Ride for the River Park - Sept. 20-21, 2014

Event's Eve - Hooray!

2014-09-19T12:11:00.001-07:00

Last post, last day before the event! Hope you're excited and glad the weather is looking much nicer today and this weekend that it has been lately. Might even get some rain on the way!

We'll take a photo on the main street of Julian to start Day 2 - here's last year's sweet pic.

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Mission & Donation

Ride for the River Park is to raise awareness and support for The San Diego River Park Foundation. They do great work in cleaning up the river and watershed, educating the public, conserving natural open space, and much more. One of their goals is to create a hiking and biking path along the entirety of the San Diego River. Ride for the River Park specifically supports this goal and we ride the portions of the path that currently exist while building support to complete the entire thing. I hope that by Year 10 we will be riding on a dedicated path rather than an amalgam of roads, highways, paths, and streets. Your participation helps to make this goal a reality!

There is no fee to participate in the event but participants are responsible for their own food and lodging. If you enjoy the event and want to support the River Park Foundation you can make a tax-deductible donation at: http://sandiegoriver.org/give.html. If you make a donation please note "Ride for the River Park" in the notes / memo section.

Most Important Items to Remember!

Show up on time - we roll out at 7 AM on Saturday, 9/20
Bring needed gear - sunscreen, helmet (if you want), lights, spare tire tubes, WATER, bicycle, human body, snacks, cash, phone
Great attitude, smiles, be ready for a great time!

Day 1 Stops - Saturday, 9/20

Starbucks Coffee - 10406 Friars Rd, San Diego, CA 92120 (Grantville)
7-11 - 10195 Riverford Rd, Lakeside, CA 92040 (Just before Highway 67)
Thai Time (Lunch Stop) - 2330 Main St, Ramona, CA 92065
Dudley's Bakery / Santa Ysabel Grocery - 30218 California 78, Santa Ysabel, CA 92070
Nickel Beer Company (Finish Line!) - 1485 Hollow Glen Rd, Julian, CA 92036

Day 2 Stops - Sunday, 9/21

Janet's Montana Cafe (Brunch Stop) - 2506 Alpine Blvd, Alpine, CA 91901
7-11 - 10195 Riverford Rd, Lakeside, CA 92040 (Just before Highway 67)
Mission Trails Visitors Center - 1 Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego, CA 92119
Modern Times Beer (North Park) - 3000 Upas Street, Suite 102, San Diego, CA 92104

See you tomorrow!

Planned Ride Pit Stops

2014-09-08T09:05:00.001-07:00

During the ride we'll have stops along the way to get a bite to eat, rest, get some water, use the bathroom, etc. I've marked out 4 stops below for stopping during the ride but of course, take some additional rest as needed. I also wanted to have specific locations so if the group is separated or we need to regroup we'll have spots that everyone knows beforehand.

Below are the marked stops and they're also added to the Google Maps version (link via image).

Starbucks Coffee - 10406 Friars Rd, San Diego, CA 92120 (Grantville)
7-11 - 10195 Riverford Rd, Lakeside, CA 92040 (Just before Highway 67)
Thai Time (Lunch Stop) - 2330 Main St, Ramona, CA 92065
Dudley's Bakery / Santa Ysabel Grocery - 30218 California 78, Santa Ysabel, CA 92070
Nickel Beer Company (Finish Line!) - 1485 Hollow Glen Rd, Julian, CA 92036

Excited to ride in less than 2 weeks! If you haven't already, register today!

If you have any questions let me know.

- John | john.patrick.anderson@gmail.com | 619.727.7867

One Month Away! Cabins Gone, Happy Hours On!

2014-08-21T10:35:00.003-07:00

A few updates for the 2014 Ride for the River Park, details for the ride are below.

Provided cabins are sold out so you'll need to find your own accommodations in Julian if you haven't signed up yet. Register here!
We have two great breweries doing a donation happy hour, one for ending each day. There will be some brochures and maps from the SD River Park Foundation and if you have friends that'd like to join us for a pint please invite them. The more the merrier!

Saturday, 9/20, Nickel Beer Company in Julian (1485 Hollow Glen Rd, Julian, CA 92036) will be donating $1 for each pint sold from 5 PM - 7 PM.
Sunday, 9/21, Modern Times Beer in North Park (3000 Upas Street, Suite 102, San Diego, CA 92104) will be donating $1 for each pint sold from 3 PM to 5 PM.

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Register here! Have friends that like to ride? Let them know too!

Not sure if you want to register but interested in the event? Sign up here for our email list to keep in the loop.

