California Input

**schoeney** · 01-29-2014, 07:33 AM

Hoping to get your input......

I am planning to ride the California Coast from Crescent City to San Luis Obispo then cut over to Death Valley and head back home criss crossing the Sierras back to Washington. I was hoping to get some ideas from the members as to your favorite stretches of road, interesting places to stop, and of course good food! Hoping for April but not set in stone.

I don't plan on riding any interstates until I get back into Oregon.

I have driven most of this in a car 30 years ago but never ridden it on a bike (except the Redwood Rally portion a couple years ago- Crescent City through the Avenue of the Giants.)

Thanks for your help.

I may bring the wife, if I do she will probably ride the coast portion then fly back from SoCal.

Man, I can,t believe I haven't started a thread since October

waterman · 01-29-2014, 04:00 PM

Talk to Teri Conrad or Brad.

cactusjack · 01-29-2014, 04:35 PM

When I returned home from Crescent City, I stayed on the 101 to Willits, then went inland towards Sacramento, then down through the East Bay into San Jose. I picked up the 101 again in SJ and stayed on it all the way into Los Angeles. If i'd had more time, I would have liked to stay on the PCH all the way south. I'm sure it would have been cooler.

**schoeney** · 01-29-2014, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cactusjack

When I returned home from Crescent City, I stayed on the 101 to Willits, then went inland towards Sacramento, then down through the East Bay into San Jose. I picked up the 101 again in SJ and stayed on it all the way into Los Angeles. If i'd had more time, I would have liked to stay on the PCH all the way south. I'm sure it would have been cooler.

I am thinking PCH/1 all the way for the best scenery.

cactusjack · 01-29-2014, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schoeney

I am thinking PCH/1 all the way for the best scenery.

Yeah, once you get past the redwoods on the 101 the scenery kind of takes a dive and it's almost all farmland from Salinas to San Luis Obispo. Hwy 1/PCH would be much more scenic. You'd end up riding through San Francisco, though.

**schoeney** · 01-29-2014, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cactusjack

Yeah, once you get past the redwoods on the 101 the scenery kind of takes a dive and it's almost all farmland from Salinas to San Luis Obispo. Hwy 1/PCH would be much more scenic. You'd end up riding through San Francisco, though.

If I recall correctly didn't you ride HWY 36 and thought it was a bit overrated? I don't know if it was you or not but I am just trying to get a handle on it from people I know/trust.

Go through San Francisco? If I had a purple Harley and was a Bronco fan I would fit right in

cactusjack · 01-29-2014, 07:00 PM

Highway 36 was a grueling ride. 141 miles of twisties, up/down grades and very narrow in some areas with very little traffic. I rode that on the way to Crescent City.

Don't be hurtful, Greg.

01-29-2014, 07:33 AM	#1
schoeney Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NW Region Posts: 5,222	California Input Hoping to get your input...... I am planning to ride the California Coast from Crescent City to San Luis Obispo then cut over to Death Valley and head back home criss crossing the Sierras back to Washington. I was hoping to get some ideas from the members as to your favorite stretches of road, interesting places to stop, and of course good food! Hoping for April but not set in stone. I don't plan on riding any interstates until I get back into Oregon. I have driven most of this in a car 30 years ago but never ridden it on a bike (except the Redwood Rally portion a couple years ago- Crescent City through the Avenue of the Giants.) Thanks for your help. I may bring the wife, if I do she will probably ride the coast portion then fly back from SoCal. Man, I can,t believe I haven't started a thread since October __________________ VBA #659 2003 Nomad 1500 (Gone but never forgotten) 2005 Honda ST1300 - Sweet and still kickin 2006 Honda Goldwing - Best Boat in the Marina Login or Register to Remove Ads
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01-29-2014, 04:00 PM	#2
waterman Top Contributor Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 6,530	Talk to Teri Conrad or Brad. __________________ Joel "Waterman" 2017 HD Road Glide Ultra 2006 Nomad - Sold VBA 213 VROC 16913 Custer 09: Cortez 10: Crescent City 11: Kanab 12: Estes Park 13: Tahoe 14: Red Lodge 16
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01-29-2014, 04:35 PM	#3
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	When I returned home from Crescent City, I stayed on the 101 to Willits, then went inland towards Sacramento, then down through the East Bay into San Jose. I picked up the 101 again in SJ and stayed on it all the way into Los Angeles. If i'd had more time, I would have liked to stay on the PCH all the way south. I'm sure it would have been cooler. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
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01-29-2014, 07:00 PM	#7
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	Highway 36 was a grueling ride. 141 miles of twisties, up/down grades and very narrow in some areas with very little traffic. I rode that on the way to Crescent City. Don't be hurtful, Greg. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
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