Something I’ve always wanted to do– ride from SF up to the Healdsburg / Russian River / wine country area (88.8 miles via the scenic route a friend and I took this weekend).
Lush green hills, a few hours of rain and wet socks (hey, at least it wasn’t 103-108 degrees like a few summers ago), two cheese tastings (Nicasio Valley Cheese Company and Marin French Cheese Company), wildflowers, a stop for a burger and salty snacks at Lagunitas Brewing, coffee and cocoa in Santa Rosa to fight the chill, and then expanding my personal biking map (Santa Rosa having been my previous farthest-North-from-SF ride) and plugging along the final 20-odd miles to a campground in Alexander Valley.
The final slight detour to take Chalk Hill Rd instead of parallel the 101 was worth it– miles of riding along vineyards and under hanging Spanish moss on small country roads.
A satisfying day, especially given I’ve been feeling slower / out of relative biking shape the past 6 months. It took us all day, but we made it.
* special thanks to the significant others who drove up camping gear, food, and firewood and joined us there.
