californicators... some input please.
 

I am planning next year's escape.

I have always wanted to ride the Pacific highway, and I have a buddy in washington that owes me a beer. (i also need to get out to Illinois, but im leaning towards the ocean for unkown reasons) so im working on Plan A.

day 1 to sandiego
day 2 to something like monteray
day 3 somewhere near the northern edge of CA
day 4 seattle


hard to put much stock in the google maps drive times... but if i cling to the coast, i probably need another day in there huh? this will be a solo ride on a GS with street tires.

are there chunks of the coast that are better skipped for something a little bit east?

what time of year would you do this ride?

should i expect to find camping areas out there? Im unreasonably conditioned to think of all of Cali as being like LA i think.

I thought the department put you on motorcycle probation since your last two trips to CO resulted in desk duty? Or did they just restrict CO?

truns out that soccer is much more dangerous.

Well, you will go really far to prove a point. :)

someone has to do it.

when im too old to be a bad eample, i will give bad advice.

West Coast
 

I just did this ride in July. Portland OR (~180m south of Seattle) to San Diego. I took 5 days to do it (~1,600m the route I took) and wish I had taken 8 but I also went inland and through the mountains (Hwy 3 and 36 in CA) then out to the coast.

No not all of CA is like LA. Only from south of the Grape Vine to Mexico N to S and coast line to the "mountains" W to E. Lots of camping all over where ever you go. If you want to camp on the coast reserve now.

Living in Oregon I would have to say add at least one day to see the Oregon coast and inland if you can. The N CA coast and OR coasts are very different and although I am slanted to OR (I lived in CA for over 20 yrs) everyone I have talked to touring like the rugged OR coast best. WA coast is similar to OR in many parts.

If you want to stay out of the rain on the n CA, OR and WA portion after July 4th has the best odds for sunny or at least not raining weather. It stops raining in N OR up to the Canada boarder on July 5th 9 out of 10 years.

Some things I noticed;
Unless you're going on the freeways take Google times and add 50% so 3 hours becomes 4.5.

If you are taking Hwy 1 in CA start early to get ahead of the tourists that start piling up on the road about 10am. This applies to weekdays might be earlier on weekends.

If you have to slab it use 101 and not I5. At least 101 gives some scenery.

Ride over the Golden Gate bridge and if you have time park the bike and walk it at least half way.

google is optimistic out there then? ok. here in AZ, google says 4 hours, it takes 2.5.

this is the google route i have whipped up so far...

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=I-10+E&daddr=San+Diego,+CA+to:34.43307,-119.8758+to:35.80932,-121.36094+to:CA-1+S+to:38.39458,-123.08844+to:38.81745,-123.59944+to:US-101+N+to:42.85793,-124.47063+to:44.77305,-124.07115+to:46.44969,-123.87247+to:US-101+E&hl=en&geocode=FTD_5wEdyl9p-Q%3BFUEy8wEdeVIE-SlLHpKtD1PZgDF53xX9_SE6DQ%3BFS5oDQIdKNfa-ClRn5kisUDpgDEVRXf3Tsr-Kw%3BFShoIgId1C3E-CkZrJhD17uSgDF1KeHm7TQ0sw%3BFZZhLgIdXF28-A%3BFdTaSQIdyNGp-CnrHPRf_J2GgDHBN5bVkJgNgw%3BFapOUAIdsAWi-Ck5-Sx7QTuBgDHjIO2WAYvJPg%3BFdovgAIdgsmY-A%3BFcr1jQIdmrqU-CkdHbdTa8fEVDHqfmU6yEfxGw%3BFbouqwIdEtOa-CmHwAeir33qVDHDjbp1CDxICA%3BFRrExAIdKtud-Ckd7op8caCTVDGaHma-U2CPTA%3BFeJv3QIdpkGY-A&gl=us&mra=dme&mrcr=2,3&mrsp=7&sz=7&via=2,3,5,6,8 ,9,10&sll=42.658202,-123.475342&sspn=4.112037,9.832764&ie=UTF8&ll=42.89 2064,-119.509277&spn=4.09655,9.832764&z=7

except it doesnt work.. hmm, well, off to work. It is workde out to stay right on the coast the whole way.

fixt it

Do stay on the coast all the way up.

It takes longer..sometimes a LOT longer, but it's so unlike SV that it could be another dimension.
In some of the places (particularly WA on 101) you could just follow a logging road up into the forest 5 miles and pick a spot to primitive camp. If anyone bothers you (first they have to find you) take out your badge *grin*.

IF we all make it to that time next year without societal upheaval, AND you make it as far as Tacoma (you'll have to pass by to go to Seattle) I could offer you a potent margarita on a deck overlooking the Tacoma Narrows. I have a couple of good Ft. Geshundhidt stories from my days at EPG:)

If you want to hit some nice twistys with little or no traffic take a look at 36 to 3. I got a bit bored of the coast and the traffic along it. You could take 36/3 up to I5 to 62 and swing out to Crater Lake to 138 to 38 and back on the Central OR coast. Great riding!

Yeah... you might want to take a tad bit longer than 4 days... at least if you want to stay below 100mph AND want to see where you are actually riding.

It took me 3 days to reach the NoCal area last year... all day riding with a few breaks/photo stops thrown in...

