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- This page is for archival purposes
and used to further introduce visitors to Sanborn Hostel's commitment
to programming in years past.
- FEBRUARY:
- Wednesday, February 11: Gourmet Dinner Night, Campbell: Perk
up the wintery mood with a delicious dinner tonight at Chez Sovan,
2425 South Bascom Ave. (1/2 mile south of Campbell Ave./Pruneyard),
Campbell. This is the Cambodian food that is a Santa Clara treasure;
the restaurant is #1 favorite of almost everyone. Meet there
at 6:30 p.m. ($10-11).
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- Thursday, February 26: Potluck
and Slide Show Night, Sanborn Park Hostel, Saratoga:
The touring cyclist Keith Giles takes wonderful photos on wonderful
trips. Tongiht's show takes us down the Rhine from its' head
waters to Budapest. Potluck is at 6:30 p.m. -bring whatever food
you like-, slide show afterwards. Sanborn Park Hostel, Saratoga.
(408)741-9555.
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- MARCH:
- Saturdays, March 7, 14, 28 and April 4,
11, 18, 25: Hostel Work Parties, Sanborn Park Hostel,
Saratoga: Help is needed to pick up storm debris--branches
, branches, branches!--on the Hostel grounds. If it isn't raining,
come any time after 9 a.m. for this easy and relatively fun work
in the clean mountain air. Lunch, drinks, and snacks provided.
Sanborn Park Hostel, Saratoga. 408-741-9555. (After all the debris
is cleaned up--and the storms have stopped--we can even do Spring
planting.)
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- Sunday, March 8: Litter
Clean-up on Highway 9. Meet at 9:30 a.m. at the Hostel
to put on CalTrans vest and hats, then go by van to the roadway.
We finish by noon and return to the Hostel for lunch (provided).
Rain postpones one week, maybe even two. If in doubt, call (408)
741-9555.
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- Thursday, March 12: Gourmet
Dinner Night, San Jose. An excellent restaurant is Habana,
serving Cuban food at 238 Race Street (one block north of West
San Carlos Street - use Meridian or Race Street exits from Highway
282), San Jose. Meet there at 6:30. p.m. for an absolutely delicious
meal featuring such tropical specialties ( yucca, lechon, plantains)
($10-15).
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- Tuesday, March 24: Budget Travel
Information Program, Santa Clara. Each year Santa Clara
Valley AYH offers a program on traveling inexpensively. What
to take (and not to take), how to pack, safety tips, rail passes,
hostels (of course!) --all are featured in this talk and slide
show. We answer your questions, maybe inspire you to travel a
little farther or a little sooner. The program is free and the
public is heartily invited to the Santa Clara Library's Community
Room, 2635 Homestead Road (near San Tomas Expressway), Santa
Clara, 7 to 9 p.m.
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- Thursday, March 26: Potluck
and Slide Show Night, Sanborn Park Hostel, Saratoga: The
show will go on, we promise! Potluck at 6:30 p.m. (bring any
food), slide show afterwards. Sanborn Park Hostel, Saratoga,
(408)741-9555.
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- Saturday, March 28:
 Whale Watching in
Half Moon Bay. Each year Gray Whales migrate roughly
6000 miles from their Arctic feeding grounds to the warm lagoons
of Baja. Their migration path along the California coast provides
excellent viewing opportunities for seeing these creatures. Join
us on March 28 from 9:00 am to noon aboard the 56 foot Salty
Lady and venture 1-12 miles into whale's migration path.
This is an excellent opportunity to photograph these creatures
so please come prepared with extra film. After the trip interested
folks can join us for lunch in Half Moon Bay. Reservations for
whale watching are required and space is limited to the first
twelve individuals. Please send payment of $29.00 (per person)
and a self addressed stamped envelope with return address to
Sanborn Park Hostel for confirmation of your reservation and
additional information. Volunteer trip leader: Mark Hougardy.
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- Monday, March 30: Budget
Travel Information Program, San Jose. See the March 24
listing, but tonight come to the Community Room of San Jose's
Santa Teresa Branch Library, 290 International Circle (alongside
Santa Teresa and Cottle). San Jose. The time is 7-9 p.m.
