Motorcycle Trip On The Pacific Coast Highway In May

[HBarlow]

I'm working on a plan to ride my Goldwing out to LA and follow the Pacific Coast Highway from Santa Monica, CA to Port Angeles, WA next month.

I'm thinking I'll leave home in mid-May, spend three or four days to get to Santa Monica where I'll join Hwy 1 and spend about a week or ten days traveling north to Port Angeles.

I know some TDR members live in the left coast states and some may even live near the Pacific Coast Highway.

What weather should I expect along the coast in May? I expect some rain, at least in Washington, so will have rain gear but I don't want to plan the trip at a time when I'll have to ride in rain everyday.

Your comments will be appreciated.

 

[AEdelheit]

Hmm you would probably get a lot more responses if you didint constantly offend everyone that lives here. Not that you'll even read this since you blocked me, either way if you follow Hwy 1 all the way up if like to meet you in person, put a face with the man HypacriteB himself. I'm 30min from Bodega bay.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Be safe Barlow.

 

[Superdawg]

Harvey,
I live in Huntington Beach which is about 40 miles (or 3 hours in LA traffic) south of Santa Monica. You would be welcome at my hut but at that time frame, I am still working nights and will be on a short vacation during that 2nd to 3rd week of May. I can't help you with the weather but that coastal drive is beautiful. I would skip the Santa Monica start which would keep you away from Los Angeles (can you tell I try to avoid it) and start in Ventura. If you do start in Santa Monica, the first 10 miles will probably be bumper to bumper traffic.
In Nipomo, have lunch at: Jocko's Steak House
125 N Thompson Ave
Nipomo, CA 93444
Order the Stall sandwich.

If you are camping, near the Hearst Castle is San Simeon State Park. The upper campground is on a hill and the surrounding views are great. Can be exposed to wind though.

Crescent City: Jedediah Smith State Park has large redwoods in the campground. Usually difficult to get in w/out reservations.

Gold Beach Oregon: Take a jet boat tour up the Rogue river. Good times.

Enjoy your trip.
Tom

 

[Tractorat]

Along the wa coast, expect it to be cold and wet. If you get really lucky, it might not rain. But I would expect it.

 

[HBarlow]

Harvey,
I live in Huntington Beach which is about 40 miles (or 3 hours in LA traffic) south of Santa Monica. You would be welcome at my hut but at that time frame, I am still working nights and will be on a short vacation during that 2nd to 3rd week of May. I can't help you with the weather but that coastal drive is beautiful. I would skip the Santa Monica start which would keep you away from Los Angeles (can you tell I try to avoid it) and start in Ventura. If you do start in Santa Monica, the first 10 miles will probably be bumper to bumper traffic.
In Nipomo, have lunch at: Jocko's Steak House
125 N Thompson Ave
Nipomo, CA 93444
Order the Stall sandwich.

If you are camping, near the Hearst Castle is San Simeon State Park. The upper campground is on a hill and the surrounding views are great. Can be exposed to wind though.

Crescent City: Jedediah Smith State Park has large redwoods in the campground. Usually difficult to get in w/out reservations.

Gold Beach Oregon: Take a jet boat tour up the Rogue river. Good times.

Enjoy your trip.
Tom

Tom,

Thanks for the invitation and the information. I'm thinking now based on what you said about Santa Monica traffic bringing back memories I may stay a little further north and avoid LA altogether.

I won't be camping. I've spent too many years as an RVer sleeping in warm comfortable beds with shower and bathroom facility nearby to sleep on the ground in a tent in my old age.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Hmm you would probably get a lot more responses if you didint constantly offend everyone that lives here. Not that you'll even read this since you blocked me, either way if you follow Hwy 1 all the way up if like to meet you in person, put a face with the man HypacriteB himself. I'm 30min from Bodega bay.

