Spring/Summer Road Trip '07

[TRON]

Just wanted to throw this out there to see if anyone is interested in taking a 3, 5, or 7 day motorcycle road trip this Spring/Summer. Routes and destinations are yet to be determined, but I was thinking about maybe exploring the roads of Northern California. Nothing is written in stone so I’d be open to suggestions. However, I had in mind one particular road: http://www.pashnit.com/motoroads.htm
Scroll down and click on "Highway 36, The Ultimate Ride" (the website won't let me make a direct link).

I’m thinking maybe around the end of April or beginning of May would be a good time for the road trip.

Any suggestions or takers?

[dansrc51]

Mason and I are going to motogp. Possibly riding, maybe we could incorporate something

[TRON]

Hey Dan,

MotoGP would be a fun trip, but that was not my intention...


My intention here is do nothing but just ride for several days, explore new roads, not have to worry about keeping a schedule, or worry about being at a particular place at a particular time. Having the freedom of choosing the direction you go depending on which way the wind blows, etc. No pressures, no worries type of trip…

Just a way to kick off the riding season.

[Jane Honda]

Count me in for that trip Dan. Just keep me informed of the whens and wheres as it gets closer to that time. :thumbup:

[lotsamtbottls]

sounds like it might be a good time! i know there is a trip june 8-10th out to hells canyon with a big riding group, couple thousand bikes probably. might be fun to check out! i'll see if i can find the website for that one... :smilewink

[poisonivyR1]

that will be a blast lets hammer out some details and do it. man i'm stir crazy i gotta ride:bounce: :ride: :yell: :bash:

[dansrc51]

Hey Dan,

MotoGP would be a fun trip, but that was not my intention...


My intention here is do nothing but just ride for several days, explore new roads, not have to worry about keeping a schedule, or worry about being at a particular place at a particular time. Having the freedom of choosing the direction you go depending on which way the wind blows, etc. No pressures, no worries type of trip…

Just a way to kick off the riding season.Well I'm def. interested Dan. I just have some commitments that I have to work around. My brothers wedding is the first weekend in July, so that will suck up a week, and then motogp on the 20-22. so July is kind of a bust for me for long rides. June and Aug. and even sept. would work very well. I like the idea of having no destination, and my vacation time at work is very well stocked. Let me know when you are thinking...

Mike, don't worry about the gp trip. Mason and I will be going on about it so much by the time we go it'll be impossible to miss!!

[parallax]

i'm in; contingient on my schedule,,i love the road trip with no set plan...i will keep an eye on the board as winter progresses...:motorcycl

[lotsamtbottls]

so the Hell's Canyon ride in June... if anyone is interested... its the 8th-11th and the website with all the details is: www.hellscanyonrally.com (http://www.hellscanyonrally.com)
check it out... thats the weekend before my birthday (the 12th!) so i'm definitely going... that sounds way more fun than any party :bounce:

[TheTornOne]

May be interested, il keep a heads up to possible take time off

[Jane Honda]

Jason, is the bike all fixed now?

[SLyFoXX]

Hwy 36 is one hell of a road! Road it the last 2 summers!

If you go, try and get to Weaverville the first night then spend a couple days and use Weaverville as a base point prior to going to MotoGP.... Hwy's 3 and 299 are less crowded than 36 and because of that better to ride...

Also a good route to get south is to cut over at Grants Pass to Cave Junction then from Cave Junction to Happy Camp, I think it is Hwy 46 damn I think that might be better than the more popular 36.... lots of good roads in Southern Oregon and Northern Cali....

I will be making this trip to MotoGP with a group of 5 - 10 depending on who's schedule will allow for the time off..

[dansrc51]

been through the cave junction route before. nothing like the last corner when you come around and suddenly bam! redwood trees everywhere. truly a great ride.:thumbup:

[Xusia]

I'm interested also, but my availability depends on dates. Draw the provervbial line in the sand and let's see!

[SLyFoXX]

I know that as of today LOL, that I plan on meeting up with a group from the Chicago area and a few from Tacoma and Portland Tuesday or Wednesday prior to MotoGP... follow the route through Grants Pass, Cave Junction, Happy Camp and down to Weaverville then roll on down to MotoGP... Not even sure we have hotel arrangements or what, don't really care, might not even make for the day of the race LOL but will make if to cannery row and see what kind of trouble we can get into.... Not a real planned event but thats the plan, can pick up riders as we head south or just see you on the road..
Last year when we went down to ride hwy 36, a group from Chicago joined us for that as well... All I can say is those boys from the Chicago need to remember they don't have any turns in the road like out west, and leave the ego at home, or the on and off ramp LOL... Had 3 bikes go down, and not make it up for the count.. One of the guys was very fortunate that he came away with just a few bruises and a shattered ego.

[dansrc51]

+1

36 is very challenging and distant from any kind of immediate care should you need it. much like aufderhied, only more distant. I think I would be very cautious if it were me out there.


