Wednesday, January 22, 2014

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Today’s scenic ride goes around the southern part of San Luis Obispo County. The route travels through the vineyards and wineries in the fertile Edna Valley wine region to the vineyards and horse ranches along Corbett Canyon. The ride includes a gentle climb and descent on Price Canyon Rd.

We climb out of the canyon on Avila Beach Rd to Shell Beach Rd and switch it up a bit by going on the underpass on Mattie Rd.

Mattie Rd is a quiet frontage road that sits above US-101 with palm trees, luxury homes and townhouses nestled against the foothills with gorgeous ocean views. The Pismo Beach City Hall and Recreation Division sits right next to F.McLintocks Saloon & Dining House. You can’t miss the tall lean cowboy keeping post outside!

Mattie Rd goes under the US-101 underpass to Price St.

The climb up Price Canyon Rd is 4.8 miles with sections of flat terrain followed by gentle grades of 3-4%. You can see the old unused Pacific Coast Railroad tracks as you make your way up the canyon along with views of the surrounding hillside vineyards.

The wide shoulder disappears when you reach Freeport McMoran Oil & Gas and smell the gases from the pipes and containers around the oil fields. Traffic does move pretty fast here-be cautious!

We arrive at the center of Edna Valley at the top of Price Canyon and Carpenter Canyon roads. Edna Valley is a stunning valley surrounded by vineyards and wineries and home to the Historic Old Edna Townsite.

The flat terrain takes us through miles and miles of vineyards around the southern corner of San Luis Obispo’s wine growing region. It continues north pass the SLO Airport to the commercial business district around Farm Tank Rd.

We head east on Farm Tank Rd to Orcutt Rd for the scenic ride through Edna Valley’s Wine Trail. The rolling hills on Orcutt Rd go through the beautiful hillside vineyards and picturesque wineries around this wine growing region. The gorgeous Santa Lucia Range looms above the rich fertile valley!

Further south along Orcutt Rd, the scenery alternates from the hillside vineyards to the open landscape of the soil rich agricultural farmlands.

On Orcutt Rd near Lopez Reservoir, the pastoral fields are dotted with grazing cattle and horses. Orcutt Rd drops us down onto Lopez Dr.

We head east on Lopez Dr to our lunch stop at Talley Vineyards. They have a nice outdoor sitting area with tables and chairs.

The route continues south on Lopez Dr to Huasna Rd in Arroyo Grande. We make a stop at the Huasna Farms mini market to pick up some fruits. Susanna, the owner makes and sells homemade jams and jellies and a variety of scented loofah soaps. We stay on Huasna Rd to the junction at CA-227.

We head north on CA-227 and stay on Corbett Canyon Rd for the next 6.6 miles. The terrain for the first 3.5 miles on this two lane road is mostly flat with good pavement. This is horse country with many ranches, rural farmhouses, barns and training facilities.

The short gentle climb up towards the eucalyptus grove drops us further into the canyon along the flats through more horse ranches and farms. 

At Tiffany Ranch Rd, the terrain on Corbett Canyon continues on a series of small climbs and descents through the gorgeous rolling hillside vineyards and wineries around the Edna Valley wine region.

The quarter mile stretch on CA-227 N/Carpenter Canyon Rd takes us pass the horse facility at Greengate Ranch to Price Canyon Rd.

We descend Price Canyon Rd to Pismo Beach and head north on Price St.

It’s such a sunny beautiful day so we decide to take a detour to the Best Western lookout point before returning to Avila Beach. We made this stop a couple of days ago and just couldn’t pass it up. It’s the perfect spot to sit and enjoy the splendid views of the San Luis Bay!

The last 3.4 miles of this ride is pretty flat through Shell Beach. The drop into the canyon on Avila Beach Rd takes us back to the KOA campground.

This scenic tour through the quiet country back roads of Edna Valley wine region was a great way to see the southern part of San Luis Obispo County.

Garmin Stats:
45.94 Miles with 2054′ of elevation gain
Max elevation: 323′
Max grade: 8%
Terrain: Flat to rolling hills

Weather: WONDERFUL! Sunny and warm with temps ranging from the high 50’s to the high 70’s. Mild NW winds with 24% humidity

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In all of living, have much fun and laughter.  Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured.       ~Gordon B. Hinckley
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