This year's route is below (click image for dynamic map). We're combining the best of the past two years and going up via Route 67 through Ramona and Santa Ysabel then returning via I-8 and Alpine. Additionally, we'll have a welcome back celebratory pint upon our return at Modern Times in North Park.

Ride Itinerary
6:30 AM - Meet at Dog Beach in Ocean Beach, please show up on time so we can get rolling early and avoid some heat later in the day.
7 AM - Ride begins!
12:30 PM - Lunch break, potentially in Ramona
5:00 PM - Arrive in Julian and head to Nickel Beer for a pint and dinner (order in, I believe). For those staying in the cabin the address is 2112 Whispering Pines Drive, Julian, CA 92036
(Google Maps estimates 7 hours, 32 minutes for the 65 mile ride. Adding an hour for lunch, likely in Ramona, and two additional hours for cushion puts us around 5 PM for arrival in Julian.)
8 AM (Next Day, 9/21) - Gather up things and head back down the mountain toward North Park - return trip is estimated at 63 miles (6 hours and 29 minutes). We'll plan to stop for a quick lunch / brunch, most likely in Alpine.
3 PM - Estimated arrival time at Modern Times (3000 Upas Street, Suite 102, San Diego, CA 92104). Please invite friends and family to join us for a celebratory pint. The tasting room is kid-friendly and the patio is dog-friendly too.

Support vehicle
We won't have a trailing vehicle for support during the ride but will have assistance on-call in the event of an emergency. The on-call vehicle will also bring extra gear to Julian so you won't have to carry your overnight gear, but you get bonus points if you do.

Gear
Temperatures will rise as we head inland so be prepared and bring water with you. Some other items that you will probably want:
Water bottle
Suncreen
Bike repair kit (tubes, pump, etc.)
Lights for bicycle!
Helmet
Cash - for snacks, drinks, lunch, etc.
Phone (with charger)

If you can take photos or videos along the ride I would appreciate it so I can post them after the event and use for promoting next year's ride. Also, tweets (hashtag: #RiverRide), facebook posts, emails, and other ways of spreading the word about this awesome event would be great!

Excited for another great ride and see you soon!

- John Anderson
john.patrick.anderson@gmail.com
619-727-7867

2014 Ride Details - Register and Ride!

2014-08-08T11:13:00.003-07:00

The 3rd annual Ride for the River Park is coming up soon - September 20 - 21, 2014. Hope you're looking forward to it - I hope to see you there! Below are details for the ride, the most important being that you please sign up if you are planning to attend.

There are two sign-up categories - I have 7 spots in the cabin or you can get your own lodging in Julian for the night of the 20th. Please sign up under the appropriate category.

Register here: http://www.active.com/san-diego-ca/cycling/ride-for-the-river-park-2014. Have friends that like to ride? Let them know too!

Not sure if you want to register but interested in the event? Sign up here for our email list to keep in the loop.

This year's route is below (click image for dynamic map). We're combining the best of the past two years and going up via Route 67 through Ramona and Santa Ysabel then returning via I-8 and Alpine. Additionally, we'll have a welcome back celebratory pint upon our return at Modern Times in North Park.

Ride Itinerary
6:30 AM - I'll be at Dog Beach in Ocean Beach welcoming everyone, please show up on time so we can get rolling early and avoid some heat later in the day.
7 AM - Ride begins!
12:30 PM - Lunch break, potentially in Ramona
5:30 PM - Arrive in Julian. Cabin address is 2112 Whispering Pines Drive, Julian, CA 92036
(Google Maps estimates 7 hours, 32 minutes for the 65 mile ride. Adding an hour for lunch and two additional hours for cushion puts us around 5 PM for arrival in Julian.
6:30 PM - After a bit of rest and showering up head to Bailey BBQ (2307 Main St Julian, CA 92036) for dinner. Great food and in-house brewery. Fun will be had!
8 AM (Next Day) - Gather up things and head back down the mountain toward North Park - return trip is estimated at 63 miles (6 hours and 29 minutes). We'll plan to stop for a quick lunch / brunch, most likely in Alpine.
3 PM - Estimated arrival time at Modern Times (3000 Upas, San Diego, CA 92104). Please invite friends and family to join us for a celebratory pint. The tasting room is kid-friendly too.

Support vehicle
We won't have a trailing vehicle for support during the ride but will have assistance on-call in the event of an emergency. The on-call vehicle will also bring extra gear to Julian so you won't have to carry your overnight gear, but you get bonus points if you do.

