9:00 AM Gatering at Starbucks: 110 Donahue St., Ste A, Marin City
9:45 AM Start the engines
Note: Make sure you have a full tank of gas before leaving your place, make room for the cyclists when passing, and turn on the headlights for the duration of the drive!
This drive will showcase spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco, as well as the entire Bay panorama, while driving through the lush and beautiful Marin County backroads. Approximately 2 ½ hour drive, a little over 50 miles. This will be on some of the most twisty roads you will ever find; Dramamine will come in handy if you are prone to carsickness!
FIRST PORTION: MARIN CITY TO MARIN HEADLANDS: After our meetup at Starbucks in Marin City we will wend our way through picturesque (and touristy) Sausalito, up the hill to Marin Headlands Park. There we will have picture-postcard views of the GG Bridge and SF; though there are parking turnouts, they tend to be packed full so we may just drive slowly to enjoy the views. Retracing our steps back to Hwy 101 North, we get onto CA Hwy 1 through Mill Valley, and on to Mt. Tamalpais State Park.
SECOND PORTION: MARIN HEADLANDS TO MT. TAM: We will be on Shoreline Highway (CA 1) and continue on various winding roads until the Rock Springs Parking lot on the mountain. There are porta-potties there; and although the lot is large it tends to fill up early, so we suggest going on to E. Ridgecrest Drive which will take us to the East Peak Observation lot, only about 12 min. farther; there is a fee lot ($7 or 8 per car), but best panoramic views of the Bay, and real bathrooms.
THIRD PORTION: MT. TAM TO PT. REYES STATION: We backtrack to the Rock Springs Parking lot, and from there descend down the old Fairfax-Bolinas Road, through some incredibly untouched scenery. (The road is quite tortuous, down to one-lane in parts, and may be slow due to cars and cyclists.) When we hit CA 1 again, we follow it north a few miles through Olema to Pt. Reyes Station, our final destination. There we hope to all lunch at Cafe Reyes, which has plenty of seating outside and inside; however limited staffing may make for some delays. (But one can order drinks at the host window and sip while you wait.) AND after lunch, for those that don't wish to go straightaway home, there are many opportunities to explore nearby attractions such as Point Reyes National Seashore, Drakes Beach, Bear Valley Earthquake Walk, etc