We're planning a trip for the summer and would really like some input from others

[paul65k]

So.........we're getting ready to plan our annual 2-3 week summer trip on the bike which we usually do during the middle of summer (for obvious reasons) living in Lake the Mohave Desert

This year we going to do a loop of CA with another couple (both of us 2-up) with them on their 13 SG. We'll be starting and returning to Huntington Beach, CA (about 30 miles south of LA) and our itinerary (tentative still) is as follows:

Leg 1 to Mammoth CA which is in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and is at 7000' elevation so it should be very nice. We'll be there 4 days for the Mammoth Music Festival.

Leg 2 takes us through Yosemite and out the other side of the park to Angels Camp, home of the famous Calaveras County Frog Jumping Festival.

Leg 3 has us making our way from there up Kit Carson Pass and into the backside of Lake Tahoe and down to Reno (Sparks actually) just in time for the annual "Hot August Nights" event.....2 nights at the Peppermill to see all the cool stuff.

Leg 4 takes up the eastern Sierras up past Susanville and tentatively spending the night in Lakeview OR. Looking for suggestions on this ride/area as I haven't been in that area since I was a teenager.

Leg 5 has us going through Klamath Falls, Grants Pass and down the coast to Eureka where we'll spend 2 nights and explore the ancient Redwoods and awesome northern CA scenery.

Leg 6 takes us to Sonoma where we'll stay 1 block from the main square and spend 2 days exploring through the Alexander Valley and across to the Napa side and Silverado Trail.

Leg 7 takes us through San Francisco, down the coast through Half Moon Bay, Monterey/Carmel, Big Sur and we'll spend the night in Cambria.

Leg 8 takes us on a short tour through the Paso Robles Wine Country and down the coast through San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara spending the night in Oxnard at the Harbor.

Leg 9 is a leisurely drive around port Hueneme (Pronounced Why-Nee-Mee), down the coast through Zuma (lunch stop at Neptunes Net), through Malibu, Santa Monica and back to Huntington Beach where we'll spend a few days at our friends house enjoying the cool weather.

The trip plan is right at 2050 miles but with some sightseeing and side trips we'll surely do 2500..........and the best part is that we get out of the heat for 2-3 weeks.


So the question here fellow SG'ers is what are we missing......have any of you done a similar trip and if so is there maybe something else we might want to do along this route??

I'm hoping that I get a chance to meet a few of you on the trip (Reno comes to mind ) and give us a chance to take a nice long leisurely ride through some of the most beautiful country in the world.


Thanks in advance for your input, ideas, etc..

 

[dlsorensen]

Sounds great, being only ever in SoCal I can't add much for you. Ride safe and enjoy!

 

[Spazz]

I don't know which way you are going to Mammoth....395 I'm guessing ( I go there) if you can get onto the 108... Sonora Pass is beautiful...it's north of Bridgeport off 395

It's a bit out of your way..... I know... but just sayin

If you hit Reno... you better let me know....we WILL hook up

Sent from my Note4 using Tapatalk

 

[TomA]

Better give us the dates for Reno and maybe I can make it down. Would be fun to hook up and visit.

 

[paul65k]

I would be great to hook up with you guys..............looks like we'll be in Reno the nights of 8/4-8/6, staying at The Peppermill so we can be part of the HAN madness, and would really like to meet you both!

Additionally we could sure could use some advice on the best routes north from there if either of you have done any riding up that way???

 

[Spazz]

I would be great to hook up with you guys..............looks like we'll be in Reno the nights of 8/4

Well that bites!!! I'll be in Sturgis from 1-10 Aug.

But.... on another note... if you are NOT locked into the Peppermill... let me know and I can hook you up via my wife.... Supervisor at The Eldorado Resort and Casino.... and possibly can get you a discount for your stay... let me know....

There are plenty of scenic routes in this area... Donner Pass is beautiful ( about an hour west of Reno of I80 ) ... if you like mountains... more mountians... you can travel north of Reno on 395N and west on 70 toward Quincy... a couple of great towns to look at on the map... Nevada City, Sierraville, Sierra City.... They are all great scenic rides.... any particular questions... just ask....

 

[paul65k]

I don't know which way you are going to Mammoth....395 I'm guessing ( I go there) if you can get onto the 108... Sonora Pass is beautiful...it's north of Bridgeport off 395

It's a bit out of your way..... I know... but just sayin

If you hit Reno... you better let me know....we WILL hook up

Sent from my Note4 using Tapatalk

Actually I think this was the way we were planning on getting over the mountains down to Angels Camp (near Sonora).....Thanks I'll make sure we do go this way !!

 

[paul65k]

I would be great to hook up with you guys..............looks like we'll be in Reno the nights of 8/4

Well that bites!!! I'll be in Sturgis from 1-10 Aug.

But.... on another note... if you are NOT locked into the Peppermill... let me know and I can hook you up via my wife.... Supervisor at The Eldorado Resort and Casino.... and possibly can get you a discount for your stay... let me know....

There are plenty of scenic routes in this area... Donner Pass is beautiful ( about an hour west of Reno of I80 ) ... if you like mountains... more mountians... you can travel north of Reno on 395N and west on 70 toward Quincy... a couple of great towns to look at on the map... Nevada City, Sierraville, Sierra City.... They are all great scenic rides.... any particular questions... just ask....