Gear
Temperatures will rise as we head inland so be prepared and bring water with you. Some other items that you will probably want:
Water bottle
Suncreen
Bike repair kit (tubes, pump, etc.)
Lights for bicycle!
Helmet
Cash - for snacks, drinks, lunch, etc.
Phone (with charger)

If you can take photos or videos along the ride I would appreciate it so I can post them after the event and use for promoting next year's ride. Also, tweets (hashtag: #RiverRide), facebook posts, emails, and other ways of spreading the word about this awesome event would be great!

Excited for another great ride and see you soon!

- John Anderson
john.patrick.anderson@gmail.com
619-727-7867

2014 Ride - September 20 -21, 2014

2014-07-03T10:40:00.000-07:00

The 2014 edition (#3!) will take place September 20 and 21, 2014. We'll start at Ocean Beach Dog Beach parking lot and head toward Julian before staying in a lovely set of cabins and heading back on the 21st.

Want to join? Let me know - we'd love to have you! No cost although donations to the River Park Foundation are highly encouraged. Come have a great time and see a wide variety of the natural beauty of San Diego from the ocean to the mountains.

Cheers!

- John

Itinerary & Details - Ride Week!

2013-09-16T20:56:00.002-07:00

A few pieces of information that will likely be of interest to those on the ride follows. Please email me if you are attending and haven't received an email from me this week so I can add you for any details in the next few days.

Please note this year's route is different than last year's. We are going with a more direct route (shorter) and different scenery. The biggest downside to this option is we'll be riding on Highway 67 for a good portion of the ride. It has a large shoulder and is really pretty, but will probably result in more miles with higher speed traffic.

Updated itinerary follows, map is here.
- 6:30 AM - I'll be at Dog Beach in Ocean Beach welcoming everyone
- 7 AM - Ride begins!
- 12:30 PM - Lunch break, potentially in Ramona
- 5:30 PM - Arrive in Julian. Cabin address is 2112 Whispering Pines Drive, Julian, CA 92036
- 7:30 PM - After a bit of rest and showering up head to Bailey BBQ (2307 Main St Julian, CA 92036) for dinner. Great food and in-house brewery. Fun will be had!
- 8 AM (Next Day) - Gather up things and head back down the mountain toward Ocean Beach
- 2 PM - Estimated arrival time in San Diego / Ocean Beach. As we approach OB we'll probably split off for our various homes instead of taking it all the way to the ocean. The way down is much, much, much easier.

Support vehicle

We'll have a 2003 Ford Focus station wagon as our support vehicle. Inside will be water, snacks, bike repair gear (pump, some tire tubes, etc.). We'll also have ratchet straps for putting bikes on the top if necessary and some righteous tunes. If you have a tent, bag, or other items you can put them in the car at the start instead of carrying them but please pack light so there's room for all.

Gear

Saturday is looking like a high of 77 in North Park, temps will rise as we head inland so be prepared and bring water with you. Some other items that you will probably want (and I'll have most of these in the support vehicle as well):
Water bottle
Suncreen
Bike repair kit (tubes, pump, etc.)
Lights for bicycle!
Helmet
Cash - for snacks, drinks, lunch, etc.
Phone (with charger)
Tent - everyone is welcome to stay at the cabin I've rented but we won't have room inside for everyone

Please share with anyone that might be interested and I'm looking forward to seeing you on Saturday!

If you can take photos or videos along the ride I would appreciate it so I can post them after the event and use for promoting next year's ride. Also, tweets (hashtag: #RiverRide), facebook posts, emails, and other ways of spreading the word about this awesome event would be great!

Email me if you want to join in the fun and looking forward to a great time. Of course, you can show up on the day of the event but I'd appreciate a heads up in advance.

Excited for a great ride and see you soon!

- John Anderson
john.patrick.anderson@gmail.com
619-727-7867

Registration Now Open - Please Sign-Up Using this Link

2013-08-22T16:33:00.002-07:00

I decided to do an event registration on Brown Paper Tickets which is now open. If you're planning to attend the ride please register at the link below - if you have more than one person in your party just select the correct amount before checking out. There is no cost to register, I mostly wanted to have a site where everyone can register and have heard good things about this service provider.

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/451581

Thanks and see you on September 21st!

Updated Event Information - Including Lodging!

2013-08-19T21:52:00.000-07:00

We're about one month out from the 2nd Annual Ride for the River Park on September 21 and 22 - I hope you're getting excited. Please spread the word and invite friends, family, strangers, and visitors to join us for a great time. I've been working on getting things squared away and wanted to share some news.