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- APRIL:
- Tuesday, April 7: Gourmet
Dinner Night, Mountain View. One of the earliest Thai
restaurants to come to Santa Clara Valley--now there are many--was
Bangkok Spoon, 702 Villa Street (one block off Castro Street),
Mountain View. It's still serving excellent Thai food, so meet
there are 6:30 for a good meal ($10).
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- Saturday, April 18:
 Berry Creek Falls
Loop Hike, Big Basin State Park. One
of the most stunning hikes in Big Basin. The 10.5 mile loop hike
traverses the Skyline to the Sea and Sunset trails which include:
the remarkable Golden Falls, Silver Falls and the 65 foot Berry
Creek Falls which plunge over a moss and fern covered cliff.
The streams should be gorged with spring run-off so all the falls
should be very impressive. The mostly old growth redwood park
will be very lush and provide great sightseeing and nature viewing.
This is not considered to be an easy hike, plenty of ups and
downs will be encountered. The hike will take roughly six hours
to complete. Meet in front of the Big Basin Park Headquarters,
just off of 236 "Big Basin Highway" at 9:00 am. Please
allow for one hour travel time from San Jose area. Parking fee
of $5 dollars in required. Reservations are not necessary, just
show up. Volunteer trip leader: Mark Hougardy.
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- Saturday, April 25:
 Above and Below Pinnacles
National Monument. Remnants of an ancient volcano the
now unworldly spires of eroded lava have created a terrain great
for hiking, bouldering and underground exploration. Join us on
Saturday, 25 April for an 8 mile loop hike over the mountainous
pinnacles then descend into a cool, dark, underground quarter
mile long cave. Flashlights are required. Be prepared to get
your feet wet as a small stream will flowing through the cave.
The trail shortly returns to the ranger station and parking lot.
This is a fun but strenuous trip. Be prepared for bright sun
and temperatures on the warmer side, a light jacket may be needed
for the caves. Meet at the Sanborn Park Hostel where we will
determine car pool arrangements and depart promptly at 7:30 am.
Maps to PNM will be provided. Please allow for a two hour travel
time. Regroup at the Park Headquarters between 9:30 and 9:45
a.m. Day use fee of $5 per vehicle. Recommended all contribute
$5 to car pool expenses. Reservations not required, just show
up at the hostel. Volunteer trip leader: Mark Hougardy.
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- Sunday April 26: Litter Clean-up
on Highway 9, Saratoga. We clean our adopted highway
again today. See March 8 lisiting. Rain postpones for one or
even two weeks.
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- Thursday, April 30: Pot Luck
and Slide Show Night, Sanborn Park Hostel, Saratoga.
Whenever Betsy Schwartz brings us slides of her latest adventure,
we have an eager crowd. Betsy has just returned from Kenya where
she went to build houses with Habitat for Humanity! Come
for pot-luck at 6:30--bring any food you like--and a great show.
Sanborn Park Hostel, Saratoga. 408-741-9555.
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- Wednesday, May 13: Gourmet Dinner
Night, San Jose. We have a most interesting new
discovery tonight: very good Haitian food at CeSoir, 5138 Monterey
Road at Edenview (1.2 miles north of Blossom Hill), San Jose.
This Caribbean cuisine features assorted fish and meat dishes,
lost of vegetables, plantains, rice, and beans. The servings
are large and amazingly inexpensive ($6.50-$8 for most meals).
Take Highway 85 or 101 and turn north on Monterey Road for fast
access for north or west. Meet there at 6:30 p.m.
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- MAY:
- May 16 and 17:
 Hiking and Overnight
in the Marin Headlands. The Marin Headlands offers breathtaking
views of the San Francisco area and Pacific Ocean. Join us on
Saturday, May 16 as we explore the area around Point Bonita Lighthouse
before hiking to Hawk Camp which overlooks the Gerbode valley.
Sunday, we appreciate the 360 degree views of the bay area the
Bobcat Trail offers before continuing to Rodeo Beach for an afternoon
of beachcombing and exploration. One possible side trip includes
the Marin Mammal Center which rehabiliatates marine creatures.
Total hiking distance is 8 miles. Reservations required. Trip
is organized as a service to Sanborn Hostel.
