Occidental

Greetings:

This year's Eastern Sierra Ride will be somewhat modified. While we will technically be going to the Sierra, we won't go quite as far as the eastern ridge. So consequently, it will be renamed this year as the "Western Sierra Ride".

Our destination is the historic gold mining town of Nevada City, the Queen of the Northern Mines.

The destination hotel is the National Hotel, an Historic Landmark property right in the heart of town. One of the country's oldest continuously operating hotels, (the oldest west of the Rockies) the place is very cool, but as a Landmark, it can be rather funky, and well, old. So don't expect a Fairmont. But it does have a GREAT bar and a decent pool, and is located in walking distance to all things Nevada City. Deb and I have been staying there a couple times per year for the past 10+ years and we've always had a good time. The Mine Shaft Bar and Fred's Sechuan Restaurant across the street are favorites.

Shopping for the ladies, bars for the men. What more can one ask? Oh, and there are some serious riding roads surrounding this area. A jaunt along the northern portion of Highway 49 being just one of them. There are several ways to get there from anywhere in the Bay Area, too. Direct or meandering. We'll have a Pow Wow Friday evening around the pool to plan out a lunch ride for Saturday.

Dates are September 17th (Friday) through September 19th (Sunday). You can stay both nights or just one, up to you. The hotel, being old and old fashioned doesn't take internet reservations. You have to call them, (imagine that!) reserve a room and send them a check equal to one night's lodging to hold it. Here's their contact info:

http://www.thenationalhotel.com/

So far they are wide open.

There are a couple other places in town; one (Northern Queen) on the other side of the highway, the other (Outside Inn) several blocks up the hill.

Hope to see you all there! Bring your cowboy hats!

R~w~P:
Faz CA-VII