Tour of the California Wine Country Training Camp

Missing Link Coaching and Training Systems will be holding the fourth annual Tour of the California Wine Country training camp again this year. The dates are April 15th, 16th, 17thand 18th. The camp consists of four days of riding through the northern California wine country of Sonoma County. If you have never seen this region you are in for a treat. This is one of the most beautiful places anywhere to ride a bike or sight see. The area is known for winding rivervalleys, terraced hill side vineyards, giant redwood trees and the rugged Pacific Ocean coast line.

DAY 1

Chalk Hill/Alexander Valley/Dry Creek loop. The ride starts and finishes in Santa Rosa. It consists of rolling hills and goes through the Chalk Hill, Alexander Valley and Dry Creek vineyards.

DAY 2

Russian River Valley/Bodega Bay/Occidental loop. The ride starts and finishes in Santa Rosa. This ride winds along the Russian River valley vineyards through towering redwood forests to the Pacific Ocean. We will ride south down the Pacific Coast Highway along beautiful beaches and the rugged coastline. The ride then turns inland and passes through the town of Bodega famous for the filming of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds” From here we wind through a redwood forest to the town of Occidental, a sleepy little town among the redwoods which has remained in the 1960″s era. From Occidental it is rolling hills back to Santa Rosa.

DAY 3

Santa Rosa/Healdsburg/West Side Loop. The ride starts and finishes in Santa Rosa. The ride will wind through the Sonoma Valley vineyards to the town of Healdsburg. From Healdsburg we will enter the Dry Creek wine growing region and ride up the east side of the valley to the Lake Sonoma dam. From the dam we will ride down the west side of the valley winding our way back through the vineyards to Santa Rosa.

DAY 4

Healdsburg/Canyon Road/Geyserville Loop. This ride starts and finishes in Santa Rosa. This ride winds through the vineyards of the Russian River Valley to Healdsburg. From Healdsburg we ride along Dry Creek to Canyon Road. We will ride up and over Canyon Road to the town of Geyserville. From Geyserville we make our way back to Santa Rosa through Alexander Valley and Knights Valley.

The four rides take in all that makes this region one of the most beautiful places on earth. The ride format is laid out so that we have moderate days on day one and day three. Day two and four are harder but like I said, we have never left anyone behind. All rides will be sagged and water and nutrition will be provided.

The cost of the camp is $700.00. The cost does not include lodging and meals. I will set aside a block of rooms in Old Railroad Square in Santa Rosa at the Courtyard by Marriot. The cost for four nights, double occupancy is $600.00. The hotel is very nice and within walking distance of many great restaurants. Arrangements can be made with other campers to share rooms. Or, you can bring your significant other as they will be close to great shopping and more wine tasting than is possible in four days! I will make recommendations for restaurants but you are free to try others as well. I grew up in the Santa Rosa area and am very familiar with the area.

I have room for 12 to 16 riders in the camp so if you are interested contact me to get on the list. This is a popular camp which has always had good attendance. Feel free to share or forward this information to friends who might be interested.

I will need to have a deposit of $350.00 by March 15th hold your space. The hotel room will need to be reserved in your name by March 15th as well. Don’t miss a chance to ride some great routes with a guide that grew up training and racing on these roads.

Contact Info:  Don Williams
don_williams6518@cox.net
602.524.9435