Benbow Inn

Day 2 of trip, last Monday.

After breakfast at the Hotel Healdsburg Monday, we rode straight out of town and headed north through Sonoma County's famous Dry Creek Valley, home to famous vineyards such as Ferrari-Carano, where we stopped for more wine tasting. There was an optional climb up to Lake Sonoma which Erin and I tried. I was dropped early in the climb by Brandon and Roger, but I made it as far as the bridge overlook. Lake Sonoma is often the lunch stop for the Wine Country Century, but the view of the lake isn't part of the route, so this was the first time I'd seen it.

There was a short climb over Dutcher Creek road that we were warned about, but it was pretty mild (especially when compared with things to come later in the week). We crossed the Russian River a couple more times before arriving in Cloverdale for lunch in the park. Jada had prepared a wonderful meal, and there was ice-cold beer in the cooler. Roger had taken a detour, so he arrived a little later. We jumped back into the van for the trip up to Benbow, where we checked in to the historic Benbow Inn. Before dinner, there was time for another short ride, about eight miles, along Benbow Drive. It was four miles out and back, with a scenic bridge at the end of that. We stopped to take pictures, and as we were about to head back, we spotted Roger out for
a run.

Dinner at the inn was great, as usual. There was champagne waiting for us in our room that evening. The Benbow Inn is old enough that none of our wall warts would stay plugged into the electrical outlets. There are no elevators in the building either, but there is wireless
internet.