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- JUNE:
- Saturday, June 6:
 Kayaking and Nature
Viewing in Elkhorn Slough. Kayaking Elkhorn Slough is
a unique opportunity to view migratory waterfowl, shorebirds,
harbor seals and possibly rafts of sea otters. Join us on Saturday,
June 6 as we venture out in kayaks to discover the abundance
of Elkhorn Slough. Elkhorn Slough is one of the few relatively
undisturbed coastal wetlands remaining in California. The slough
extends about six miles inland and consists of some 2,500 acres.
Trip lasts 5 hours. Reservations required. Trip is organized
as a service to American Youth Hostel.
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- Sunday, June 7: Litter Clean-up
on Highway 9, Saratoga. We enjoy keeping the highway
to our hostel clean, so jin us today. Meet at 9:30 at the Sanborn
Park Hostel to put on CalTrans cests and hats. We go by van to
the raodway, work till noon, and return to the Hostel for lunch
(provided). 408-741-9555.
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- Thursday, June 20: Gourmet Dinner
Night, Santa Clara. At Pizza and More the "More"
is much more prominebt that the pizza. There is a wide verairety
of Middle Eastern items and an excellent Middle Eastern buffet
($6.50), all in a casual family atmosphere. Meet at 6:360 at
2325 El Camino Real (near (San Tomas Expressway), Santa Clara.
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- Saturday, June 20:
- Angel Island Day Hike and Picnic. Join us on
the last day of Spring as we depart on the Tiberon Ferry for
the beautiful and historic Angel Island State Park, a unique
greenbelt in such highly populated surroundings. Bring a day
pack with foods for a picnic atop Mount Livermore which offers
breathtaking 360-degree views of the the Bay. Be prepared for
5+ miles of hiking on this all-day trip. Reservations are not
required but a call to leader Mark Hougardy is appreciated, 408-793-5274.
Meet at the Ferry Terminal in Tiburon to depart on the 10:00
am ferry. Expect two hour drive from south bay. Directions: Past
the Golden Gate Bridge, drive 101 north, take the Tiberon exit
(Hwy-131) and drive 10 minutes. Look for $5.00 a day parking
area located next to Library and Home Savings Bank on left. Walk
several blocks blocks to STOP sign, ferry on left. The trip is
organized as a service to AYH.
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- Thursday, June 25: Pot-Luck
and Slide Show Night, Sanborn Park Hostel. Slides tonight
will feature the Pacific Northwest--Olympic National Park and
Brithish Colombia. It will be an excellent show by Donal Wilkinson
after our 6:30 pot-luck dinner. Bring any food you like to the
Sanborn Park Hostel, Saratoga. 408-741-9555.
-
- JULY:
- Saturday-Sunday, July
11-12:
 A Weekend of Sequoia's,
Seals and Sanborn. The summer at
Sanborn provides rich opportunities to meet others from distant
lands and explore the abundant areas around the hostel. Join
us on July 11 and 12 for a weekend experiencing "Sequoias,
Seals and Sanborn" Saturday
morning we depart the hostel for Ano Nuevo State Reserve to hike
among they dunes and view the massive bull Elephant Seals. Some
bulls can be up to 16 feet in length! The afternoon will be spent
beach combing and exploring the coastline.In the evening we return
to Sanborn Park Hostel for grilling
your favorite food on the bar-bq, meeting new folks, sitting
around the fire, watching deer in a nearby field, and telling
stories. Creative thoughts and those young at heart are welcome.
Sunday, we head to Big Basin Redwoods State
Park to hike the 10 mile Berry Creek Falls Loop. This loop includes
the remarkable Golden Falls, Silver Falls and the 65 foot
Berry Creek Falls which plunge over a moss and fern covered cliff.
Day hikers welcome. Trips depart the hostel at 9:00 am. Overnight
reservations recommend, fee per person is $8.50. Call the hostel
at 408-741-0166 for reservations. Trips are organized as a service
to American Youth Hostel.
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- Tuesday, July 14: Gourmet Dinner
Night, San Jose. We return to the Red Sea restaurant,
North First Street at Taylor (enter parking lot in rear from
East Taylor Street), San Jose, for an Ethiopian dinner at 6:30.
The Food is excellent, and we always enjoy our time there (410).
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- Sunday, July 26: Litter Clean-up
on Highway 9, Saratoga. During the Summer there is more
litter on the road, unfortunately. So wed clean it up. Meet at
9:30 at the Sanborn Park Hostel. After our work we'll have lunch
(provided) at the Hostel. Remember, many hands make light work!
