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Dear Walkers, I am sorry I have been remiss in hosting walks this
quarter, but due to the last stages of building and moving into a new
house I have had zero extra time. The good news is that we are now
finally living in our new house and my life can return to a more
normal schedule. I have put together a modified walk schedule for the
remainder of the year. Hope to see you on the trail!
Sunday September 16 – Carmel
Meet 10:00am at Valley Roasting Company
Distance and Trail Rating: 10km 2
Start Point Address / Driving Directions: 246 Crossroads Blvd.,
Carmel, CA. From Monterey take Highway 1 South past the turnoffs for
Carmel, and Carmel Valley to Rio Road and turn left on Rio Road to the
Crossroads Shopping Center. Turn right at the first stop light and
then left on Crossroads Blvd., the Carmel Valley Coffee Roasting
Company will be on the right. Park in the parking lot. Do your walk
first, then fall in love with the coffee shop.
Event Description: Mon-Sat, 7 to 6; Sun, 7:30-5:30. This walk goes
past the historic Carmel Mission, which was founded by Fr. Junipero
Serra and where he is buried. The trail winds up a fairly steep hill
on a path that has a deep layer of wood bark which is very tough for
strollers. You will continue through the trees and then down the main
street of Carmel past quaint shops and restaurants to the Carmel
Beach. The trail goes along beautiful Carmel Bay with vistas of Pebble
Beach and Point Lobos, along the Carmel River Lagoon and finishes by
passing through residential areas of unique homes and past the Carmel
Mission again
Sunday September 23 – San Luis Obispo
Meet 9:00am at Holiday Inn Express
Distance and Trail Rating: 10km or 5km 1+
Start Point Address / Driving Directions: 1800 Monterey Street, San
Luis Obispo, CA 93401-2614. From the south: Take US-101 to the Grand
Avenue/Cal Poly exit. Turn right on Grand Ave to Monterey St.
Start/finish is on your left. From the north: Take US-101 to the
Monterey St exit. At the top of the exit ramp turn left across the
freeway to Monterey St. Proceed down Monterey St toward downtown SLO.
Start/finish is on your right at the stop light at Grand Ave.
Event Description: Daily, dawn to dusk. It is mostly on paved
surfaces, but it has moderate hills. It includes an optional extention
to the campus of California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly)
and the Amtrak station, as well as historical, residential and
downtown areas. The city of 45,000 is the county seat, and is home to
historic Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, a beautiful and vibrant
tree-lined downtown, and the world famous Thursday Night Farmers'
Market street fair; plan on at least a day to explore downtown San
Luis Obispo. Visitors from all over the world are charmed by the small
town atmosphere of San Luis Obispo, from the friendly people to the
casual atmosphere. Once you experience it, you'll embrace the "SLO
Life."
October 14 – Sunday, Pismo Beach
Meet 10:00 am at Cottage Inn by the Sea
Start Point Address / Driving Directions: 2351 Price St, Pismo
Beach, CA 93449. All travelers: Take US-101 to Pismo Beach in southern
San Luis Obispo County. From the south: Pass the Price Street exit and
take the Shell Beach Road exit. Turn left under the highway. Turn left
again onto Shell Beach Road. With the Pacific Ocean to your right,
double back until you reach the hotel, which will be on your right.
From the north: Take the Price Street exit. Go through town,
continuing until you get to the hotel, which will be on your left.
Event Description: Daily, dawn to dusk. The primary walk for this
event heads south from the hotel into downtown Pismo Beach. It
includes Pismo Beach, the Pier, the boardwalk, and a monarch butterfly
grove just south of town (best viewing November - March). The
alternate route wanders north through the Shell Beach area of Pismo
Beach, with views of the Pacific Ocean, the Pismo Beach Pier, the
Pismo State Beach, and the Nipomo Dunes in the distance.
October 27 – Saturday, Paso Robles
Meet 11:00 am at Café Vio
Distance and Trail Rating: 10km or 5km 2+
Start Point Address / Driving Directions: 1111 Riverside Ave, Paso
Robles, CA 93446. http://www.cafevio.com. From the south: Take 101
north to Spring St exit (first Paso Robles exit). Continue north on
Spring to 13th St. Right on 13th St to Riverside. Right on Riverside.
Two blocks to Cafe Vio. From the North: Take 101 south to Spring St
exit (first Paso Robles exit)). Continue south on Spring St through
town to 13th St. Left on 13th St to Riverside. Right on Riverside. Two
blocks to Cafe Vio.
Event Description: Hours are Seasonal, please check the Café Vio
web site (http://www.cafevio.com) for their current hours. Summer
Hours are: Monday-Thursday 7am - 5pm Friday 7am - 10 pm; Saturday 8am
- 5pm; Sunday CLOSED. Winter hours are: Monday - Friday 7am - 5pm;
Saturday 8am - 5pm; Sunday CLOSED. This lovely walk includes the
historic downtown and City Park. The walk also winds through shady
neighborhoods of Victorian homes. Route has several hills. Summers can
be very hot, plan on walking early in AM or evening and carrying
water. This walk is suitable for jogging strollers.
November 18- Los Osos
Meet 10:00 am at Sea Pines Lodge
Distance and Trail Rating: 11/14km 1
Start Point Address / Driving Directions: 1954 Solano St, Los Osos,
CA 93402. Take US-101 to the Los Osos Valley Road Exit, just south of
San Luis obispo. Go west for 10.8 miles to Pecho Road. Turn right on
Pecho Road and go 1/4 mile to Skyline Dr. Turn left on Skyline Dr. and
you have arrived.
Event Description: Daily, dawn to dusk. Much of this route is along
beautiful Morro Bay. Walkers will visit the Sweet Springs Nature
Reserve and the Elfin Forest (a small wilderness of Pygmy Oaks and a
coastal brackish marsh that is home to many endangered species). They
will also walk along quiet residential streets – the kind featured in
magazines. Plenty of benches make stopping and watching the bay and
its wildlife very easy. The basic route is 11 km and if you take the
option loop in the Elfin Forest it is a 14 km event.
November 25, Cambria, Sunday
Thanksgiving Weekend Meet 10:00 am at Shamel County Park
Distance and Trail Rating: 10km, 12km or 5km 2+
Start Point Address / Driving Directions: 6470 Moonstone Beach
Drive, Cambria, CA 93428-1808. From the North: Take US-101 south past
Paso Robles to CA-46 West. West on CA-46 to CA-1 (Pacific Coast
Highway). North on CA-1 to Cambria. From the south: Take US-101 north
to San Luis Obispo. Take CA-1 north to Cambria. Exit on Windsor Blvd.
Left turn at a traffic signal. Continue across the ridge and around
the corner to Shamel County Park. There are two parking areas, plus
additional parking on the street.
Event Description: Daily, dawn to dusk. Please do not disturb the
hotel staff. Walk book can be found in night stand in the lobby. The
walk goes through Shamel County Park, Moonstone Beach Parklands, East
West Ranch, and residential areas of Cambria. All along the route are
rustic benches for resting and enjoying the view as well as picnic
tables in both Shamel County Park and Leffingwell landing. Parts of it
are on dirt and gravel trails rather than pavement, and there is one
gentle hill. Dogs are NOT allowed on the beach.
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