Lodging - I've rented a cabin so we'll be able to shower up after the ride up to Julian. The cabin is located at 2112 Whispering Pines Driver, Julian, CA 92036, about one mile from historic downtown Julian. The cottage isn't huge but has beds for six and is on a 5 acre property so we can also park vehicles and / or tents next to the cottage to accommodate everyone. For photos and details see the listing here.
Event day rough itinerary

6:30 AM - I'll be at Dog Beach in Ocean Beach welcoming everyone
7 AM - Ride begins!
12:30 PM - Lunch break. I'm thinking at the Barona Casino since they have a food court and we could also use the restrooms, etc. Definitely open to suggestions.
5:30 PM - Arrive in Julian. (Google Maps estimates 7 hours, 21 minutes for the 60.1 mile ride. Adding an hour for lunch and two additional hours for cushion puts us around 5:30 PM but may be a bit later than this - really want to arrive by nightfall.)
7:30 PM - After a bit of rest and showering up head to Bailey BBQ for dinner. Great food and in-house brewery. Fun will be had!
8 AM (Next Day) - Gather up things and head back down the mountain toward Ocean Beach
2 PM - Estimated arrival time in San Diego / Ocean Beach. We can all bike back to the ocean or split off for our various homes and we get back into town. The way down is much, much, much easier.

Below are some of the details for the ride and photos from last year's ride.

Support

There will be a VW Westphalia camper-van accompanying riders as a support vehicle. We'll have a motorized air pump, some snacks and drinks, and the vehicle itself for riders needing assistance or a pick up.

Price

All riders are responsible for their own food and drink. This ride is not sponsored by nor affiliated with SDRPF. However, the ride is intended to raise awareness for this organization and if you would like to make a donation it would be greatly appreciated and help to ensure San Diego County has great natural resources in the future. Donations can be made online here.

If You'd Like to Attend

Let me know and invite others to join as well. You can let me know via the following methods:

Facebook Event
Email - ridefortheriverpark@gmail.com (or john.patrick.anderson@gmail.com)

Here are some more photos of last year's event. Awesome time and this year is sure to be as well. Hope to see you there!

2013 Ride for the River Park - September 21 + 22, 2013 (2nd Annual)

2013-04-25T00:21:00.001-07:00

The 2nd annual Ride for the River Park will take place September 21 and 22, 2013. This event is to raise awareness for the San Diego River and The San Diego River Park Foundation (SDRPF) (the premier organization working for conservation and improvements throughout the San Diego River watershed).

Last's year ride took us east to Alpine and beyond, then north to Julian. This year we're changing to a slightly more direct route (but equally or more scenic and certainly challenging).

Time & Date

We'll leave Dog Beach in Ocean Beach at 7 AM on Saturday, September 21, 2013 headed for Julian. The way out is almost entirely uphill but will be a fun time. Here's a link to Google Maps and below is a visual of the tentative route. Please show up around 6:30 AM to ensure a timely departure and enough time to comfortably complete the ride by dusk.

Support

There will be a VW Westphalia camper-van accompanying riders as a support vehicle. We'll have a motorized air pump, some snacks and drinks, and the vehicle itself for riders needing assistance or a pick up. We'll plan to stop around or a bit after the halfway point for a long lunch break and will have rest breaks throughout the ride as well. The end point is the Bailey BBQ (2307 Main Street, Julian, CA 92036) for awesome food and beer to celebrate a great ride.

Accommodations

The ride is scheduled to be just after full moon for an enhanced camping experience. The designated camping spot is William Heise County Park, 4.7 miles from dinner at the Bailey BBQ. Reservations can be made online and the preferred spot is Area 2 North (South is also close by if North is not available). There are also numerous hotels in and around Julian if you prefer more plush lodging.

Price

All riders are responsible for their own food, drink, and accommodations. This ride is not sponsored by nor affiliated with SDRPF. However, the ride is intended to raise awareness for this organization and if you would like to make a donation it would be greatly appreciated and help to ensure San Diego County has great natural resources in the future. Donations can be made online here.

If You'd Like to Attend

Let me know and invite others to join as well. You can let me know via the following methods:

Facebook Event
Email - john.patrick.anderson@gmail.com

For additional motivation, here's some photos of last year's event. Awesome time and this year is sure to be as well. See you on the road.

Updated Itinerary - Ride Week!

2012-09-24T13:23:00.001-07:00

A few pieces of information that will likely be of interest to those on the ride follows. I've also created a facebook event here so pass it on to others and sign-up if you're coming. :)

Support vehicle

My wife Amelia will be driving up and can assist with emergencies or other issues that come up. Phone is 312-401-9081, save it in your phone if you're coming. My phone is 619-727-7867, save it also and we'll exchange numbers and information at the start of the ride as well.

The vehicle is a station wagon and we'll have ratchet straps as well so we haul bikes if we have any breakdowns, etc.