408-741-9555.
Thursday, July 30: Pot Luck at
Slide Show Night, Sanborn Park Hostel, Saratoga. Tonight's
topic is yet to be announced, but we know the show will be good.
Gather at the Sanborn Park Hostel for pot-luck dinner at 6:30--bring
any food you like--the slide show follows. 408-741-9555.
- AUGUST:
- Thursday-Monday August 6-10:
- Lassen's Lava Under Lunar Light. Lassen Volcanic
National Park offers boiling hot springs, steam vents, glaciated
canyons, volcanic craters, lava flows, meadows, lakes and forests.
Trip includes three days hiking (20 miles total) in the backcountry
exploring mountain lakes, lava flows and cinder cones. Night
light will be courtesy of August's full moon. Reservations are
required. Trip is organized as a service to American Youth Hostel.
Wednesday, August 12: Gourmet
Dinner Night, Santa Clara. A really good Indian restaurant
is Shilpa, 3530 El Camino Real (one block of Lawrence Expressway),
Santa Clara. We'll meet there at 6:30 for a fine dinner (10-12).
Thursday, August 27: Pot-Luck
and Slide Show Night, Sanborn Park Hostel, Saratoga.
The subject of tonight's slide show is still a surprise, but
know that there will be a fine program after our 6:30 pot-luck
dinner--bring any food you like. Sanborn Park Hostel, Saratoga.
- Sunday, August 30:
- Annual Barbecue Plus Nature Hikes at the Sanborn Park
Hostel, Saratoga. The Annual Barbecue is a tradition
of many many years. We enjoy the live Andean of "Aymuray",
a quartet playing the beautiful music of the Andes on guitar,
flutes, and percussion instruments. Under our redwood trees the
music is especially magnificent. We eat barbecued chicken, three
different salads, garlic bread, the famous stuffed mushrooms,
dessert and beverages, all for only $7 (half price for children
under 12). But you must make reservations no later than Friday,
August 28, by calling 408-741-0166 or 408-293-3787. An added
treat this year is the opportunity for nature hiking with Mark
Hougardy. Right here in Sanborn Park he'll point out the food
preparation ares of native people for hundreds, possibly thousands
of years, the 30 feet of earth movement that occurred during
the 1906 quake, the cathedral groves of redwoods, and more. Hiking
is from noon til 1:30 and after 4:30. Music and food is from
1:30 to 4:30.
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- SEPTEMBER:
- Thursday, September 10:
- Gourmet Dinner Night, Campbell. Out all-time
favorite restaurant is Chez Sovan, 2425 South Bascom Avenue at
Dry Creek (1/2 mile) south of Campbell Avenue, Campbell, to which
we return often for incredibly delicious Cambodian food. Join
us there at 6:30, ($11-12)
-
- Sunday, September 13:
- Litter Clean -Up on Highway 9, Saratoga. We
clean our adopted highway again today-it gets particularly littered
during the Summer months, unfortunately. Meet at 9:30 at the
Sanborn Park Hostel to out on CalTrans garb and go to our roadway
by van. We pick up litter till noon and return to the Hostel
for lunch (provided). 408-741-9555.
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- Thursday, September 24:
- Pot-Luck and Slide Show Night. Sanborn Park
Hostel, Saratoga. Brad Carlson travels often to exotic Eastern
Islands. His slides tonight will take us along to the "Spice
Islands" of Indonesia, Ternate and Bandas, source of clove,
nutmeg, and mace, and to the islands east of Bali, Nusa Tenggara.
After pot-luck dinner at 6:30 (bring any dish you wish), we'll
enjoy the fascinating show. Sanborn Park Hostel, Saratoga. 408-741-9555.
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- Tuesday, October 13:
- Gourmet Dinner Night, San Jose. A recent
new discovery is CeSoir where we enjoyed very good Haitian food
in May., This Caribbean cuisine features assorted fish and meat
dishes, lots of vegetables, plantains, rice, and beans. The servings
are large and quite inexpensive ($7-9). So let's eat there again,
5138 Monterey Road at Edenview (1.2 miles north of Blossom Hill)
San Jose. Take Highway 85 or 101 and turn north on Monterey Road
for fast access for north or west. Meet there at 6:30.
