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©2008 Santana Cycles, Inc.
In 2008 Santana visits America’s #1 cycling destination. From our deluxe hotel in the picture-perfect village of Friday Harbor—the crown jewel of the Puget Sound—we’ll use ferries for an island-hopping tandeming adventure with no repacking.
Until now the toughest part of tandeming the San Juan Islands has been getting there. Unless you lived in the Northwest or wanted to spend days driving there, the classic solution involved flying to Seattle, renting a van, driving 125 miles to Anacortes, and then waiting for hours in the long lines for the ferry. Santana has an inspired solution: With our inexpensive VIP option we’ll meet you at Seattle’s airport, help you with your bikes and gear, and put you on fast yacht for a three hour cruise to Friday Harbor. After the rally, we’ll reverse the process to speed you back to Seattle or its airport.
Monday August 11: Those who opt for our VIP package will meet in Seattle this morning for a cruise to the islands. The rally’s official afternoon start is in Friday Harbor, where an 18-mile warm-up ride introduces us to the easy pace of the islands. Been to Norway? After Tuesday’s breakfast at the harbor, we’ll catch a ferry to rugged Orcas Island—with its fjord-like East Sound, towering mountains and cascading waterfalls. Our destination is Rosario Resort, and a fabulous gourmet lunch with fresh salmon and berries. Since the basic ride (18 miles each way) might not be long enough to sufficiently build your appetite, pre lunch options include a waterfalls hike or a ride to the 2,407’ summit of Mt. Constitution for views across 350 islands. Wednesday, the only day we won’t use a boat or ferry, includes a circuit of San Juan Island. Thursday’s ferry threads its way through smaller islands to find a cyclists’ favorite. Lopez Island has few hills, less traffic, Shark Reef Nature Reserve and a creamery with fresh ice cream. Thursday afternoon you can enjoy a layover at teensy Shaw Island or get back to Friday Harbor in time for a fast afternoon ride through the battleground that determined Canada’s southern boundary.
After 4 days of rides and activities, plus 4 restful nights in Friday Harbor, August 12th is our catch-up day. Will you sleep in or get in a last ride before our late breakfast? After checkout and breakfast, will you do some shopping, sit down on a dock to write postcards, or enjoy a guided kayak tour?
A guaranteed sell-out, our 5-day rally in the unforgettable San Juans—with four nights of deluxe three-star lodging, 8 limitless meals, ferry trips linking four islands and more—is a rare bargain at $1029 per adult. Whereas the most popular single-bike tours of the San Juans (check out the web-offerings at Trek Travel and Backroads) are one day longer, they’re also more than twice as expensive. That’s right, with Santana an adult tandem team can ride these islands for what they charge for just one child! Because our child price is $599, a family of four can save enough to purchase airline tickets. Because a small deposit saves your space (and our VIP option is limited by the size of the boat), why not reserve today?