Mason and I are leaving on the tuesday or wednesday before the GP and heading down there. we plan on trailering the bikes, but who know, maybe we will stop and ride a few roads on the way

[2k2 banshee]

so the Hell's Canyon ride in June... if anyone is interested... its the 8th-11th and the website with all the details is: www.hellscanyonrally.com (http://www.hellscanyonrally.com/)
check it out... thats the weekend before my birthday (the 12th!) so i'm definitely going... that sounds way more fun than any party :bounce:
now that looks like fun

[lotsamtbottls]

now that looks like funwoohoo! someone is actually in for it lol

[SLyFoXX]

now that looks like fun


I thought the same thing, just not sure if we are too late to make arrangements to stay... I checked a while back and all hotels were booked in the area

[2k2 banshee]

this is probably one of those events you plan way in advance :censored::censored: :censored: :censored: sorry:censored: :censored: :censored: :yes:

[Suzuki Jon]

I've ridden the Trinity National Forest area (hwy 36, 299, etc) many times in the last 10 years. Last September I met a buddy from N. Cali and we made Weaverville our home base, as was suggested. 36 is the best road in the area, but 299 has some fun spots as does 3 from Weaverville to 36. 96 is 90% fast sweepers, but very scenic; would be good return home route. It is isolated as Dan says, but not as isolated as you might think. Personally, the isolation is part of the allure of riding motorcycles in the middle of nowhere. I would love to join a group ride in the area again this spring or fall (summers are WAY too hot to enjoy the area). If nothing else, I would be happy to offer some road insight. Sport touring has no equal for me. For those going to MotoGP, don't miss Skaggs Springs road in Sonoma County near Lake Sonoma. It really is one of the best roads on the west coast. It's an Army Corp road, so it flows like a race track. PM me for more info.

As a side bar, I sold my Silver SV 1000 and just picked up an '07 gsx-r 750. Put a few miles on it last sunday and totally love it.

[lotsamtbottls]

(in regards to planning ahead for hells canyon)probably so, i heard from some people that its hard to find a place to stay... but theres always camping for those of us that arent COMPLETE city kids :smilewink

[CALCXX]

Same as Suzuki Jon,

I've ridden the Northern Calif area many times. The best central place to stay for accessing the best roads is Weaverville. Hwy 299, 3, 36 and 96 all can be ridden from this location and you can still make it back to Weaverville in the daylight ( if that's important to you ). One of the roads you don't hear much about is the road from Cecilville to Somesbar. This is an excellent road now since they repaved the upper section. I'd love to join you on this ride but, I'm riding to Ely, Nevada for an XX ( Blackbird ) meet in this time frame then, spend a couple days riding the Mt. Lassen, Yosimite area before heading to the GP in Montery.

Perhaps we'll see you there? I will be on my XX. My 954 will have to stay home for this long ride.

Cal

edit to add: If you ride Cecilville be sure to get gas at the Trinity Center on Hwy 3 because that's the last gas stop before you get to the coast. I forget the mileage, it's quite a distance. My 954 wouldn't make it without the gas stop.

[SLyFoXX]

(in regards to planning ahead for hells canyon)probably so, i heard from some people that its hard to find a place to stay... but theres always camping for those of us that arent COMPLETE city kids :smilewink


You calling me a city kid LOL!

OK if the shoe fits

[SLyFoXX]

Same as Suzuki Jon,

I've ridden the Northern Calif area many times. The best central place to stay for accessing the best roads is Weaverville. Hwy 299, 3, 36 and 96 all can be ridden from this location and you can still make it back to Weaverville in the daylight ( if that's important to you ). One of the roads you don't hear much about is the road from Cecilville to Somesbar. This is an excellent road now since they repaved the upper section. I'd love to join you on this ride but, I'm riding to Ely, Nevada for an XX ( Blackbird ) meet in this time frame then, spend a couple days riding the Mt. Lassen, Yosimite area before heading to the GP in Montery.

Perhaps we'll see you there? I will be on my XX. My 954 will have to stay home for this long ride.

Cal

edit to add: If you ride Cecilville be sure to get gas at the Trinity Center on Hwy 3 because that's the last gas stop before you get to the coast. I forget the mileage, it's quite a distance. My 954 wouldn't make it without the gas stop.

I think the first time I rode Hwy 36, it was with you Cal......

Is there enough gas stations for you between here and Ely for you to feel safe riding the XX, we both know how much gas your XX will eat.

How you doing! LOL.....I am sure you will figure who I am....

[Moon Eyes]

I have have done that hwy. 36 ride before and that was the best ride I have ever been on. That road is great.

[CALCXX]

I think the first time I rode Hwy 36, it was with you Cal......

Is there enough gas stations for you between here and Ely for you to feel safe riding the XX, we both know how much gas your XX will eat.

How you doing! LOL.....I am sure you will figure who I am....I'm trying to figure out who you are.

When you say, we know how much gas your XX eats, it must be someone
I have ridden great distances with?

Let's see? mmmmm SLFXX ??

(Homer Simpson voice) "In caps! doh!"

Good to hear from ya Steve!!

[Xusia]

Hey Tron, you doing this thing or what? I'm needing a road trip!

[TRON]

Sorry, been busy lately... Now we just need to set a date that will work for mostly everyone who wants to go???

I'm flexible on the time so I'll just thow this out here. How about the first full week of June, 6/4 thru 6/8?

