Refugio Pass, CA - Info request

[James Warren]

This is a request for some info needed by some south-riding tourists who are list-members. Dustin and Esteban are on their way south now from San Francisco. I am joining them in Buellton tomorrow, and Tuesday morning, the plan is to set out for Santa Barbara.

They need to be at the Goleta train station to get a train that departs at 1:45 PM Tuesday.

We are trying to figure out if it is realistic to set out early and ride from Buellton to Goleta via the Refugio pass (a dirt climb) instead of Highway 101 and make it to Goleta by 1:45 PM.

Is there anyone on the list who has done the Refugio pass with a sense of how long it took. (I know that riders vary, but I'm just trying to get as much info as I can.

Thank you very much,
Jim Warren

[dougP]

Jim:

I just sent you the link to Chris Kostman's write-up on this on the
Rough Riders site.

From Buellton, take 246 east to Refugio Rd, then right. Chris' time
for the loop seemed pretty quick & you guys will be hauling stuff up
the hill. I would want to be over the top way before noon to make a
1:45 train in Goleta.

They are doing work on the bridge at Hollister Ave where bike used to
have to exit so I'm not sure what you'll have to do there. If you can
exit Hollister, it's a straight shot to the train station but you have
keep an eye out for the Amtrak signs. The station is a couple blocks
north of Hollister.

dougP

[James Warren]

I've been toying with the following conservative estimates:

1 hour from Flying Flags Campground to the Refugio fire road.
3 hours to get to 101 at the coast.
2 hours riding along 101 to the train station.

That makes 6 hours. We leave at 7 AM to get to the train by 1 PM so the guys still have a cushion (in addition to hopefully conservative estimates above).

-Jim W.

p.s. Thanks again Doug and Mike!

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[Michael_S]

Here is a google map using the bike travel mode. It says 4 hrs 16 min. for the 35 mile route. So your 6 hours is pretty conservative. 

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=refugio+pass&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&oe=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl

 

hopefully I can make this trip  this fall or next summer when I'm moved down to Carlsbad and semi-retired.

 

~mike

[Timmy Bolton]

RE: Winchester exit.

I grew up a touch north from that exit. Last time I was down there (a
couple months ago) you could still exit off the freeway there.

Like Doug said, Amtrak is a straight shot from the exit. You'll have a
bike lane or shoulder all along Hollister. Just hang a left on S La
Patera and you're there.

Refugio Canyon is a fun place to ride. Although I've only ever done it
in the reverse direction (ascending the pavement Gaviota side).

You can minimize the amount of 101 time if you go on the service road
when exiting refugio canyon road near the beach / state park. Hang a
left just before the freeway offramp. Follow that road until it ends
(onto what looks like an offramp in the wrong direction at El Cap) and
hang a quick left/right onto the bike path next to a cattle fence). The
beach side path has been closed for a couple years. Follow the
mountain-side path until it ends at the el cap canyon exit. This bike
path features a half pipe. You'll know what I mean when you see it...
After the path ends, hang a right, go under the freeway, hang a left on
the freeway on-ramp and take the 101 to Winchester. Wide shoulders all
along that stretch of the 101. And a tailwind!

Cheers,

Timmy Bolton

On 7/17/11 6:34 PM, dougP wrote:
> Jim:
>
> I just sent you the link to Chris Kostman's write-up on this on the
> Rough Riders site.
>
> From Buellton, take 246 east to Refugio Rd, then right. Chris' time

> for the loop seemed pretty quick& you guys will be hauling stuff up

[Esteban]

Update from San Diego-bound Amtrak:

We left Buellton early after a hearty breakfast, made it up and over
Refugio Pass, exited Hollister via the functional on-ramp(!), and made
it to Santa Barbara in 4:45, with an hour and a half to enjoy burgers
and beer at a brewpub adjacent to the train station.

Photos and prose to come.

Esteban
Somewhere near Fullerton, southbound

[dougP]

Esteban:

Glad that worked out! Now we have a decent timeline for that
segment. Can't wait to see pics of the adventure.

dougP

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>
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[James Warren]

Great day!

[Michael_S]

I'll have to write Google maps and have them revise there time estimate for that leg.  Unless you guys were doggin' it....

 

I'm looking forward to the pictures and story... and next year to do the same trip.

 

~mike

[Esteban]

It might be pretty accurate -- we had a flat on the 101, and climbed
Refugio fully loaded. So, 4:15 might be accurate without incident or
burden.

Refugio, by the way, is straight out of a photo in the Rivendell
catalog.

[dougP]

"> Refugio, by the way, is straight out of a photo in the Rivendell
> catalog."

There's more where that came from! In the same general area, you get
a similar experience on See Canyon / Prefumo Cyn (SLO to Avila Beach);
Sulphur Mtn Rd (Ventura, last spring; thanks Rob!); Figueroa Mtn Rd
(n.e. of Solvang); etc.

So many rides....

dougP

> > ~mike- Hide quoted text -