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- OCTOBER:
- Thursday, October 29:
- Pot-Luck and Slide Show Night. Sanborn Park
Hostel: Track gorillas and chimpanzees in the rain forest of
Uganda with Betsy Schwartz and her travel companion Jane DeJarnette.
Then feel the excitement as you see a few slides of river rafting
on the Ugandan headwaters of the Ugandan headwaters or the River
Nile, the roughest one-day river rafting trip on the planet!
Be prepared to model some Ugandan clothing-fun to admire beautiful
fabrics. Bring any dish you wish for pot-luck at 6:30. The very
brief Annual Meeting of Member will take place during the
meal, and the great slide show follows. Sanborn Park Hostel,
Saratoga. 408-741-9555.
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- NOVEMBER:
- Sunday November 1:
- Litter Clean-up on Highway 9, Saratoga:.Once
again we clean our adopted highway and make the road to the Hostel
look good. Meet at 9:30 at the Sanborn Park Hostel to put on
CalTrans vests and hats and then go to the roadway by van. We'll
finish by noon and return to the Hostel for lunch (provided).
- Wednesday, November 11 Gourmet Dinner Night, Campbell: A
recently new Chinese restaurant is highly recommended, so let's
eat tonight at SuGia, 1651 West Campbell avenue (across Nob Hill),
Campbell. Meet there at 6:30 for a good meal ($10).
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- Thursday, November 26:
- Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner, Sanborn Park Hostel,
Saratoga. Years ago we had a Thanksgiving dinner at the
Sanborn Park Hostel so the Hostel guests hat night could have
a real American expedience. Our traditional turkey, cranberry
sauce and pumpkin pie were foods to the Norwegians and Japanese
we had staying with us that year. Our traditional dinner brings
together the Hostel's overnight guests and local people with
families far away. The menu is turkey and stuffing, cranberry
sauce, mashed potatoes, yams, green peas, rolls, pumpkin pies,
cranberry cake an beverages, all for $5 plus a non-perishable
food item for Second Harvest. But we must limit our dinners to
100, so call early for reservations. You must make reservations
no later than Monday, November 23, by calling 4018-741-0166
or 408-293-3787. Dinner is at 5pm at the Sanborn Park Hostel.
- DECEMBER:
- Thursday, December 10:
- Gourmet Dinner Night, Santa Clara. It has become
a December tradition to dine at Joao's Restaurant for the delicious
tummy-warming feijoada, national dish of Brazil. This
is a thick black bean "stew," and it is served with
farofa (toasted manioc flour), rice, and kale (Cooked
in a very special way). This is a truly excellent meal, a treat,
so meet at 6:30 at Joao's restaurant, 57 Washington Street at
Newhall (take Bascom Avenue North from Highway 880), Santa Clara.
($12)
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- Sunday, December 13:
- Ainsley House Tour, Campbell. The Ainsley House
is more than a beautiful home from 1925, more than an old house
cheerfully decorated for the holiday season. It is a piece of
Santa Clara Valley history with original furnishings and even
kitchen goods from the 30's. It is open Thursday-Sunday from
noon to 4 p.m. through December 20. We'll meet there, 300 Grant
Street in downtown Campbell, at 1:00 to tour together (but you
could go on your own anytime). Admission fee is $6, $5 for seniors,
$2.50 ages 7-17.
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- Friday, December 25:
- Traditional Christmas Dinner, Sanborn Park Hostel.
Our traditional dinner brings together the Hostel's overnight
guests and local people with families far way. The menu is turkey
and stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, yams, green peas,
rolls, pumpkin pie, cranberry cake, and beverages, all for $5
plus a non-perishable food item for Second Harvest. You MUST
make reservations NO LATER THAN Tuesday, December 22, by calling
408-741-0166 or 408-293-3787. Dinner is at 4 p.m. at the Sanborn
Park Hostel, Saratoga.
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- Thursday, December 31:
- NO Pot Luck and Slide Show Night!!!
- New Year's Eve falls on what should
be our Pot-Luck and Slide Show Night. New Year's Eve is a night
to stay off the road--NO pot-luck and slide show tonight. Be
safe, Happy New Year!
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