Manresa State Beach Campout

October 14-15, 2006 - Report by Donny Axtell

17 people for the ride over. 4 of these were traveling fully loaded, 4 more were partially-loaded, and the rest had their gear stowed in the SAG. 20 people for dinner. 18 people camped. The SAG carried everything needed for cooking in camp. The weather cooperated - not quite sunny, but not cold either.

Manresa Uplands State Beach was a new experience for everyone in the group, as this was the first time that any had tried camping at this campground, and most had not heard of it before. The campground is located about a half mile further south on San Andreas Road from the Manresa Beach dayuse area. The campground has 61 sites, with all of them walk-in only. No cars in the campsites and no RV's allowed at all. But bikes can ride right in to camp.

The tour started in Campbell at 9:30, then headed to Los Gatos and along the trail up to Lexington Dam. Then it was around the reservoir and up Old Santa Cruz Hwy and down Soquel-San Jose Rd. The tour stopped for lunch at Gayle's Bakery in Capitola and then arrived in camp just before 3:00, with 38 miles ridden for the first day.

Sunday's return got a leisurely start at 10:00, then traveled over to Corralitos for an early lunch before climbing Eureka Canyon Rd. After another lunch at Summit Store, the tour descended Old Santa Cruz Hwy, then rode back around the reservoir and along the trail to Los Gatos, finally ending in Campbell at 4:00, with 45 miles ridden for the last day.

$15 each was enough to cover the cost of camping and food, thanks in part to a $65 donation from ACTC, one of the first campouts to benefit from the new policy.

The concensus was that this should be the first annual Manresa Beach campout, as it was well worth repeating.

If interested, reservations can be made at http://www.reserveamerica.com

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