I'll be at Bike Night this week so we can discuss further...

If anyone has suggestions or time preference, please feel free to post up!

[Xusia]

Those dates won't work for me, but I'll talk to you at bike night!

[TRON]

After giving this a lot of thought, I've decided to spend some time on the Track. I've succumbed to my need for a speed fix and I can't get that fix anywhere but on the Track. Any attempt to get this speed fix on public roads only leads to trouble so I've signed up for ThunderHill on June 11th, 12th, and 13th...

Sorry about bailing out of this trip, but if anyone else wants to take the lead on planning a trip, please feel free to do so.

[Xusia]

OK. That's a bummer, but I understand. I'll take the lead on this then. Is there any interest in this? By my calculations this is a 3 day trip that includes loads of good roads!

[snot rocket]

Let me know when and where and I will put in a request for time off. Hopefully I get it.

[Xusia]

Right now it's you & me, so we can pretty much pick it! I'm thinking mid June would be best, before it gets too hot.

[Xusia]

So far, these are the interested folks: Me, Nick (snot_rocket), Noah (1F45tGSXR).

So here's the route I have in mind (map pic attached). As always, I'm no route nazi, so I'm open to suggestions/feedback.

Day 1 (10 hours, 490 miles)
99 North to Monroe
34 West to Waldport
101 South to Bandon
42 East to I-5
I-5 South to Grants Pass
199 West to Crescent City
101 South to Eureka

Day 2 (7 hours, 390 miles)
101 South to Alton
36 East to 3
3 North to 299
299 East to Redding
I-5 South to Cottonwood
A5 West to 36
36 West to 3
3 North to 299
299 West to 101
101 South to Eureka

Day 3 (10 hours, 520 miles)
101 North to 299
299 West to 96
96 North to I-5
I-5 North to Old Siskiyou Highway
Old Siskiyou Highway North to 66
66 East to Klamath Falls
97 North to 62
62 North to 230
230 East to 138
138 West to I-5
I-5 North to Eugene

There are a lot of variations on this, and portions could easily be cut if time and/distance was a problem. Assuming this route is cool with those who are going, I also need to do a gas analysis to ensure there are places to fill up every 100 miles or so.

[snot rocket]

looks good to me, but I have never seen crater lake before, so I would like to ride north from fort klamath, through crater lake national park, to diamond lake. Instead of union creek.

[Xusia]

The posted route takes you as close to through Crater Lake as you can get. Stopping would be easy on this route.

[Sparky]

what days exactly where you going to go one the trip it looks awsome! It goes on a route that I wanted to go on fore a long time.

[Xusia]

We were talking about Memorial day weekend (less time off).

[FJMam]

Can't make the ride but I do want to complement your plan. Looks ideal for all kinds of sights and rides. I'll be staying in Gasquet CA the week after your ride so I will get a taste of some of it.


Have a GREAT and SAFE ride......:ride:

[TRON]

Nice Route!

Just a suggestion on your Hwy 199 leg from Grants Pass to Eureka. 4-5 miles south of Cave Junction is Waldo Rd which turns into Indian Creek Rd when you get to California. It will take you to Happy Camp on Hwy 96 with little to no traffic and lots and lots of twisty road. It's a shorter route to Eureka and will cut about an hour off your first day. If you do take this route, be sure to fuel up at Cave Junction because you're basically out in the middle of nowhere until you get to Happy Camp.

Before you guys go, you may want to make a list of the necessary "just in case" items you should bring along with you such as an emergency tire repair kit, first aid kit, etc... Better to have it and not need it then to need it and not have it.

Have fun!

[carlo]

Here ya go. Highway 36 from Eureka to Redding. (http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&q=&ll=40.604569,-123.704681&spn=0.547376,1.163177&t=h&z=10&om=1)

I've been on it before, and it is a spectacular road.

[Xusia]

Change of plans! It's going to be an OR & WA coastal loop now (see attachments) - still on for Memorial Day weekend (leave Sat, return Mon).

Day 1: 347 miles, 9 hours including stops, staying in Raymond, WA
Day 2: 391 miles, 9.5 hours including stops, staying in Raymond, WA
Day 3: 350 miles, 9.5 hours including stops
TOTAL: 3 days, 1088 miles

So far I have the following as going: Me, Nick (& Brenna in car), Bobby (& Kim in car), and Nathan. If you wanna go, let me know!

For those who are going, don't forget the following:

Oil Change / Tune.
New Tires (or check to make sure you have enough tread).
Insurance & Card (make sure you have your card and get full coverage for the trip duration if you don't have it already).
Tool kit (I have this - 1 for the group is prob fine) or tire repair kit (I don't have this).
Bad ass cable/chain and lock (for the nights at the motel).
Phone AND charger.

[TAT2D]

Ummmm....Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but........ I am pretty sure I got my ass canned at work yesterday. It was either I leave, or do something I would really regret later, so I left.:yell: Shouldn't really go out blowing dough till I find another grind. I was really looking forward to this trip too, been getting a bit stir crazy lately.

Later,
B

[Xusia]

No Worries. Meeting at Nick's house tinoght to finalize details!