Camp Chopper Itinerary

January 17th Thursday

1:00 pm- Check in at LaQuinta Inn and Suites Paso Robles Ca.
2:00 pm- Peachy Canyon loop, 35 mile ride
5:00 pm- Private group wine tasting at the Austin Hope tasting cellar (meet in
lobby at 4:40 pm for carpool ) then head over to ...
6:30 pm- McPhee's Grill in Templeton. Welcome to Camp Chopper Group Dinner

January 18th Friday

8:30 am- Cambria 46 West Old River Road Loop, 75 mile ride
5:00 pm- Anglim Winery private group wine tasting in the hotel lobby
6:00 pm- Dinner on your own

January 19th Saturday

8:30 am- Grand Chopper, 92 mile ride
Pizza Party at hotel in lobby waiting for us when we finish the Grand Chopper
5:30 pm- Firestone brewery Taproom for Dinner and drinks. See ya there

January 20th Sunday

8:30 am- Paso Estrella, 31 mile ride
12:00 pm- Check out and see who's up for a little more tasting

Notes:

The hotel is on 46 East just a few minutes from downtown. Paso Robles is a
classic central coast town. The city has a large city park in the center of
town. The restaurants, shops, bars etc are all located downtown in this area.

To get downtown from the hotel you simply go west on 46. This road becomes 24th
street. Turn left on Spring Street. Turn left on 12th street and you are at the
city park and all of Paso Robles.

Each of you will be receiving a Paso Robles Wine Country map. The guide has an
A-Z listing of all the area wineries and restaurants. It's a very handy guide
and it will be given to you in your Camp Chopper welcome bag.

Food suggestions:

Breakfast downstairs for free. Eggs,bacon, hash browns, biscuits and gravy and
fruit plates. Juices and Coffee. Everything you can imagine. Free !

Robert's, Marv's Pizza, Basil Thai, Berry Hill Bistro, Good Ol Burgers, Señor
Sanchos. Artisan and Il Cortile for the rich kids.

Winery suggestions:

Peachy Canyon , Edward Cellars, Mitchella, Rotta , Turley , Hunt,
Chronic Cellars, Mondo, La Aventure, Ecluse, Opolo , Calcareous, Penman Springs
and Tablas Creek if you prefer white wine.

Santa Rosa Creek Road

This year Camp Chopper will once again feature the Grand Chopper and a climb up the famed Santa Rosa Creek Rd.

The Grand Chopper is held on Saturday. It's a 90 + mile ride that takes riders thru west Paso Robles, Creston, Atascadero. Then out thru the coast to Morro Bay, Cayucos and Cambria.

It's after the riders leave Cambria that the Santa Rosa Creek journey begins. The road is 16 miles of one lane highway that culminates with a 20% grade.

The Grand Chopper merit badge. Do you have one ?

Peachy Canyon Loop Preview

Private Wine tasting

This year Camp Chopper will once again be offering two private wine tastings. On Thursday after the ride we will be heading over to Austin Hope and Friday we will be having a private tasting by Anglim at the hotel for your enjoyment.

Paso Robles and Wine are synonymous with each other. Just as Beer is to Belgium. Last year the cyclist were introduced to the viticulture of the area and came away with a new appreciation of wine. Prior to Camp Chopper I had only had $2 buck Chuck and T-Bird. now when I go on dates I can sniff a cork and tell a Zinfandel from a Cab. Said one camper.

Galileo said " Wine is sunlight, held together by water. " Chopper said " When do we drink it. "

Support Team

Once again this years Camp will be fully supported by a SAG vehicle. The SAG team is led by a Physical Therapist and Team Masseuse.

It's not like just anyone can drive behind a group of cyclist. At Camp Chopper our team is specially trained to support you and your needs. Remember just raise your hand and a bottle or bar will magically appear.

Camp Chopper less than 30 days away are you ready ? We are !

Camp Chopper Meals

If you spend anytime in the central coast you will come to appreciate a few things about the dining scene. For example in SLO they have a law that prohibits drive thrus. In Paso they dont have a Fridays, Chilis, Steak N Shakes or a Ho Jo. The restraunts tend to be one of a kind.

This year the Welcome to Camp Chopper dinner is being held at McPhee's Grill in Templeton. Templeton is located 5 miles south of Paso. McPhees is one of a kind and easily the top 3 places to eat in the central coast. Go to a winery and tell your pourer you are eating at McPhee's tonight. Trust me you will get a big thumbs up.

Ian has offered us the private dining room and created a custom menu just for Camp Chopper. The menu will feature specially chosen meat , fish and pasta dishes for all campers and of course a desert. If its not the best meal you ever had you can give me a quad punch.

On friday night a group dining opportunity will exist at a downtown Paso Pizza place and Saturday night we will head to the recently opened Firestone Taproom restraunt. This year we want to make sure we have given you a group dining option for all nights. We dont want to hear of anyone eating a Nuttela open faced sandwich by themselves in a dark hotel room.

Anglim Winery to pour at LaQuinta

This year in addition to a field trip to Austin Hope we are excited that Stephanie from Anglim Winery has agreed to pour at LaQuinta. On Friday before we head out to dinner Stephanie will be pouring downstairs. Another après cycling feature of Camp Chopper you just don't get any where else.

Anglim Winery is a small, family-owned label located in downtown Paso Robles producing vineyard-designate Rhône varietals and blends plus limited-release family favorites including Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon.

They realize that stellar wines begin in the vineyard, and are passionate about sourcing the finest fruit for Anglim wines. Their limited case production of 3,500 cases a year allows them to handcraft wines in small lots with a combination of tradition and innovation. They use 100 percent French oak, but manage the new oak percentages to create wines with a balanced style, and enough character to be cellared but enough elegance to be enjoyed now.