terrymorse 

Yes, Julian is a cool area for biking. And staying.

When we were doing our California Desert Escape tours, we stayed in Pine Valley, Julian, Borrego Springs, Warner Springs, Temecula, Palm Springs, and Indian Wells.

My favorite areas were Borrego Springs and Julian.

rydabent

Here on Christmas Eve, it is only 55 degrees at 8:45 in Key West. For me, that makes it Blankee time in front of the fire place!!!!!!

diphthong

julian area (encompassing borrego springs, santa ysabel, palomar mtn, mesa grande, laguna mtns, cuyamaca state park) is very big, notta lotta support but super versatile and filled
with love and surprises. julian is at 4,000 feet. local area tops out at 6,000 feet. borrego springs desert area drops down to > 1,000 feet. depending on the weather in the late fall/early spring,
one can start in the mountains, drop down into the desert and climb back into the mountains. granted, the el gain is close to 10k and the distance is 75+ miles but the memories and
experiences are top-notch.

50PlusCycling

Okinawa isn’t bad. Lots of coastline, safe roads, interesting culture, no crime, and good food. The weather isn’t that cold in January, though it can rain unexpectedly. The beaches are beautiful, there are plenty of places to stay, stealth camping is easy. I’ve visited Okinawa 3 times over the last year, and have enjoyed it very much.

pstock

Canary Islands are on my Bucket List for sure. but they are dauntingly hard to get to. I am seeing 20-24 trips with long layovers somewhere in Europe. Not impossible just a factor to consider.

pstock

I'm zeroing in I think on Fredericksnurg TX.
weather looks good for the next two weeks. (attached)
lots of interesting looking routes.
short (3.5hr) direct flight from Toronto.
though accommodation looks pricey. Is Fredericksburg a tourist town? would that be why rates seems so high?

pstock

thought now I am tempted by Julian CA.
that's pretty interesting.
I'll quite blabbering now, get something organized and I'll report back once I get back.
thanks for the insights.
Peter

pstock

I was SOOOOOO close to booking a flight to LA.
my partner's cousin has a place at Ventura and suggested I ask if I could park myself there.
they were thrilled to let me crash, and I would have enjoyed seeing them, and after researching the routes it looked - a bit limited out of Ventura (up to Ojai, right to Santa Paula retunr, Left to.... the coast, return, up the CA-1 to Santa Babrara....) but overall, pretty awesome (Hey, ride a route backwards and it all looks brand new)

BUT the weather forecaset looks a bit grim from the 9th on. so Ventura is not the solution this trip. BUT I have it dialed in for a return when Julie can join me

pstock

I think I am finally settled. thank you all for your ideas. I hope they guide others.

when I launched this question I thought I would only have about 6-7 days for an excursion.

My best options then (given flight costs, weather reports, travel times, cycling quality....) seemed, with your input:
1. Texas Hill Country west of Austin
2. Tuscon Arizona
3. Julian CA
4. Ventura CA (a late candidate. Julie’s cousins live there and suggested I come do base camp there)
5. Back to the Azores Islands
6. I even considered a long trip back to my old stomping grounds in Provence, France (where I lived in the 1990s) to visit some old friends, rides some old routes (like the Mont Ventoux) and retrieve an old bike (an Eddy Merckx) that I have been storing there for 10 years.

1, 2 and 6 failed basically on bad weather forecasts and risk of too cool temps
3. Julian CA seemed too hard to get to (car rental required likely) and too expensive for places to stay.
4. Ventura CA outside of LA was compromised because.... while there are some excellent routes, they are a bit limited and outside those routes, there is traffic. And because it is supposed to rain.
4. Azores was not breaking any new ground (though I will go back) and it has proven a bit wet off season

But it turned out that I actually had 14 days free, not 7. and so the lousy long travel time and layovers to get to further afield no longer seemed crazy.
The Canary Islands have long been on my radar screen but always seemed too far and complicated to get to/from for a short visit. but 2 weeks made it all sound doable. and weather is sunny and steadily between 14C/60F (Low) to 23C/73F (High). So I am booked and going.

I think I will take my Bike Friday with travel trailer, and not rent a car. I've done this twice. trailer to a destination. stay put for day rides for a couple of days, trailer on to the next destination.
here's what it looks like. (below)
Worst case, I call a taxi. It’s a small island.

And apparently you can take a 2 hour ferry from Tenerife to Gran Canaria. so as I am flying into Tnerige and out of Gran Canaria, I should be able to ride to the ferry and just cross over and explore them both.

So now I have to work out routes and accommodations.
On the Routes front, while I know the Canaries are a winter training destination for pro teams, I am no pro rider.
To get from the south end to the north end and the ferry terminal I would like to avoid busy roads and go over the top.
But 2300m7500ft vertical (even if only over 85kms/53miles) seems daunting.

We shall see.

Thank you for all your ideas. I hope to hit them all in the next few years.

Peter

big john

Have fun! If you ever do make it to Ventura there are lots of rides you may not know about. We are having rain in Southern California which is quite unusual since the drought started.

superdex

that is so inspirational! Have a great time, pics pics pics!!

Calsun

New Zealand would be my choice.