Motorcycle Trip On The Pacific Coast Highway In May

[mwilson]

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.

We'll be ready.....



Mike.

 

[BIGNASTY]

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

Mark Twain Once said the coldest winter he had was a summer that he spent in San Fransisco

Or something to that effect I do read things that matter.

 

[GAmes]

Harvey, since I spent my youth in Oregon I can understand your concerns. I found this site, and there might be similar sites for the WA and CA coasts. http://web.oregon.com/weather/history_coast.cfm

I wouldn't start the trip any sooner than mid-May, except as you know crossing the desert to get there will already be a hot trip.

 

[dresslered]

If it were me, I would plan on riding up the Wash coast in late July or August.

Great time of year for following Winnebagos.

 

[HBarlow]

Harvey, since I spent my youth in Oregon I can understand your concerns. I found this site, and there might be similar sites for the WA and CA coasts. http://web.oregon.com/weather/history_coast.cfm
I wouldn't start the trip any sooner than mid-May, except as you know crossing the desert to get there will already be a hot trip.

Thanks Gary. I'll copy and try that link. I actually made a half-assed attempt to locate a site with seasonal historical weather information by regions over the weekend but didn't have any luck and didn't pursue the idea further.

Your link may be exactly what I need.

 

[HBarlow]

Great time of year for following Winnebagos.

THAT would be intolerable. I'd rather avoid the PCH altogether or stay home than try to follow a narrow two lane behind a long line of summer tourists poking along and wandering across all lanes.

 

[BIGNASTY]

The first part of May would be a GREAT!!!! time to drive the Ca coast!!!!! Maybe a truck will make the world a better place in the FOG Oo.





You want to drive the coast but want to avoid PCH???? kind of hard to do PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY!!!!!



:-laf WHAT A BOOB!!!

 

[Bob4x4]

The weather will be much more conducive to a good bike ride later into the summer. I hate riding in the wet. The coastal route is awesome on a bike. I especially enjoyed riding through the redwoods

 

[Regcabguy]

We've driven up Hwy 1&101 twice in the second week of Sept. Students are back in school and the employed folks are back at work. High pressure usually dominates the Northwest at that time. Both trips of 10-14 days were sunny.

 

[mfurrh55]

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

Sam, are them fires near you?, Monte

 

[Tractorat]

Havent driven the whole coast for decades. But last July we drove from Corvalis Or up to Astoria on the coast. Weather was great, and traffic really wasnt an issue. I dont know what it was like south of Corvalis, and I wanted to get over to I-5 from Astoria to get home. But I think traffic would have been ok up the coast.

 

[HBarlow]

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

Thanks Sam. Actually I'll probably be traveling south from Las Vegas on I-15. Is there a shortcut you'd recommend from I-15 to Highway 1 that will avoid greater LA without passing through small cities, heavy traffic, and a thousand traffic lights?

I've been through LV many times and to it a few times but so far never found anything I liked or wanted to see or do there. NV is the only state in the contiguous 48 I haven't ridden through on my Goldwing so I have to ride across the southern tip of NV to color in my GW travel map.

 

[HBarlow]

Several of you who live in the western states and have knowledge of travel along the coast suggested making the trip in July, August, or September. I'm confident your advice is sound but to get to LA to begin the journey I've got to cross the Mojave Desert. Riding a motorcycle across the desert in hot mid summer with temperatures exceeding 120° is not something I want to do. It can be fatal. Riding through Oklahoma City in July with temps above 110° to ride to the Great Lakes or up into Canada is miserable and all I can handle.

 

[Bob4x4]

In the 70's I rode many miles through the desert at night,I was stationed in 29 stumps. The desert is beautiful at night and made for some of the best miles I ever had on 2 lane black top. Head for Oatman AZ a neat little place on rt 66 then you can do some miles on the mother road to Santa Monica- the beginning of rt 66 in Ca.

 

[NIsaacs]

Harvey,



I know you are way more experianced with Motorcycles than I am but sometimes you can't see the forest for the trees, or like me, just have a brain fart. I know you are an early riser so I would travel the desert at the first crack of dawn. Vegas to Victorville is about a 3 hr ride. Then due west to Ventura or just north of LA take the 210 west (foothill fwy) to the 101 (ventura fwy) to Ventura. I would also plan the large cities for a Saturday or Sunday, at the very least, after morning rush and before evening rush. As a general rule, May should be perfect but the western moutains can have crazy snow storms if one brews.



Nick

 

[Ram4Sam]

Harvey, once you head south from Vegas, you can take the 58w from Barstow, through Bakersfield, over to the coast. Not an especially pretty way but the most direct. Lots of trucks though. If you not in a big hurry, take the 14 south from Mojave, and the 126w to Ventura. The 101 north from Ventura, through Santa Barbara in a nice ride. There is a small section of hwy 1 that goes through Lompoc but it is just boring farmland. Stay on the 101n until San Luis Obispo, that's where the good stuff starts. Hwy 1 can be slow with the RV's and foreigners taking pictures at every corner but it is worth it. It's only a hundred miles or so, go slow and enjoy the view.



Sam

 

[HBarlow]

In the 70's I rode many miles through the desert at night,I was stationed in 29 stumps. The desert is beautiful at night and made for some of the best miles I ever had on 2 lane black top. Head for Oatman AZ a neat little place on rt 66 then you can do some miles on the mother road to Santa Monica- the beginning of rt 66 in Ca.

I'll already be west of Oatman when in LV. Don't want to backtrack to the east.

 

[HBarlow]

Harvey, once you head south from Vegas, you can take the 58w from Barstow, through Bakersfield, over to the coast. Not an especially pretty way but the most direct. Lots of trucks though. If you not in a big hurry, take the 14 south from Mojave, and the 126w to Ventura. The 101 north from Ventura, through Santa Barbara in a nice ride. There is a small section of hwy 1 that goes through Lompoc but it is just boring farmland. Stay on the 101n until San Luis Obispo, that's where the good stuff starts. Hwy 1 can be slow with the RV's and foreigners taking pictures at every corner but it is worth it. It's only a hundred miles or so, go slow and enjoy the view. Sam

I plugged LV and San Luis Obispo in Google maps and that is the route provided. I think that's what I'll do. I've driven and pulled trailers in morning or afternoon traffic on the hated I-10, I-210 far more times than I ever wanted to. I don't want to do it again on a motorcycle if I don't have to. The route you suggested will allow me to avoid much of greater LA by skimming across the north edge. Even if the scenery is ugly I think I'll like that better than going further south to get on the 210.

 

[HBarlow]

Harvey,

I know you are way more experianced with Motorcycles than I am but sometimes you can't see the forest for the trees, or like me, just have a brain fart. I know you are an early riser so I would travel the desert at the first crack of dawn. Vegas to Victorville is about a 3 hr ride. Then due west to Ventura or just north of LA take the 210 west (foothill fwy) to the 101 (ventura fwy) to Ventura. I would also plan the large cities for a Saturday or Sunday, at the very least, after morning rush and before evening rush. As a general rule, May should be perfect but the western moutains can have crazy snow storms if one brews. Nick

Nick,

I like your advice to leave at dawn. Early is normal for me and it will be even easier on the west coast because my biological clock will still be set to CST.

 

[Tractorat]

Just a thought. But if you decided to go in July or Aug, have you considered hauling your bike (back of your truck or on a trailer) to socal ? Or maybe just having it shipped to socal and flying in ? That would at least keep you from having to ride across the desert in 100 + degree temps.