Route 1 CA?

Polovision · Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 8:18 pm Post subject:

What a great trip! I can't tell you about anything east of Texas but I agree with the others on a long Desert ride. It gets pretty hot that far south at the end of July. Bring lots of water.
Be prepared to get off of Hwy 1 after several hours. Hwy 1 is long with top speeds of 45 mph, but mostly 25 and 35 mph. Yes, you will end up behind a huge RV putting along at 15 mph. This goes on for over 500 miles then you get to San Francisco. It's one turn after another for hours. Some great views on nice days and I'm sure from Monterey south the weather should be nice. North of Monterey it could be sunny or overcast or windy, even in July. Most mornings north of San Francisco are overcast in the morning until 9 or 10am. If you do run into bad weather you can cut inland only 10 or 15 miles and get great weather. Hang in there because everyone should ride the PCH.

Pace yourself and get rest when you need it. Take lots of pictures and keep us informed. But most important thing is to have fun!

What a great trip!

Very Happy

_________________

My Ride Blogs

Windburn Bill · Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 8:19 pm Post subject:

I don't mean to rain on your parade but as a native of Phoenix, Az I can say from experience that you couldn't have picked a worst time to travel through the Arizona desert. The heat in July/August is more than miserable, it's life threatning if your not careful. Yuma is the worst, one of the hotest places in the nation. Just imagine driving for two days through a blast furnace and you'll get the idea. If your determined to travel this route I suggest you buy an evaporitve cooling vest and pack extra water to keep it wet or try to travel the Arizona leg at night. It usually cools down to at least 85 degrees before sunrise...really.
_________________

Vulcan 1600 Classic, '03 Volusia

Mr. Efficiency · Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 8:41 pm Post subject:

Unfortunately, Windburn, I get to challenge the title next month Laughing

My ride through the interior of Georgia is just plain hot. I would gladly exchange a day riding through yuma than a day riding from Athens Ga to the FLorida Border.

But you are correct. In July and August crossing Death Valley and some of the areas of Arizona on a bike are genuinely death defying experiences. My last trip across death Valley started at 2 AM and I rode hard, knowing that when that sun really got up I'd be a silly man on a giant ROtissiere.

I am assuming our OP is in excellent physical condition and understands the brutal toll desert riding will take on him and his bike. It is certainly one of those moments I praise the almighty for shaft drive.
_________________
"The Road is life... it's that you ride."

Mr. Efficiency

2003 · VR Member Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Posts: 54

Thanks for more tips, much appreciated.

As for heat. Ya im young, and no stranger to the heat. It will be hot, but ive been roasted alive before. And this time ill have the benefit of 70-80mph winds, not just sitting around looking pretty. Ill have water, and if its gets to bad can always just ride at night. But that kind of defeats the purpose of why im taking this trip so........ Im preparing for the worst, expecting worse than that, and in the back of my mind already embracing the suck. This may be a new worse for me but I welcome a good challenge.

Basically this is the last summer I have to do something fun/crazy so a road trip in July it is. I cant see myself ever having time to take 14 days for another such trip, but who knows, I really want to ride up to Alaska..........

Anyone ever tried riding up to Alaska?
_________________
2008 Kawasaki KLR650

Polovision · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 3:14 pm Post subject:

2003 · VR Member Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Posts: 54

2003 · VR Member Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Posts: 54

O ya I kinda forgot about this question. Is camping along the way a possibility? Campgrounds, or free camping, anything really? Thanks
_________________
2008 Kawasaki KLR650

Sidewalk · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 4:23 pm Post subject:

In terms of the heat on the desert, yes it's hot but if I can do it at 66 you probably will be OK. Cooling vests work, and for about $8 I can send you some desert rider gloves to be used with a long sleeve shirt to keep your hands slightly cooler and protected from the sun.

Camping needs to be worked out, there are campgrounds everywhere but there can be a lot of distance between them out west. In the desert it is hard to just set up along the road.

I strongly recommend hooking up a GPS for a trip like this, a good Garmin 255 is an automotive product but has listings for all sorts of lodging as well as gas and food. I see it on the Walmart website at $102. Cyclegadgets.com and others have all the RAM mounting stuff, and a search here should help you figure out how to set up a 12v power supply for it.

Starting to move away from the "Just me, the bike, and the open road" romance, but weather and road problems have their own way of squashing romance. Just remember we are all out here and are willing to help!

Keep us posted,

Tom
_________________
Free people deal with uncertainty, risk, and choices. Slaves don't have to worry about any of that.

http://raggtopp.5u.com/

Volusia1959 · Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 10:59 am Post subject:

Hey guys Just talked to 2003 his bike got totaled by a RV hes ok but keep him in your prayers he has to find a way home hes some were near Carrie calif near Bakersfield also blessings that his insurance will go well
Sad

_________________
Live life with a burning passion
Work like you don't need the money, Love like you've never been hurt, And Dance like no one is watching.
DJ Drive Club 43k since 2007

CzarOfKatmandu · Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 11:59 am Post subject:

Saying a prayer for him.
_________________
CADseek

Mort · Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 12:35 pm Post subject:

Used to ride that route when I lived in Pacifica. Ride north, inside lane, ride south.......pay attention, sightsee only when you stop. Vaya con Dios.

cali-c50 · Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 2:05 pm Post subject:

I hope all is well with 2003, prayers sent.... I tried to look up Carrie CA and found no cities is CA with that name. If you find out anything please let us know in the "RIDER DOWN" section. Thanks. And good luck 2003
_________________
Ride With SCRC

Good Times Happen On The Boulevard And The Boulevard Is Suzuki

wiredog · Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 10:24 am Post subject:

The good news, 2003 is ok. His ride tho, well that is another story.

I met up with him at Mojave and we decided to take a slightly alternate route. We left Mojave and headed for Walker Pass to Kernville continuing on to Bakersfield and back to his original route. Probably only a 50 mile detour but I thought it might be some scenic areas. Walker Pass is around 4000 feet and lots of Joshua trees and mountains. The road down from Kernville is a challenging ride with lots of twisties.

Well not far from Kernville I was in the lead and noticed that no one was behind me anymore. That's usually not a good thing. Going back I eventually find him sitting on the side of the road, a little shaken, and his bike sideways in the middle of the road. The details are a little fuzzy but it seems he tried to correct his line in a curve and dragged his cobra highway bars. This kind of tossed him back to the outside where he got intimate with the side of a motorhome. The bike looks like a total loss. He is banged up and bruised but doing ok. So it could have been much worse.

Oh, the motor came out ok.
_________________
'10 HD FHLTK
Patriot Guard Rider
Custom, chromed, titanium muffler bearing

Volusia1959 · Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 8:32 pm Post subject:

Windburn Bill · Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 8:48 pm Post subject:

Awww crap! Sounds like he's going to be okay, thank God, but what a bummer.
_________________

Vulcan 1600 Classic, '03 Volusia