Bike hike! Ventura to Ojai

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/c/e/5/6/event_88612822.jpegBlazers bike, too! We're reprising our first bike hike, from Ventura to Ojai on the Ventura River Trail, with two distance options (so read carefully, lest you be mocked later).

This is a 30 mile out and back (15 each way), with 1000 feet of elevation gain, if you do the extended version, and 20 miles total if you do the abbreviated version. The Ventura River Trail follows an old Southern Pacific Railroad line that paralleled the Ventura River. The trains are long gone, leaving a paved ribbon that rises gently up to Ojai in their wake. Vestiges of Ventura's industrial past dot the first 5.5 miles of the route, with sculptural homages to industry, oil, and various local hallmarks like the poinsettia, Ventura's official flower. The last 2/3 of the trip up offers increasingly scenic views of the river and the Santa Ana Valley.

The ride is fairly easy, despite the distance and elevation. The trail is a paved, dedicated biking path most of the way- street bikes as well as mountain bikes will do well. There will be some street crossings, so stay alert.

After the entire trip has been completed, we'll load up the bikes and lunch in downtown Ventura.

Bring snacks to fuel yourself until then, as well as enough water to sustain you. Keep in mind when planning provisions that it can be 10-20 degrees hotter in Ojai than below in Ventura.

Several of us have bike racks for our cars, so post in the comments if you need a lift for yourself and your bike. There is ample free parking at a lot just west of the 33 on Main St. for the longer riders. We'll meet there and ride up to the trailhead, then pedal 5 miles to meet the rest of the gang at Foster Park.

With a group waiting for the shorter ride, we need to get moving on time. Let's get to the lot, unrack the bikes and saddle up before 9 (9:30 for those doing the shorter ride). We should all have cell service at the lot, so keep in touch if the unthinkable happens.

The longer ride's trailhead starts off Rex St. If the extremely unthinkable happens and you arrive late, but want to catch us, leave the parking lot on Main St and pedal back under the 33 to Olive St. Turn left and ride to Rex St. Turn Left again. Both your time on Main and your time on Olive are .14 of a mile, and Rex is shorter.

Directions for the longer ride:

Take the 101 to California St. Head north (inland) on California and turn left on Main St. Follow Main .75 mile, and pass under the 33. The parking lot is on the left.

Directions for the shorter ride:

Take the 101 North to the 33 North (toward Ojai). Exit toward Casitas Vista Rd. Turn right onto North Ventura Ave. Take the first right onto Casitas Vista Rd.

To clarify, if you want to ride the full 30 miles, meet at the Main St. parking lot, ready to ride at 9. If you only want to ride 20 miles, meet at Foster Park at 9:30. Please include which you plan on doing in your RSVP comment.