Day two of this cycling trip is one that often instills true wonder in the riders. I knew from the m

Filed under: California , Sonoma Valley , Staff Posts , USA Tags: bike tours in california budget tours of australia and new zealand , california bicycle tour , california wines , cycling trips in sonoma , pinot noir , sonoma bike tour , sonoma county cycling tour , sonoma wine Bike tour guru @ 12:11 pm
Just returned from his first bike trip with DuVine, our very own Evan Cooper , part of our marketing team, is raving about his time in Sonoma County, where he was on hand to help guide 27 cyclists around one the United States most spectacular regions.
budget tours of australia and new zealand When most people think about California wine country, Napa Valley is usually the first thing that comes to mind. That's a shame, because many of them will miss out on the outstanding wines and truly stunning cycling that there is to be had in neighboring Sonoma County. This is California at its finest. Vineyard for vineyard, Sonoma offers everything that Napa does, and more. And over the course of my four days there on our Sonoma bike tour , I had the pleasure budget tours of australia and new zealand of sampling it all.
Sonoma County budget tours of australia and new zealand is nothing if not diverse, and from start to finish of our trip barely a moment budget tours of australia and new zealand was redundant. Setting off from the town of Petaluma in the foothills an hour north of San Francisco, we pointed budget tours of australia and new zealand our wheels seaward. The cycling addict in me delighted at the hills in between, offering a beautiful rhythm by which to mark the miles on the way to our stunning destination. As a first-time guide, I delighted equally at the joy on our guests' faces as they explored their own capabilities on the bike, pushing themselves well beyond their previously held conceptions of what they could and could not accomplish. Every one of them excelled, and every one of them earned the afternoon feast that await us.
But lunch was not the only feast we had planned for day one of this journey, and no I am not talking about dinner here. Rather, we rounded out the day of cycling with another afternoon spin from our magnificent budget tours of australia and new zealand lodging at the Bodega Bay Lodge, down along the water of Bodega Bay, up the short but challenging climb to Bodega Head, and over the ridge to the Pacific Coast. What await all of our riders was an absolute feast for the senses. The afternoon sun bathing our skin and the mighty ocean roaring at the foot of the sheer cliffs atop which we stood, hardly anyone budget tours of australia and new zealand could find the words to express their amazement. I certainly could not. It was truly a site to behold, and it set the tone for the beautiful week ahead, as well as stoked our appetites for a delectable meal at night.
Day two of this cycling budget tours of australia and new zealand trip is one that often instills true wonder in the riders. I knew from the moment I drove this route during our pre-trip that everyone of us, myself included, would be stunned every foot of the way. Departing the sea, we made our way inland into the utter majesty of the redwood forests. Riding amongst these centuries-old giants, budget tours of australia and new zealand enveloped by the thick canopy formed budget tours of australia and new zealand by their intertwined limbs high overheard, one cannot help but feel humbled. There is only peace in these woods, and as we rode through these magical woods and paused in the Armstrong Forest budget tours of australia and new zealand for a spectacular budget tours of australia and new zealand picnic, everyone found their own inner peace. It was simply infectious. And from a guiding perspective it was no less special a day than the one before, as all the riders once again discovered new things budget tours of australia and new zealand about their own inner fortitude, enjoying these privileged views all the more for having arrived there under their own power.
On our third day, the seemingly endless diversity of our route only continued, this time delivering us into the Sonoma vineyards that had quenched our thirst over the previous two days, and would continue to do so for two more. Beginning in the quaint town of Healdsburg, we quickly found ourselves amongst the grape vines. budget tours of australia and new zealand With not a cloud in the sky and the remarkable contrast between the lush, green vines and the sandy, hay-colored hills around them, it was easy to believe that this was Tuscany and not California. For the third straight day, the wines did not disappoint. We visited the renowned vineyards of Ridge and Dry Creek, budget tours of australia and new zealand both of which offered a phenomenal variety of grapes to showcase the innumerable possibilities that those who journey here can enjoy. From Pinot Noir to Chardonnay budget tours of australia and new zealand and Zinfandel to Grenache, Sonoma has the perfect budget tours of australia and new zealand offering to please every palate.
Most impressive of all was the riders' eagerness to ride. Despite the undulating terrain budget tours of australia and new zealand in between stops for wine and food, everyone had settled into a rhythm. Everyone had discovered the unique and beautiful connection between rider and terrain, one that offers budget tours of australia and new zealand an understanding far more intimate than can be had by driving from one destination to the next. By bike, the entire route is a destination to be shared and enjoyed. And we certainly did both.
And ahead of our final day of the Sonoma cycling tour , which saw us once again exploring the magical wine country that rivals any other wine producing region in the world, we spent the night at a grand feast to both reward ourselves for our accomplishments and celebrate the occasion that had brought budget tours of australia and new zealand us all there to begin with: the birthday of one of our guests. And what a feast it was. Dry Creek Kitchen was the perfect venue for such an occasion, as every dish built on the one that came before, building to a spectacular crescendo budget tours of australia and new zealand with the delicious birthday cake that came straight from the restaurant's own kitchen. To top it all off, we enjoyed an oenological tour of the region over the course of the night, with no fewer than four different varietals on offer, including budget tours of australia and new zealand Chardonnay, Pinot noir, and Syrah. Each was memorable, and many a memory was made that night. And I wouldn't consider it a stretch to say that many a memory was made each and every day of what was far more than just a bike tour.