Is that possible by train ?

bennn · Post by **bennn** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 5:11 pm

I'm a french student and i'll stay in davis for the next 4 months. The thing is I don't have a car, it is pretty expensive, so is it possible to reach a spot by train or bus or even by bicycle ?

I'm pretty addicted, and it's been a long time now. See what I mean ?

Thank you.

ben

jjm · Post by **jjm** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 6:09 pm

Bennn,

Welcome to the states :)

While traveling through Europe I really enjoyed how easy it was to get around without a car. Some might disagree with this statement, but I don't think anything compares here outside of the immediate surroundings of larger cities.

Check out http://www.kitebeaches.com/kitebeaches/ ... ia%20(USA) and/or Google Earth to get a general idea of where some of the local spots are located. Take for example Sherman Island -- that is the closest spot to you, and I don't think there would be any practical way to get there by public transportation, even if you biked in from say Rio Vista/Antioch?

In San Francisco they have some services like CityCar/Zipcar which you may want to look into. Otherwise, I'd try to find some people on here, or ikitesurf, or try to meet people on campus that you can arrange to meet up with and carpool.

bennn · Post by **bennn** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 6:37 pm

actually no one is kiteboarding at UC davis. I mean freaking NOBODY.

I posted tons of message on forums, asked everybody I met, nothing.

I am looking to buy a motorcycle or a car, but a car is expensive, because I need to get another license, an expensive insurance, a registration, and well I also need to buy the car.

I thought that maybe berkeley area spots should be ok by train. Do you think it is really not ?

thanks

oh by the way if anybody has a car or a scooter or a flying carpet...

flip · Post by **flip** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 8:42 pm

definitely conceivable - the emeryville amtrak station is within walking distance of the pt. emery launch.
but for $30 round trip you'd probably want to wait until the conditions get nice and reliable.

LeMec · Post by **LeMec** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 11:44 pm

You are going to waste a lot of time trying to get to places with bus or train, in addition to carrying your gear etc....The US, and especially, Davis is not the best for public transportation. Plus public transportation is actually not that cheap....
This is America, not France, cars are cheaper here, gas is still cheaper (for the time being). Get yourself some cheap used car, look at www.Craigslist.com. You won't be sorry, otherwise you are going to miss out on a lot sweet days, season is starting now!

kitedavis · Post by **kitedavis** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 12:14 am

There are actually a few kiters in Davis/Woodland, but I guess we are all old people, not students. Maybe we can coordinate and give you a ride when the season gets going. You will just have to put up with the schedule constraints of people who have jobs, kids, and other commitments.

Actually, you will see that Davis has better transit than most U.S. cities of its size, but it will be hard to catch the wind when you have to wait for a train to get you to Berkeley or Emeryville.

Cheers,

Matt

bennn · Post by **bennn** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:04 pm

Cheers matt !

well if you go anytime, anyday, I'll follow you.... just send me an email, or call me 530 400 9392. I will definitely share gas and pay you a beer on the spot if we can work this out !!!!

I guess you go there on week end, rather than week days ?

Thanks for helping me, I hope we'll meet soon.

Ben

bennn · Post by **bennn** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:07 pm

actually for the car, it's difficult considering that i'm only staying there for 3 months.

and I cannot find a 3 months insurance. and I need to take a license test again. and,.,....

adamrod · Post by **adamrod** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:37 pm

Ben,

Here's what you do. maybe this won't work, but look into it. Do a long term car rental from a place like Avis. They do monthly rentals and they include car insurance. It won't be cheap, but if you're truly addicted, it's WORTH IT. the riding we have here is world class. you only live once. you don't want to be an old man some day wishing you'd paid the couple hundred bucks and kited your ass off some summer.

-adam

LionKite · Post by **LionKite** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 5:28 pm

I don`t know what your budget is but don`t rent a car(specially if you r under 25)
Go to a cheap city auction(SF!) and buy yourself a beater for 500-600.
You then got 10 days to get the car registered. Go to DMV and get your license for less than 50$. Get a month to month insurance or something that you can cancel after 3 months (200$)
The whole thing shouldn`t cost you more than 800-900 and you can sell your beater around the same price you paid (they hold their values those beaters!) so when you leave you should only be 300-400 down plus your gas money.
Isn`t it still 300-400$ just for the license in France?

You need a car if you want to enjoy what the Bay has to offer.

Good luck>

BayAreaKiteboarding.com

Is that possible by train ?

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