LA to Kansas City, 4 days, Mar 27th weekend, route suggestions?...

DavidSoine · 03-13-2005, 04:45 AM

A friend recently won a bike on Ebay - in LA. Of course when he was telling me about it I put on my serious LDrider face and said "why not fly out and ride it back?..." The look on his face showed that he was dismissing that option so I put on my best 'allknowing BMW LDrider' grin and chided "you want me to ride out there to meet you?...then we can ride back together"

Well guys he called my bluff!

Leaving LA Saturday, Mar 26th. Need to be in KC on Tuesday nite. Any suggestions on the best route for scenery, road less travelled, etc that will still allow us to make it back in 4 days? (I'm thinking AZ/NM of course) Are there any spots that must be avoided? Of course I want to stay off the expressway as much as possible and still meet the trip timing.

TIA,

Dave
99 R11S

ckcarr · ckcarr's Garage

You want scenery you need to work your way to Vegas (straight shot) but then to St. George and through Zions, Rt. 12 in Utah, Capital Reef, Moab, Blah, Blah Then into Colorado and plenty of other routes. Can expound if this is of interest.

Once out of Colorado on I-70 you can shoot home.

bikerfish1100 · 03-13-2005, 05:55 AM

it's great roads once you reach the Rockies. but keep a close eye on the weather forecast. it was close to 70 and bright sunshine yesterday in the Front Range (350 miles, mostly back roads for me). today i'm looking at 4 inches of snow on my deck. ya gotta love it!

DavidSoine · 03-13-2005, 10:22 AM

I was thinking the Utah-Colorado route has high weather risk that time of year...(?) I can afford a day but not a week of "snowed in"!

Dave

DavidSoine · 03-13-2005, 10:30 AM

I was thinking the Utah-Colorado route has high weather risk that time of year...am I right? I can afford a day but not a week of "snowed in"! - other than that I desperately want to ride through Utah...just maybe not this trip. (?)

Dave

bikerfish1100 · 03-13-2005, 10:42 AM

most of the nasty stuff comes in with some degree of notification - but you can't gauge the weather by looking at the sky. and you have ot pay attentio to the exact route you're doing- it could be clear and 60 over one pass, but another one 50 miles away is snowing and 30.

blakebird · 03-13-2005, 12:20 PM

It's iffy no matter which way you go now.

I've ridden over a cold and clear I-70 this time of year, been shunted around the long way by weather too... and I've been caught in raging snowstorms when I least expected it. Throw a dart and dress warm

I've ridden down to ABQ and over as well, but Raton Pass (CO/NM border) can be treacherous too - and gets hammered on short notice.
I rode in the mountains with Bikerfish1100 and a small group yesterday in great weather....and there's 4" of snow in my front yard now - we're on the southern edge of Denver.

Keep an eye on the weather and enjoy....(I rode back from Santa Fe last week and it was nice, but it snowed the morning I left, even leaving that section of I-25 east of SF in the "uh oh" category)

Hi_Fi_Guy · Hi_Fi_Guy's Garage

You can go through AZ & NM and avoid I-40 and with some careful planning ride a lot of old Route 66. You'll end up coming in to Missouri down South where there are some awesome Ozark roads.

You may want to spend a day at Lake of the Ozarks to unwind before heading back to good ole KCMO. If not there are plenty of interesting roads from SW MO giving you a straight shot up to KC and saving time over the lake route.

You might check with Road Runner magazine too. They did a Southern Missouri run a few issues back and said it was some of the best roads they had even ridden.

Got get back to KC someday myself and eat some ribs

shannonnunley · 03-13-2005, 02:17 PM

Two things..... I've ridden a bunch of Southern Missouri and it is sweet..... not as good as Norther Arkansas though.

If you come through Phoenix and need a place to crash, let me know. I have a garage and a couch with your name all over it.

blakebird · 03-13-2005, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shannonnunley

If you come through Phoenix and need a place to crash, let me know

This one's just too tough to let go....

But I agree with passing thru NW Arkansas, and running up thru MO. That's good stuff.

DavidSoine · 03-14-2005, 12:01 PM

Any recommendations for Arizona/NM routes?

best,

Dave
99 R11S

shannonnunley · 03-14-2005, 03:16 PM

Yes.... come through Phoenix and head out east on the 60. From there to globe and head east.....

$**** just call me @ 602.228.7084 and I'll talk you into letting me take you on the tour.