4 days will get you here and let you have some good riding in my neck of the woods...

sounds like a great ride coming up Lightfighter SmileWavy

I'm thinkin about 6 up and 6 back. i dont really wanna have to do 100 anywhere.

Too bad the big rally wont be up there again.

Four days of In and Out burgers, hmmmm. If you stop to take pictures Brian, it'll take two extra days. The panoramas don't get much better along that route. Did it in a cage; but, on two wheels would be the ultimate method. Enjoy!

bring rain gear.
you're planning the escape, but you didn't really say how many days you have.
the only real slab you need to ride is from the corner of the 405 and 110 fwys. after that, you can go up the coast and avoid the rest of LA.

i'm gonna call that trip six days if all sails well. once you get up around the santa barbara area, it just keeps getting consistently prettier as you travel farther north. seven would be more comfy.

don't forget your rain gear.
tag ralf for SD, jwilliams for pismo, sand city flyer for monterey, tom for san francisco and i think johnny can help fill in the blanks from there. you'd be mostly covered most of the way i'd guess.

oh, and bring rain gear.

There's a few places between LA and SF that would be much nicer if you got off the 101. Depending which days, I'd be willing to tag along for some of that route, especially the local (to me) parts.

'fornicate this!

Can we change your map?

Would seem to be the easiest way to make suggestions. :)

Hmmm.... Good stuff there.

Highway One below Big Sur does not always survive the winter rains, if it isn't open there are alternative highways a little further east that are far superior to 101.

I did a lot of this ride about two years ago and have driven it in parts several times. On the bike (going north) I got off the PCH at Santa Barbara and took some gorgeous winding back road up to Atascadero and then to Morro Bay. Might have been Rt. 154. Can't recall. From Morro Bay up through Carmel it's VERY slow going. There are lots of turnouts on Hwy. 1, but folks don't always use them, especially to let bikers pass. You can stop at Santa Cruz BMW on the way up to the Bay Area and there are lots of other nice towns along the route too - Los Gatos, etc. There's also a lot of great riding around LA, if you're not on a schedule. Most scenic part is probably from Oxnard to Santa Barbara and then near San Simeon and Cambria. Gas is insanely expensive up there, a good $1.00+ per gallon more than you're used to.

i wonder if i can get "july" off again next year.

I-10 E to Sierra Vista, AZ - Google Maps

bark bark where am i, oh yea, look me up and we'll show you a good time, hehehhe
jeff

Would any part of that loop start getting cold in September? Cold meaning an r2p and an electric vest inadequate to ride a gs. I realize this is subjective....

I used the electric jacket on the coast in May at 42F. I always take it along.

Also I would head north from Sierra Vista, I-10 west, I-5 to Santa Clarita or so then west to Santa Barbara. Missing southern CA of L.A. and below would save some time/mileage you could spend later in the good stuff.

Forget So Cal, cross the Golden Gate Bridge and pick up Highway 1 Shoreline Drive just past Marin, follow it through Point Reyes then take Highway 1 to Bodega Bay from there it is on up Highway 1 for the most beautiful coast and drive you will have in California. Highway 1 ends at Legget where is goes into 101 and that continues on in to the Oregon coast. I lived in So Cal most of my life and the coast there is nothing compared to Nor Cal coast.

IMO your mileage plan is wildly optimistic. I suppose it could be done, but it would be a huge red-ass. We used to do Santa Barbara - Monterey - San Fran - then points north. There is so much to see and do along the coast that you don't want to cheat yourself. I would skip everything below Santa Barbara.

I can't agree more. If it is a vacation to see the area, figure about 35mph average speed. If riding back twisty stuff, figure less, especially if you plan on picture taking, eating and taking in the sights.

Ya, the consensus is 500 mile days on the coast are a bad plan. I need to rethink it with 300 mile checks.

I'd say even 300 miles is about the maximum, every day, day in, day out. If you want to see anything. Even out west in the wide open spaces it becomes ride in the morning, motel at night, eat, then wake up again and go. No relaxation. But everyone is different.

Sounds like my MO, much to the wife's chagrin.

If she is riding her own bike she tells me anything over 250/day and I will have to live with the consequences, and every smart man knows "if mama ain't happy, nobodies happy"

Let me know if you meet up with Jeff, I'll ride down and around and back up to Santa Cruz.... Hwy 1 between him and me is the absolute best part of the coast!

I ride all year central/norcal with no heated gear.
it was warmer here in Sept. than in July!

My only suggestion is to forget the 405 to the 101. Take the 10 west to Santa Monica and get on the Pacific Coast Highway there. Much better ride and a lot less traffic.

And for those who say to forget anything below San Francisco...are you crazy? Yes there maybe traffic but also some of the most beautiful scenery on the west coast.

Adding to the noise, I second what was written about highways 36 and 3. Rode them a few weeks ago. All superlatives apply. You can wear out a set of sticky tires between the two.

Lars,
slo misses you my friend, the town is calling your name:D, L....A....R....S.......:D
when you think about it having a town calling your name is spookie or your on the wrong meds.:eek:
hope everything is resolved,
give a call,
jeff

I'll be sure to ring you, Jeff. Gotta see the doc again in a couple of weeks, trying to figure out this arthritis thing or whatever it is. If I can keep a lid on it I'd like to leave some rubber on Monterey/SLO/SB county roads before the year is up.