Hamilton, then drop down the backside and on to The Junction for lunch (if closed we will make our own). The special is pulled pork sandwich with fries. After lunch we cruise down Del Puerto Canyon to Patterson. ETA is 3:00 PM. We are staying at the Villa Lago Inn. Make your own reservations (details at the bottom). Check-in time is 3:00 PM. If you do arrive sooner, then it is possible to hang out at the pool until your room is ready.
Dinner in Patterson is at any of the restaurants nearby. Friday morning's breakfast is at Dennys.
Day 2 - Friday June 17
The Day 2 route is 90 miles with 4010 feet of climbing. A 7:30 AM departure will get you to Columbia by 4:30 PM. This includes a coffee stop in Ripon, a lunch stop in Knights Ferry, and a short stop in Jamestown. 8 miles less of Hwy 108 again this year.
We plan to stay at Marble Quarry Campground in Columbia. Don has reserved the campsites, and the cost for those that camp will be $8.00 each, payable to Don. People can also stay in a nearby cabin or in town at a motel if they wish (details at the bottom). We will be making our own dinner and breakfast in camp, so we will collect a few dollars in Columbia to cover this cost.
Day 3 - Saturday June 18
Day 3 has only 52 miles to go to get to Bear Valley, but with 7900 ft of climbing. We start off by dropping down to cross the Parrots Ferry bridge, then climb up into Murphys for coffee. Then it is 35 miles of riding east on Hwy 4, with a stop in Arnold for lunch. ETA in Bear Valley is 4:00 PM. A short detour to view the giant trees at Calaveras Big Trees State Park is one option.
This is the official end of the mini-tour. Those people on S2S will have their camping, dinner, and breakfast included as part of the Sierra to the Sea tour. Those people who are not part of the tour can either drive home that evening or arrange to stay overnight and drive home the next day. Camping/lodging and meal options are discussed below.
Costs and Fees Information
For 2016, $70 is being collected for this ride. This amount covers only the SAG costs, camping in Columbia, pizza and other food in Columbia, and water/ice/sodas/snacks in the SAGs. If you then drop out later than 2 weeks before the start of the ride, $40 is non-refundable and only $30 will be returned.
| COSTS | FEES |
SAGs
- 400 miles roundtrip / 20 mpg x $4.00/gallon = $80 for gas
- plus $$ for extra wear and tear, etc
- 1 SAG for each 10-12 people.
- We can pay up to $160 each SAG
- SAGs need to be arranged far in advance
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- $20/person for SAG
- pay in advance
- non-refundable after 2 weeks before
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Columbia Camping
- $8/person for camping
- cabins are extra
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- $8/person for camping
- pay in advance
- refundable
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Columbia Pizza
- 2015: 4 XL pizzas = $117
- 2014: 4 XL pizzas = $117
- 2013: 3 XL pizzas = $91
- 1 pizza = 4.0 to 4.5 people
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- $8/person for pizza
- pay in advance
- refundable
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Columbia other food and snacks
- 2015: $369 for 13 people, but over-bought
- 2014: $361 for 15 people, but over-bought
- 2013: $286 for 10 people, but over-bought
- 2010: $447 plus $103 extra for 32 people
- most of this money is spent on shopping prior to the trip
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- $24/person for other food and snacks
- pay in advance
- partly refundable after 2 weeks before
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Extra
- 2015: $135 for 13 people
- 2014: $135 for 15 people
- this includes margaritas & beer
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- $10/person for extra
- pay in advance
- partly refundable after 2 weeks before
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Bear Valley Fees
Bear Valley fees are totally separate from the other fees. In 2015 we decided to not pay extra to join the S2S meals but to instead just make our own in the parking lot. This worked out well. Cost was $5 each to those that were there, collected that day. For dinner and breakfast.
Reservation Information
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