Gear

It's going to be hot on Saturday and we're going a good distance. A short list of items you should probably have includes:
Water bottle
Suncreen
Bike repair kit (tubes, pump, etc.)
Lights for bicycle!
Helmet
Cash - for snacks, drinks, lunch, etc.
Phone (with charger)

Updated itinerary with additional details for the ride is:

Saturday, September 29, 2012

7:00 - Ride begins at Ocean Beach Dog Beach

Google Maps route estimate is 8.5 hours for the ride to Julian

11:15 (estimated) - Lunch at Alpine Beer Company

2351 Alpine Boulevard, Alpine, CA 91901

15:45 (estimated) - Shower, settle in , relax
16:30 - Check in at hotel(s)

I'm staying at Julian Country Inn, 2343 Sunset View Drive, Julian, CA 92036

17:00 - Dinner and amazing beers at The Bailey Barbeque

2307 Main Street, Julian, CA 92036
Live music starts at 20:00 - The Blue Knights w/ Harry Joe Reynolds playing those blues, classic rock and a little jazz to celebrate. $5 cover.

Sunday, September 30, 2012

9:00 - Breakfast in Julian at Moms or another place on the main drag

2119 Main Street, Julian, CA 92036

Please send on to anyone that might be interested and looking forward to seeing you on the road! Reminder: Julian is a popular vacation destination so you might want to call and reserve a room for Saturday night now so you're covered when you arrive.

If you can take photos or videos along the ride I would appreciate it so I can post them after the event and use for promoting next year's ride. Also, tweets (hashtag: #ridefortheriverpark), facebook posts, emails, and other ways of spreading the word about this awesome event would be great!

Email me if you want to join in the fun and looking forward to a great time. Of course, you can show up on the day of the event but I'd appreciate a heads up in advance.

Excited for a great ride and see you soon!

- John Anderson
john.patrick.anderson@gmail.com
619-727-7867

Itinerary - Ride for the River Park

2012-08-22T12:43:00.002-07:00

Below is a rough itinerary for the inaugural Ride for the River Park. I'm also updating the Google Map to plot rest stops (non-supported, but should have restrooms and water) approximately every 10 miles on the route.

Please send on to anyone that might be interested and looking forward to seeing you on the road! Reminder: Julian is a popular vacation destination so you might want to call and reserve a room for Saturday night now so you're covered when you arrive.

If you can take photos or videos along the ride I would appreciate it so I can post them after the event and have some for use in promoting next year's ride. Also, tweets (hashtag: #ridefortheriverpark), facebook posts, emails, and other ways of spreading the word about an awesome event would be great!

Saturday, September 29, 2012

7:00 - Ride begins at Ocean Beach Dog Beach

Google Maps estimate is 7.5 hours for the ride to Julian

14:30 (estimated) - Shower, settle in , relax
17:00 - Dinner and amazing beers at The Bailey Barbeque

2307 Main Street, Julian, CA 92036

Sunday, September 30, 2012

9:00 - Breakfast in Julian at Moms or another place on the main drag

2119 Main Street, Julian, CA 92036

Email me if you want to join in the fun and looking forward to a great time. Of course, you can show up on the day of the event but I'd appreciate a heads up in advance.

Basic Information and Background

2012-05-15T13:31:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the website for Ride for the River Park. Ride for the River Park is an annual event, started in 2012, with the intent of raising money, awareness, and love for the San Diego River Park Foundation and creating a pathway along the entirety of the San Diego River to be enjoyed by bicyclists, walkers, joggers, runners, nature lovers, children, visitors, and anyone else with a desire to enjoy this wonderful part of our bounty of natural beauty in San Diego County.

Ride for the River Park is not sponsored by the San Diego River Park Foundation and is not a formal, organized event. This is a voluntary event centered around groups of friends or strangers that are interested in a weekend of bicycling, relaxing, and enjoying some beautiful parts of San Diego. A donation of $100 to the River Park Foundation is suggested for all participants but this is not required and the amount given, if any, is solely at the discretion of each person.

The inaugural Ride for the River will take place the weekend of September 29 - 30, 2012. The ride will start at 7 AM on Saturday, September 29 at the Ocean Beach Dog Beach parking lot and proceed 65.4 miles to Julian. Below is a detailed route map and elevation graph for the 2012 ride.

Detailed Route Map - link to dynamic version

The details for the 2012 ride are still being worked out, but I hope to have a full itinerary for the weekend put together in the next month and posted by the end of June. Please stay tuned for the update and mark your calendars for this sure to be awesome event!

(If you need additional motivation I'm hoping to line up some of the following for the weekend: San Diego craft beer, Julian pies, and much more.)