May 4 - 6, 2001 California Volkssport Association Annual Convention hosted by the  Central Coast Peregrine Pathfinders

We showcased three walking and one bicycling events in Pismo Beach (San Luis Obispo county) -- a beautiful community where no club had ever sanctioned an event before!  Over 160 people from Washington, Oregon, Nevada and over 70 California cities came and completed 442 participations!  About 75 people selected the 2001 CVA Convention patch (above); about 40 selected the 2001 "Pooter Patch" which shows our mascot, Pooter the Peregrine Falcon, walking by the windmill atthe corner of Molle Way and Alisal Road on our Solvang YRE route.  The Palm Beach Visitors Bureau gave us two buckets of locally made salt water taffy, and they were gone by noon Saturday!  It was a great weekend!

Shell Beach Palisades Walk.  This event started from the Sea Crest Resort Motel conference room and will take walkers north through the Shell Beach area of Pismo Beach, and along the beautiful palisades overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  It afforded an outstanding view of the Pismo Beach Pier, the Pismo State Beach, and the Nipomo Dunes.  It featured both 6 km and 10 km trails AVA rated "1."  The walk was available Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday.  147 people participated.

Pismo Hilltop & Pier Walk.  This event featured downtown Pismo Beach, the Pier, the boardwalk, and a monarch butterfly grove just south of town (though the majority of the butterflies will be gone by the convention).  There was a hilltop option for the hardy (foolhardy?).  It climbed up Wadsworth & Longview Avenues for a spectacular view of the town and ocean (except during Saturday morning's fog).  Those who climed it were greeted by a "welcome volksmarchers" sign at the home of a Pismo Beach Visitors' Center staffer.  The basic route was 9 km long and carried an AVA rating of "1+" (for some gravel and unpaved surfaces).  The hilltop was is 13 km long and carried an AVA rating of "3" because of the difficulty of the hill.  This event was available Saturday and Sunday. For GREAT 360 degree panoramas of the pier area, point your browser to http://www.classiccalifornia.com/panorama.htm 139 participants.

Sunset Palisades Walk.  This event began at Spyglass Park, about 2.5 miles north of the hotel, at the far end of the Shell Beach Palisades Walk.  It offered a route through some of the area's most exclusive neighborhoods, and goes out to an overlook high above Pirates' Cove (SLO county's only "clothing optional" beach; at least a few folks went down to see what there was to see).  This route was rated "1+" because of the climb up a short, unpaved section at the mid-point.  124 participants.

Bob Jones Bikeway.  Our bike event began about 6 miles north of the hotel, at the Park & Ride for the Bob Jones bikeway.  The 14 km trail took the bikeway though nature areas and along a golf course until it ended at Avila Beach.  Then it hugged the coast, passing a private pier and the entrance to the controversial PG&E Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant before reaching Harford pier.  From that pier riders backtracked into the small community of Avila Beach, and then returned up the bikeway.  The route was rated "1."  The 26 km trail added an excursion through See Canyon.  The pavement was rougher, the road curves more frequently, and there are gentle rolling hills.  As a result, the longer ride was rated "2."  32 participants.

Our conference hotel was the Sea Crest Resort Motel, 2241 Price Street, Pismo Beach, CA.  This was the start/finish for two of our events and the location of the business meetings.  160 rooms (with full ocean, partial ocean, or non-ocean views), smoking/nonsmoking rooms, and great rates.  You can check out their web site (http://www.sea-crest.com).

On Saturday, Elizabeth Mitchell of Portland, OR, set up a table to sell her "volksware" items, including T-shirts and patches with the USA map (so you can color in your states), hydration systems, etc.  If you missed her, her web site is at http://pages.prodigy.net/lizmitchell/volksware/

On Saturday, many of the walkers assembled at the Old Vienna Restaurant, 1527 Shell Beach Road, Shell Beach, CA, for a wonderful lunch of German and American specialties and -- oh, yes -- the business meetings for the AVA Pacific Region (electing Herm Husbands as the new AVA Regional Director) and the CVA.

Saturday night, folks met at Corcoran's Restaurant, 611 Grand Avenue, Arroyo Granda, CA, for a wonderful dinner (prime rib or chicken breast) and an informative talk on California geology and the San Francisco earthquake by George Mason, a local geologist.  Among his passions is walking; George also leads hikes in beautiful nearby Montana de Oro State Park.

On Saturday and Sunday New Balance, the official athletic shoe and sportswear sponsor of the AVA, provided information on their products, as well as shoes to raffle as "door prizes" for each day.  The Shoe Tree, a New Balance dealer in downtown Pismo Beach, hosted a display of sportswear and even gave $10 off coupons to all our participants.  The NB corporate web site is at http://www.newbalance.comWinners of the gifts were
Tom Bressmer, Vaca Valley Volks  (New Balance Shoes)
Walt Anderson, Central Coast Peregrine Pathfinders (New Balance Shoes)
Liz Caldwell, Big Valley Vabonds & Central Coast Peregrine Pathfinders (New Balance Shoes)
Wayne Holloway,  Placer Pacers (2 three-packs of "Isotoner Sport Club" gray athletic socks)
 

Host City Background:  The History of people at Pismo Beach starts at least 9,000 years ago with the Chumash Indians, who referred to the area as a place to find pismu, or tar, to seal their canoes to make them ocean worthy.  Others say the Pismo clam gave its name to Pismo Beach.  The clams were once plentiful, but due to harvesting by humans and sea otters, the supply has been reduced and clam digging is rationed.

The City is part of the original 8,838 acre Rancho Pismo. Rancho Pismo was granted to Jose Ortega by Manuewl Rinemo Goriod on November 18, 1840. Ortega is thought to have built a small adobe which later became part of the Price Adobe.  Back in 1881, Pismo's original wharf opened for business. Taking off from a point below the present Main Street, remnants of the pilings may still be seen at very low tides.  The town of Pismo Beach was established in 1891 in anticipation of the Southern Pacific Railroad and tourists.  Its founder, John Price, was correct, and today Pismo Beach has a thriving tourist industry.

For more on our host city, you can visit
http://www.classiccalifornia.com/ the Pismo Beach Visitor's Guide
http://www.pismobeach.org/  the official site of the City of Pismo Beach

If you have questions or wish to find out more about our club or about volkssports, please e-mail Bill Uttenweiler.
 
 

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2000-2001

May 2001