No I TRIED TO BY-PASS THE CUSSING FILTER there!!! :-laf

 

[JHumphries]

If you come across wind on the coast in Oregon, it's probably going to hit you all the way through the state. If the wind is low, it will be a good trip.
I'd love to meet up with you at some point.
I would hit Fat Smitty's on the way. http://www.yelp.com/biz/fat-smittys-port-townsend-2
They don't take credit cards, but they have a 10 inch tall burger that is amazing. It's kind of a hole in the wall place, but the food and service are great.
If you don't mind stairs, the Astoria Column is a cool site to check out. http://www.astoriacolumn.org/
Fort Worden isn't on 101, but it's just on the coast in Port Townsend. I haven't been there personally, but my son has a few times. He enjoyed it. http://www.parks.wa.gov/fortworden/

 

[dresslered]

PM'ed you Harvey. We can meet AEdelheit together since we are neighbors. No offence taken since I live in the center of the fruits and nuts. :-laf

 

[JHumphries]

I almost forgot. If you're not afraid of Vampires or the pre-teens that will be wandering around, Forks, WA, has some cool things to see.

 

[dresslered]

Vampires or the pre-teens that will be wandering around

Come to Santa Cruz. I can scare the 5hit outa ya! :-laf

 

[AEdelheit]

Oh even though I would genuinely like to meet Harvey and have lunch or something just because, I would be 100% suprised if he would even take 1 sec out of his trip for me!

 

[HBarlow]

I'm reading all your posts and factoring the information you provide into the trip plan.

I'm worried about the weather. It's not much fun to ride a motorcycle in fog and rain. One or two days is tolerable but day after day sounds like a bad plan.

Most of the reports I've received on a motorcycle website mention rain and fog along the coast. I had forgotten about the fog and dampness. I spent almost a year on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay during my first year in the Navy long ago and spend two years in Bremerton Washington in the early '70s for a submarine overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. You forget about the daily rain and fog when you live in warm and dry west Texas.

 

[mwilson]

I just want to say if any of you have a chance to meet up with Harvey make it happen.



I enjoyed meeting him and Dick Trombley, there is nothing quite like getting the chance to meet the folks we interact with on this site. If nothing else you simply have to see the Gold Wing... .



My only regret was that I was a bit nervous about meeting him and completely overlooked the fact that he would have really liked a ride in a brand spankin' new Class 8.

I will have a dealer plate and truck ready if you make it up here again, Harvey!!!

Besides, you didn't see the whole state. There is a lot more up north to see.



Also, we sold Hartt Transportation 50 more last month just like the ones that I showed you guys, plus 30 high bunk Condos.



There are red trucks scattered all over the darn dooryard here... ... .



Mike.

 

[SierraRam]

I would love to meet Harvey in Person. Harvey let me know when you will be in Morro Bay and I can swing by and we can chew the fat.

 

[NIsaacs]

I'm worried about the weather. It's not much fun to ride a motorcycle in fog and rain. One or two days is tolerable but day after day sounds like a bad plan.

In the early 70's I spent 2 days in Fort Bragg, Ca. in July and froze to death!:-laf If it were me I would hit Hwy 1 about Ventura to Pebble Beach then go inland to 101, it's warmer. Then just use hwy 1 when it connects with 101, that would probably be enough coast to freeze you Sounds like a fun trip, enjoy!



Nick

 

[Ram4Sam]

Harvey, assuming you are heading west on the 10 from Texas, there is an easy route around Los Angeles. In my neighborhood, take the 210 west, all the way to the 5 north, a short ride over the pass, then the 126 west to the 101 north. The 126 is a rural hwy through a farming area, a nice ride. Hwy 1 from San Luis Obispo to Monterey is incredible and should not be missed. That part of the coast generally is much drier than northern Cali and Oregon coastline.



Sam

 

[Tractorat]

If it were me, I would plan on riding up the Wash coast in late July or August. Then you might have a decent chance of hitting good weather. But, if you are planning on May, it is a real crap shoot as far as the rain goes. You could get lucky. Or you could wish you had never left Texas.

Good luck.

 

[HBarlow]

I appreciate the invitations and opportunities to meet some of my fellow TDR members. I'll keep you in mind.

Now I'm wondering about the month of May as a time for this adventure and whether I should reconsider or shorten the trip to cover only the southern part of the PCH in CA only.

 

[HBarlow]

Mike,

I would have enjoyed a ride in one of your new tractors but I never thought of it either. Maybe next time.

I do want to get back to New England again at a better time of year and spend more time seeing all the sights.