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Fish Rock Bicycle Event

Event Chair: Nick KV6KLG

DETAILS:

This is a UHF event. Your single-band 2-meter radio won't cut it.

Saturday April 1st is the Fish Rock bicycle race, SCRA's first public service event of 2023. Approximately 350-400 cyclists will depart Boonville, traverse to and down the coast, and return to Boonville, following this course (click map for high-resolution image): Find more info here: https://www.ridefishrock.com/ . This is an all-day event with riders starting from Boonville at 9:00 am and stragglers returning at 5:30 pm. Operators will close aid stations progressively and may depart for home when they do.

Travel times are long, ranging from 1.5 to 2.25 hours from Santa Rosa, depending on location, due to distance and winding roads:

Due to recent snow and rain events there has been a lot of single lane closures and tree work in the Booneville area so allow extra travel time. 

• Santa Rosa to Boonville about 90 miles
• Santa Rosa to Pt. Arena via coast about 85 miles
• Event course (a loop) 72.4 miles

This is a UHF event. Your single-band 2-meter radio won't cut it. (Oh, I guess I said that already... How about this? UHF = 70 cm = 440 MHz band...)

Weather (fog, rain, clouds) can impact UHF reception significantly ("Scotty, I need more power!") so bring a UHF mobile radio (or HT with UHF amp, say 40W) and a good antenna. During clear weather, most sites can get by with a UHF HT, but be prepared for changing weather. SAGs will need a mobile radio on the more radio-difficult portions of Fish Rock Road. We especially like APRS-equipped SAGs although APRS is not a requirement.

Note to SAGs: Portions of Fish Rock Road between Tenmile road and Aid Station 3 aren't paved, but sport well-graded dirt with minor-to-moderate washboards and a few potholes. Low-rider cars (under which you can't roll a beer can) need not apply. (The Aid Station 3 operator can approach from Highway 128 via all-paved roads.)

There is no travel reimbursement for this event with one exception: SAGs may be reimbursed for actual fuel cost while on course, but not to or from the event, or at the IRS-allowed volunteer reimbursement rate of $0.14/mile.

Where are these places, you ask? I'm glad you asked. I recommend copying the following coordinates into www.google.com/maps to get turn-by-turn driving directions and a time estimate.

• Start Anderson Valley Jr-Sr HS at Mountain View Road and Hwy 128 in Boonville (39.0117,-123.3748)
• Aid Station 1 Mountain View Road (38.9461,-123.5450) Go North to Boonville, turn left on Mountain View Road about 15.2 miles (33 minutes). Coordinates are approximate.
• Cemetery Hwy 1 & Mtn View Rd (38.9511,-123.6903) Go North on Hwy 1 past Pt. Arena, turn right and right again into cemetery at corner with Mountain View Rd.
• Aid Station 2 Iverson Rd at Timberwood Wy (38.8413,-123.5706) Go North on Hwy 1 to Gualala, turn right on Old Stage Coach Rd, continue on Iverson Rd. Site is at intersection with Timberwood Way.  Alternatively, from Boonville, Mtn View Rd. to Hwy 1, Left to Pt. Arena. Left on Riverside Rd, continue turns into Eureka Hill Rd, then Ten Mile Rd./Ten Mile Cutoff. Slight left onto Iversen, Right ahead.
• Aid Station 3 Fish Rock Road (38.8513,-123.5125) North on 128 past Yorkville, left on Fish Rock Road about 20.6 miles (57 minutes).
• Aid Station 4 Fish Rock Road (38.8867,-123.4039) North on 128 past Yorkville, left on Fish Rock Road about 8.8 miles (20 minutes).
• Net Control / FINISH Anderson Valley Brewing Co. (39.0007,-123.3563) In Boonville. Boonville Ukiah Road (Hwy 253)

Camping - There is camping available for Friday and Saturday. The site can accommodate tents, campers, or a trailer. A 15' or 18' trailer would be the maximum size. For the camping it is requested to get their info to me ASAP for reservations. As well as what they are camping in.  Tent space is $10, RV space is $35, covers up to two nights.

If you are new to public service and want a no-pressure way to try it out, sign up as a Shadow and we'll pair you up with an experienced ham. Elmers at all positions will teach Shadows and get them on the air. Net control operators will take turns running net control and keeping a traffic log.

 

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