Looking for Bikepacking Buddies Near Santa Cruz, CA (Includes Bay Area)

Hi,

I'm a long time MTB guy, and I moved from San Francisco down to Santa Cruz CA a few months ago. I am looking for some bikepacking buddies. I have one up in the Bay Area so if you live up there, that's nearby and cool too.

For MTB, I ride a Santa Cruz Nomad. But for bikepacking, I ride my cyclocross bike, a Surly Cross Check with rear rack bags.

I am fairly new to bikepacking though it's long been a dream of mine to combine backpacking and riding. I've done two overnighters up in Marin, and looking to do more.

I'm interested in long trips at some point, but to start, I'd really be into doing some rides near Santa Cruz. I'm trying to plan an adventure for May, please let me know if you are interested in joining/planning. The current idea would be to travel from my place in SC (I live in the Seabright district) up in to the mountains, and then descend back via Wilder Ranch and the coastal trails. This would allow us to see as much of the natural ecosystem as possible - Redwoods, oak hills, coastal brush. Mountains and ocean; 1-2 nights. Maybe camp at Cowell.

More about me:

I work in tech. I come from a BMX background. I like to ride fairly aggressively. I am not the fastest climber but I am willing to suffer and pedal all day long to get in more scenery. I like to pack light but as a foodie I tend to avoid freeze dried food if I can (of course, if we do any real backcountry stuff, that is another story). I am a damn good caveman style campfire cook. I like to have a few celebratory drinks after getting to camp. I prefer singletrack but I'm totally stoked riding on fire roads, jeep trails or paved roads, though I prefer avoid cars when possible when planning routes. I have decent gear.

Contact me if you live in the area.