nostatic analog xmas tour '08
 

ok, I'm taking the comments about not giving enough advance notice for my brief Boston visit to heart. In this case you get to help plan the xmas bike tour. The g/f and I were planning to ride down to baja for the week between xmas and new years, but instead we're pondering a wander in the US. Basically two options, either north or east. We're going to either stay in motels or with friends of hers along the way, but figure this is a great excuse for various pelicans to get together for a beer/food in various places.

Probably looking at about 300-400 miles per day. The downside to going north is the likelihood of dealing with weather. But if we went that way, thinking of Bay Area, Portland, maybe Seattle but that might be pushing it for a 7-8 day round trip.

If we headed east it would likely be Phoenix, New Mexico, then back. Texas is probably a bit too far.

Suggestions welcome. Would probably leave 24Dec, get back to LA on the 1st or so.

Hey man can you fix the board? lol, I have been trying to post, it is logging me out... then I cant post.... Todd, are you sure you want to go east at that time of the year on a bike??? I would go as far south as possible... Baja sounds cool...

Well if you come into Texas let me know.

Wife recently took up the Bass so will trade lodging for a lesson or two;)

You still coming to FL???

Byron, yes, getting into Orlando around 7:30pm on Monday the 1st. Fly back out 7pm on Tuesday and am in a workshop all day. Would certainly be up for a drink Monday night if the location isn't too far. I'm staying near UCF. I'll be ready for one after flying LAX-ORD-MCO.

If the weird weather (unseasonably warm and dry) keeps up traveling north might not be a bad idea.

On my resent vacation to Morro bay they were having a heat wave (in the mid 70's)... I had to go out and buy some T-shirts and sun screen.

However it would suck if you got up to San Francisco and winter decided to show up.

Phoenix is an easy six hours on the bike from LA. If you want to see some scenery, you can either drop down from I-10 on 95 to I-8 or up 95 and take back roads near Parker, AZ. I did this last week and it was a very good decision. SF was ridiculously warm last weekend. I was overdressed on the bike, but I froze my butt of from Bakersfield all the way to Barstow. I think you should shoot for Big Bend National Park. It's the most remote of the parks and supposed to be amazing. Great scenery along the way too.

warm in texas and the music's good in austin...

hmm, 1200 miles from LA to Seattle. Looks easy to break up LA-SF-Medford-Portland-Seattle. Weather might really blow though

1400 miles from LA to Austin. The LA-PHX run is easy, then another day to Las Cruces. But then almost 700 miles into Austin and no obvious middle stopping point. Might be a little bit of a push. Plus that would be all slab. Up north would take hwy 1 north of SF as I haven't been past Petaluma.

West Texas is a haul, but you could bump south a bit and skirt big bend, which is going to be my first road trip on the thrux this fall with a buddy.

Take US 90 instead of I-10. You head through a lot of neat places like Marfa, the new Santa Fe. You can swing through Big Bend. And it is warmer, emphasis on the "er". West Texas is desert and can get pretty cold. And it has not been a warm fall.

Todd, I know you'll dig Marfa and Austin! Seriously!

FWIW, I froze my nuts off riding from Phoenix on I-10 until about Palm Springs last week. Be sure to dress well. You could get a lot farther than Las Cruces from Phoenix in one day. I think I set my one day record so far last week riding home from Bakersfield. I could have gone a lot longer too, but 600 miles was enough. Some of those nuts do 1000 miles in a day. I dunno if I could handle that.

BTW, what days are you gonna be gone? I was gonna leave a car at your place on 12/23.

Smart move, don't do Baja. It's very, very dangerous there with the rampant drug wars, kidnappings and car jackings. We're seriously thinking about not doing Dawn Treader there, the 3rd of the Chronicles of Narnia movies that we're doing. We may go to Australia instead.

Plenty of fun roads on the coast.

What's the goal? Distance, scenery on the way, curves on the road, #of free drinks...?

We do this run a lot. All I can say is that the I-5 is not much fun. Slow and boring all the way. The coast is the way to go for a good ride, but you have to plan on a much longer trip.

In fact I would not do the I-5 on a bike. You want a big comfortable car with a good sound system for the I-5.

The last one. I don't care about the miles. Scenery and curves are a plus but I can get those at home. Mostly it is just to get out of dodge and serve as an excuse for various pelicans to get together in person rather than digitally.

Rick, we wouldn't leave until the 24th or 25th at the earliest. No worries with the car. Might actually be able to fit it in the garage so we don't have to worry about parking issues.

See the map

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/c.../westtexas.jpg

if you decide to do bb/marfa let me know and we can try to figure out how to meetup and ride back together, if you're so inclined. I'm pretty boring but my friend is a very interesting guy--lifelong reporter and political author. He's interested in doing it and this gives us some reason to go sooner.

Jack

Always welcome up in the Seattle area, but it 23 degrees this morning at my house 85 miles east of there.......

Unfortunately for me, I'm headed to so cal the 24th so we'd pass in transit. However, there are a whole bunch of folk around the Bay and in Sactown. You might get stuck there.