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	California Coast and Desert, 6 Days - Feb. 24-29, 2008 "The bike trip to the Anza Borrego desert was, once again, a wonderful trip with Escapades. The bikes and the guides were top notch. The hotel in Borrego Springs was lovely, but best of all, was the 11 mile downhill into the desert, with a view of the Salton Sea in the distance." -Susan P., New York City "The trip felt perfectly balanced there was more than enough serious biking for those of us who wanted it, yet there was plenty of relaxed whimsy as well. There was terrific information about the area if we were curious, yet it was also easy just to sit back and enjoy the beauty. And speaking of which, the scenery was unbelievable. Half the time it looked like another planet, with crazy rock formations and desert on all sides. The main thing is that it was a great time, relaxed fun, and a really great bunch of people in a very positive environment." -Tom G. -Los Angeles, California "I loved the trip. The scenery was spectacular, and the company equally stunning." -Catrin D., Baltimore, Maryland This trip offers the very best in warm-weather winter biking in the continental United States. You will pedal along the magnificent Pacific Coast of Southern California and through the majestic, rugged beauty of the Anza-Borrego desert. The first day you will bike along the shore of the Pacific Ocean. The next day you will start in Julian, a mountain gold rush town, and bike miles down to the desert floor and the luxiourious resort, La Casa del Zorro, in Borrego Springs. There you can bike, hike, swim, play golf or tennis or just hang out. You will also bike, mostly downhill, through desert badlands to the world-famous Saltan Sea and explore other areas of the desert. You will also visit other areas of the desert not accessible by road on a half-day desert jeep ride. You will wrap up this wonderful trip by biking to Temecula in the heart of wine country and enjoy a wine tasting in a local winery. Highlights Bike along the Pacific Ocean shore near San Diego and La Jolla Bike on quiet roads from the mountain, gold rush town of Julian down miles to the desert floor and to our resort in Borrego Springs Explore by bike the ever-changing beauty of the Anza-Borrego Desert Pedal from our resort to the Salton Sea at altitude zero Take an overland tour by jeep to discover parts of the desert not accessible by road Hang out in the award-winning, luxurious, desert resort of La Cass del Zorro http://www.lacasadelzorro.com, where there are opportunities to hike, swim, or play golf, tennis or archery. Bike through wine country to Temecula and enjoy a wine tasting at a local winery Detailed Features Weather: The average high in San Diego in February is 66 Deg and the low 52 Deg, and in Borrego Springs 73 Deg and 47 Deg. Terrain: The trip is flat along the coast and varies between flat to very hilly in the desert depending on route selection. There are is a substantial amount of down hill biking including an 11-mile descent into the desert. Distances and Difficulty: The daily routes are 20-40 miles, but there will always be options for shorter and longer rides. The first day into the desert is hilly, but there is a magnificent 11-mile descent into the desert to Borrego Springs so that it is possible to design your ride to be mainly downhill. The trip is suitable for intermediate-level bikers and can be challenging enough for advanced bikers. Logistics: The trip starts and ends in San Diego, California. Cost: The cost of this trip is $1,795. Trip costs include: one night each at the Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa on Mission Bay in San Diego www.catamaranresort.com, one night in the charming Julian Hotel in this restored Gold Mining Town www.julianhotel.com and three nights accommodation at La Casa del Zorro Desert Resort www.lacasadelzorro.com, in Borrego Springs; three dinners, all breakfasts, two picnic lunches, and snacks along the way; a four-hour overland jeep desert ride; support van, two guides, maps and cue sheets. The single supplement for single room occupancy is $250. Bike rental for hybrid or road bikes will $150. Both the Catamaran and La Casa have fitness centers and spas and the latter has free tennis, a small pool or whirlpool in each shared casita, two larger pools, croquet court, archery and golf privileges at local golf courses for a fee. There are also ample opportunities for some exciting hiking. Itinerary February 24: Meet at the Catamaran Hotel by the sea at 5:00 pm for a reception and dinner in San Diego. Meals provided: Dinner (D) February 25: We will fit the rental bikes and pedal off on the bike path directly in back of our hotel, bike around Mission Bay, cruise along the beach bike path overlooking the ocean and through La Jolla residential back streets checking out the mansions in one of the most prosperous residential areas of California. You can lunch on a roof deck overlooking the sea and shop in La Jolla. The ambitious bikers can continue on to bike over the top of Torrey Canyon Park and back down to the beach on the other side. We will then take the van about an hour to Julian to start the desert portion of the trip. (B) February 26: Today you will bike from the town of Julian to our resort in Borrego Springs. This is one of the most spectacular rides anywhere as you make your way down to the desert overlooking miles of brown and pink rocks and mountains, the tan, gray and green desert floor and the blue of the Salton Sea beyond. You will enjoy a delicious dinner at the La Casa del Zorro. (B) (L) (D) February 27: You will bike mainly downhill through the desert badlands to Salton City and the Salton Sea. You can continue the ride after lunch if you wish, biking along the Salton Sea or back to Borrego Springs. You will be free to dine this night on your own at the hotel or at local restaurant in Borrego Springs. (B) February 28: Today you will take an overland jeep ride through the desert and have a picnic lunch in a palm grove there. That afternoon there will be a half-day bike ride for those who would like to bike. Others may wish to hike, play tennis or golf or hang out. We will enjoy a wrap-up barbecue dinner at the hotel. (B) (L) (D) February 29: You will the desert to bike to Temecula "where the sun shines through the mist." The route into Temecula sends you down the backside of a mountain and through the expansive views of rolling California farmland. You will arrive in the heart of picturesque Temecula Valley, Southern California's thriving young viticulture area. With snow-capped mountains in the distance, you will pass lush wineries on all sides. The last stretch of the route will send you through a residential area and onto 'winery row'. You will end up at Mount Palomar Winery, a glorious spot on top of a hill, tremendous views on all sides, world class-wines waiting to be tasted. We will lunch there and drive back to San Diego. (B) Making Reservations Please let us know if you would like to make a reservation and send us a deposit of $400 to hold the reservation. Please send the balance of the cost of the trip at least six weeks before the start of the trip. You can pay by credit card by phone or by check. Checks payable to Escapades LLC should be sent to 1965 Biltmore Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009. For information, please call Escapades, 877 880 2453 or 202 232-1531 or e-mail tours@bikeescapades.com. Refund Policy: We will refund all but $200 of your deposit or other payments made to Escapades if you cancel at any time up to six weeks before the start of the trip. Because of hotel cancellation policies and other logistical considerations, we will not refund your deposit or any other payments if you cancel for any reason six weeks or less before the start of the trip. In the unlikely event that Escapades cancels your trip, all payments made by you to Escapades for this trip will be refunded in full. Miscellaneous : Email a Friend

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