OUT IN THE WORLD WITHOUT A CAR: The Spring Ride

By Laura Lent

Since 2002 I have been part of an informal group of friends who go on an annual bike tour we call the "Spring Ride." 

We've bike camped our way from the Antioch BART station to Yosemite and various Sierra foothill destinations, we've gone north and south along the coast, and we've taken AMTRAK to Bakersfield and ridden north through Carrizo Plain. We've stayed at a dozen different campgrounds in the "reservoir belt" of the Sierra foothills. 

 Laura Lent at this year’s Spring Ride. Photo: Joel Pomerantz

We generally carry our own gear in panniers, but are often joined by and sometimes partially sagged (support provided and gear carried) by friends in vehicles. A core group rides the entire time, while others join as they can. 

While we delight in searching out bucolic backroads, canalside trails, and creative shortcuts, it's always necessary to ride on some busy roads as well. The Spring Ride is not about getting there quickly, but about getting there well. We take our time and search out swimming holes, historic plaques, food sources, and bars along the way. We take turns making always delicious dinners every night in camp.  

  

Spring Riders take over the bar at Foster's in Rio Vista. Photo: Maurice Tierney

A typical day’s ride is 20 to 50 miles — even when we get a late start, a paranormal phenomenon known as the “sunset metronome” ensures that we almost always get to our campground by dark. People generally prefer to ride in small clusters rather than one large group. By and large the people we meet along the way are friendly, generous, and most of all, curious. We've been offered (and have accepted!) places for our large group to stay for free, or to rent ad hoc in stormy weather.

This May we completed a 9-day ride to and from a perennial favorite, Chaw'se or Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park, which features a woodsy environmental campsite featuring seven u'macha, or bark huts. Over the course of 4 days we made our way from the Antioch BART station to Chaw'se, with stops at Brannan Island, Locke and Rancho Seco. We spent two nights at Chaw'se (rides usually include a two-night stay at a destination campground) and camped at New Hogan Lake, Woodward Reservoir, and Caswell State Recreation Area on the way home. Most of the group took AMTRAK home from Modesto.

As we get older together or just screw up our knees, e-bikes are making more of an appearance. This year we averaged 16 to 18 riders a day, of which four rode e-bikes (including yours truly, as a senior member of the pack). Public outlets are not yet reliably available at state parks, recreation areas, and county parks. On arrival at each campground, we scrounged around looking for charging opportunities in bathrooms, on the sides of park sheds, and in RV hookup units, trying to hide or disguise batteries while they charged to protect them from theft. No one ran out of juice (some of us carried a spare battery!), but more reliable infrastructure is sorely needed.

As we left Chaw’se, my motor failed on a steep grade and I was fortunate that friends accompanying the ride in a camper were able to give me a ride for the final few days of the trip. I was glad to have a way to continue, and especially enjoyed being able to swim in a slough, river, creek, or reservoir almost every day on this year's trip. 

There are also many campgrounds in the more immediate Bay Area where our group goes on weekenders and other shorter trips. Fancy bikes and equipment are not necessary for any of these ventures. Some people sleep in the open or rolled up in tarps while others have rigged buckets to use instead of panniers. Shared dinners and campground fees result in truly bargain vacations.  Once you experience the joy and adventure of bike camping, you'll never look back!

Top image: Spring Riders cooking, relaxing, and playing music at New Hogan Lake. Photo: Maurice Tireney

DO YOU HAVE an adventure you'd like to share with El Cerrito Strollers & Rollers? It needs to start and end in El Cerrito and can be daylong or multiple days, but must also demonstrate a commitment to minimizing your personal carbon footprint. It can include a rental car, just not a car you own — leave yours at home. Please tell us about an adventure that you can document with photos at elcerritostrollroll@gmail.com.