As I've said before, I love to ride but I get pretty antsy to get off my bike and walk or do something during these gorgeous spring days. Here's another good incentive to stop and smell the flowers from the Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT) Spring 2009 Hikes and Tours. These destinations just happen to be right smack in the middle of some great motorcycling roads. Especially if you're touring, and traveling between San Francisco and the Napa/Sonoma Wine Country, this is a great "road-less-taken" and a rare chance to meet the locals on their own home turf. Get out your map and check it out. Here's one I'm thinking of joining:
McEvoy Olive Ranch 
Friday, April 24 with MALT
(See below for additional dates.)
Celebrate
Arbor Day amongst 18,000 organic olive trees as you tour Nan McEvoy’s
550-acre ranch in a spectacular valley near the Marin-Sonoma border.
Walk through the flowering orchards scattered with wildflowers and
learn how olives are grown. McEvoy Ranch links the farmscape with the
landscape to increase wildlife habitat. Then tour the olive-pressing
facility and watch as oil is extracted from the olives. Taste the oil
and, if you like, purchase items made with this wonderful farm product.
Pre-registration is required.
TIME: 9:45 am – noon. Please arrive on time.
WHERE TO MEET: McEvoy Ranch, 5 miles south of Petaluma at 5935 Red Hill Rd. (aka D Street or Point Reyes-Petaluma Rd.)
WHAT TO BRING: Water, walking shoes
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: 
COST: $15 / $20 non-members
For details on this and all the tours through spring, summer, and fall, visit their calendar page.
If you can't join the MALT tour, the ranch offers tours on these dates. Tours begin promptly at 10:00 am and finish by 12:00 pm. $30 per person.
April 18 | May 23 | August 8 | September 12 | October 3
