Cambria Fun Run Adventure
What a fun time and adventure for our 1st overnight of the season. This was a new venue for us and as such only confirmed the importance of pre-runs. The destination this year was in lieu of Santa Barbara, and came highly recommended by some of our planning volunteers and no disappointments! The Paso Robles – Cambria area offers so much, unique topography, Rhone style wineries for any discriminating oenophile and excellent dining experiences. For some, we arrived Thursday evening in Hollister after a drive down from Club Wheelhouse ( where we’ll be starting our July Run ) in Corte Madera. A late dinner at La Catrina and off to bed.
Early to rise and check in the group at our prearranged start point. An available Starbucks helps, yet one of the volunteers was disappointed the Quality Inn self-serve waffle machine was not working at our departure time. For this month’s tour, we were only 13 cars with 8 passenger participants, therefore we felt comfortable moving as one group verses breaking up to smaller groups. This tended work out well as we would all arrive at the same time for our various tour stops. After the driver’s safety meeting we were off on time into a wonderful day of moderate weather and clear roads. For those not familiar with CA Hwy 28, it’s an amazing piece of pavement running north south in parallel almost with CA Hwy 101. Eventually dead ending into east west CA Hwy 198. CA Hwy 28 is made of long straights ( passing appropriate ) interspersed with either nice broad sweepers or nice twisties. Something to keep even the most discriminating Group 1 member interested and focused. We made our first stop ( mandated Bio ) on time without issues.
After our King City break, we are off on CA Hwy 101 for only a short distance until turning southwest on Lockwood Lucas Road. Even though this is without a center line, our pre-run demonstrated it was of good width and surface condition. This day did not disappoint as we encounter no traffic and the group could remain together fairly easily. Todays route was taking us through Lockwood, past Lake Nacimiento into Paso Robles from the west to our lunch venue Finca Paso Robles. Our past protocols are to find venues that don’t require special rooms, service or extra cost to handle our size group. We had previewed Finca on the pre-run and it met all our requirements. Plenty of parking, pay as you go ordering, excellent facility and delicious menu. Something for everyone.
After lunch a bit of a back-track West to Vineyard Road. Again, one of the areas most scenic and well paved lanes to destination Denner Vineyards. The winery facility is situated on a nice knoll overlooking the estates wonder vineyards. The staff was great, and since we had pre-paid for the tasting they we ready to deliver and we were ready to learn. Other than the beautiful weather, great location and excellent venue, it was made for our group’s first photo op. With some key car position directing by Tim Schlueter & Jamal Boudi, we got our shot:
After a wonderful afternoon at Denner, we are off again to Cambria along CA 46. This is a very wide well surfaced 2 lane without many places to pass. This said, our pace was perfect to take in the various scenic views of the Dark Peak Range and Cerro Alto. Just another example of the variations of beautiful topography our state has to offer. Arriving in Cambria at our destination hotel, The Cambria Pines Lodge. They offered a couple of dining options as well as the village of Cambria or a sunset walk along Moonstone ( btw a Porsche color ) Beach.
Day 2 brought us another wonderful weather day and some more new roads to explore. Heading east on CA 46 again to CA 101 South. Our first stop destination is the James Dean Memorial ( Too fast to live, too young to die ) at Cholome. The road to take us here has to be one of states finest ( CA Hwy 43 ). A brilliantly laid out 33.6 miles of smooth curving up and down pavement as has ever been done. Most of our group ( including moi ) had never traveled this path before. Definitely impressive and worthy of another run south at some point. To make it even better what little traffic we had were so courteous and let us thru safely. So appreciated! If you haven’t visited this memorial it’s a bit more than I had expected. The actual crash site is about 500 yards east, yet the memorial placement and supporting plagues felt appropriate for the events that caused them. This year is the 70th anniversary of James Dean’s fatal accident at the cross roads of Hwy 46 & 41, September 30th 1955.
Heading north after Chalome on Chalome Valley Road, we had another geographical surprise stop thanks to Frank Vanson bringing it to the groups attention. It’s the “ San Andreas” fault ( yes that crack in the continental plate ) in the village of Parkfield:
Roads to Parkfield and our next planned bio stop in San Miquel were not of the same quality as CA Hwy 43, yet just as entertaining in topography and view. After San Miquel our best roads were behind us. We are now back on CA 101 south to the Paso Robles suburb of Templeton. Destination was the boutique winery tasting room of Hubba Wines. Lunch was preordered and waiting for us to enjoy in their outside picnic area. After our lunch we were back to Cambria Pines Lodge. No formal group dinners were planned, yet the village and Moonstone Beach offered several excellent choices to take in.
Sunday brought the typical costal morning overcast. After breakfast and visiting with various couples in the hotel restaurant we were off north on CA 101 in a smaller 3 car group. Cambria was a welcome surprise venue we will want to return to again. The quality of the roads, the available wineries ( most are Rhone clone origin ), excellent restaurants and the native population could not have been more friendly and accommodating. We truly live in an amazing place and this tour outing only confirmed it further. Never Stop Driving.