Mastering the Terrain:

Cycling Sonoma County’s Russian River Region
August 18-22, 2010

This five-day Active Learning Journey in Sonoma County’s gorgeous Russian River region is designed to create an environment for you to ask and answers questions about what you wish to create in your life and to aid you in moving past the blocks and self-imposed limitations that may prevent you from having the life of your design. You will be in the company of other like-minded participants exploring the same terrain together led by two master facilitators and avid cyclists, Ray Arata and Chris Kyle.

In The Saddle: The Details
The ‘Terrain’
Our base will be near Occidental, California, located in the heart of the Russian River region and encompassing both the west Sonoma County wine region and the beautiful Pacific Coast towns of Jenner and Bridgehaven at the mouth of the Russian River. This area is known for its variety of riding terrain and is home to Levi Leipheimer’s Grand Fondo held in October each year. It is considered one of the best cycling regions in the United States. Located just 75 miles north of San Francisco, the Russian River Valley offers a variety of weather, from the hot sun of Sonoma to the cool fog of the Pacific coast.

Arrival and Departure Times
Plan to arrive no later than 5 pm on Wednesday August 18th. We will have an orientation meeting and a short spin around our guest lodge on that first day. We will end no later than 3 pm Sunday August 22nd.

Please plan your flight departure time out of San Francisco airport no earlier than 6 pm on Sunday.

The Rides
There will be four official ride days. Our rides will meander through the country roads, coastal roads and rolling hills of Sebastopol, Bodega Bay, Jenner, Occidental, Monte Rio and Duncan Mills. Rides of varying lengths, ranging from 2 to 3 1/2 hours, will be offered for both the cycling enthusiast and recreational cyclist. We have set up our rides to support all levels of cycling ability. More extensive information on the rides is in our pre-departure packet for registered participants.

The Accommodations
Our base for this program is The Main House Lodge at St. Dorothy’s Rest in Occidental, California. It is a rustic lodge in a forested natural setting that captures the feel and magic of a European mountain lodge. There is a pool and social room with free wi-fi internet available for our use. This well-appointed lodge has 6 double occupancy bedrooms upstairs, one triple- occupancy and a large bunkroom/lounge area downstairs. It has a beautiful main lounge room with fireplace where we will gather for our sessions each day.

The Food
We will eat very well! Our food will be prepared by the resident chef at St Dorothy’s. We will be eating fresh (organic when possible) meals throughout the trip. The meals will be hearty and creative. We encourage you to bring wine and to visit the wine shop in Occidental that features many of the best wines from the region.

The Daily Routine

• Each day will start with an optional meditation (we do a simple guided meditation process to support you in exploring this if you’re new to meditation).
• After a hearty breakfast, we will have a morning group session. These facilitated sessions will support and challenge you to look at you life from a different perspective.
• Each day after our morning group session we will have a ride of approximately 2-3.5 hours depending on cycling skill level.
• Each ride will correlate with the material and focus of the day.
• Down time/free time will follow the ride.
• Each day a second group session will precede dinner.
• Dinner is all about fun and food and connection…no exceptions.

Post Ride – Outcomes for You
What happens when a bunch of guys who like riding and who are at various stages in their life get together, get real, and decide to make the most of their experience in a way that will serve all of them going forward, not just while together but after?

We believe that some or all of these will occur for you:

• Clarity on what you want to create next in your life (your ‘Hot Want’)
• Valuable life insights to serve you going forward
• Deeper awareness of what is needed now in your life and what may be getting in the way of you living more fully and powerfully
• A network of individuals to support you on your path
• Greater purpose and focus in life
• Being part of a community of like-minded men
• Lots of fun and fitness
• Lasting memories

The Preparation for the Ride of Your Life
A questionnaire will be sent out to aid you in focusing on outcomes that you seek for yourself by the end of the ALJ. We ask that you treat this seriously if you want to get the most out of your experience. You will receive a pre-departure packet and a final itinerary 45 days prior to the start date of the program.

What You Get

• 4 nights lodging in double occupancy rooms
• All meals (Wednesday Dinner through Sunday lunch)
• Facilitated group sessions every day
• One-on-one sessions during the ALJ
• 4 post-ALJ facilitated group calls  held weekly

The Cost of the Program
The price of the program is $1295 per person all-inclusive except for airfare and other transportation to our Lodge. A deposit of $300 is required to hold your spot and is non-refundable inside of 30 days from the date of the trip.
SPECIAL PRICE for August 2010: $995.00
Please click on the link to register.

Join us on this extraordinary adventure!
Call us at 415-516-2202 or email Ray at rarata@ascendantcompany.com if you have any questions or want to reserve your spot.