PM Sent....thanks!

 

[Mojo]

That will be a memory laden trip paul65k. I used to live in Nevada City/Grass Valley and have been to most of those places at one time or another.
Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

 

[TomA]

Leaving here the 30th or 31st of July or so for Sturgis also won't be home until the 25th August if all goes right. Looks like your on you own Paul sorry

 

[Mojo]

Leaving here the 30th or 31st of July or so for Sturgis also won't be home until the 25th August if all goes right. Looks like your on you own Paul sorry

TomA- Are you retired? Who the heck gets that much time off all at once???
BTW, How far IS Sturgis from Battle Mtn???

 

[TomA]

Haven't checked the mileage yet Mojo but I may end up in Wisconsin to visit a friend you know it's not that much farther. As for the vacation I build about 20 hours a month and I can only bank 360 and then I loose it. Company believes in time off to recharge.

 

[Mojo]

Haven't checked the mileage yet Mojo but I may end up in Wisconsin to visit a friend you know it's not that much farther. As for the vacation I build about 20 hours a month and I can only bank 360 and then I loose it. Company believes in time off to recharge.

I do much of my "rechargin" by staying over a day or weekend in places I like while on business travel

 

[Bones]

paul65k.....To me, living in rural Georgia, your plan sounds like the trip of a life time. Not many folks will ever make a trip like that, so live it large. Make friends and memories. Be safe and have a good time.

 

[paul65k]

Well I thought I'd update the trip as I've made a couple of small changes after talking to a few people who knew the area north of Reno up to the Oregon border and we're now planning on heading inland at Susanville and stopping at Burney Falls on our way north.

Here's the ride as planned in the HD Ride planner...........I realize this is not the best tool but hey it helps to find hotels

http://rideplanner.harley-davidson.com/rideplanner/share/704639

We are also down to only 2 bikes but I really like riding with my buddy so it should be a great time......any other ideas guys??

 

[Scott14SG]

I used to live in the Monterey area 80-86 so I'm sure there's been quite a change since. In Monterey make a stop around the Fishermans Wharf-Cannery Row area, they built the Monterey Aquarium after I left however I hear it's something to see. You will love the ride from there to San Luis Obispo especially through Big Sur area. Downtown Carmel used to be a nice small area and beach at the end, 17-Mile drive if you don't mind paying $10. I looked on Google but couldn't find it, there was a hard to find beach access in the Big Sur area that was pretty spectacular, and I believe this is the restaurant worth making a stop at.

I wish I could remember more places out there to tell you about, here's more current info from Trip Advisor in Monterey

And if you are any sort of gear head Laguna Seca is there too, we used to watch the races from the base.

 

[streetsurfer]

I used to live in the Monterey area 80-86 so I'm sure there's been quite a change since. In Monterey make a stop around the Fishermans Wharf-Cannery Row area, they built the Monterey Aquarium after I left however I hear it's something to see. You will love the ride from there to San Luis Obispo especially through Big Sur area. Downtown Carmel used to be a nice small area and beach at the end, 17-Mile drive if you don't mind paying $10. I looked on Google but couldn't find it, there was a hard to find beach access in the Big Sur area that was pretty spectacular, and I believe this is the restaurant worth making a stop at.

I wish I could remember more places out there to tell you about, here's more current info from Trip Advisor in Monterey

And if you are any sort of gear head Laguna Seca is there too, we used to watch the races from the base.

last summer I tried to ride 17 mi they turned me around at gate no bikes allowed.

 

[Aviator5456]

On your way past Santa Maria, you should take a side trip to Solvang, a Danish community. Lots to do and see there including the Vintage Motorcycle Museum. I haven't been in years but it's a very interesting town with some authentic Danish food and music.

After you get to Huntington Beach, give me a call and we can get together at Cooks Corner for some good music, food and beer. PM me and I'll give you my mobile #.

-t-

 

[paul65k]

On your way past Santa Maria, you should take a side trip to Solvang, a Danish community. Lots to do and see there including the Vintage Motorcycle Museum. I haven't been in years but it's a very interesting town with some authentic Danish food and music.

After you get to Huntington Beach, give me a call and we can get together at Cooks Corner for some good music, food and beer. PM me and I'll give you my mobile #.

-t-

I'll do it.......we lived in San Clemente until 5 years ago and CC was a regular stop for us.....I'll send you a PM and maybe we can get together.

 

[paul65k]

I used to live in the Monterey area 80-86 so I'm sure there's been quite a change since. In Monterey make a stop around the Fishermans Wharf-Cannery Row area, they built the Monterey Aquarium after I left however I hear it's something to see. You will love the ride from there to San Luis Obispo especially through Big Sur area. Downtown Carmel used to be a nice small area and beach at the end, 17-Mile drive if you don't mind paying $10. I looked on Google but couldn't find it, there was a hard to find beach access in the Big Sur area that was pretty spectacular, and I believe this is the restaurant worth making a stop at.

I wish I could remember more places out there to tell you about, here's more current info from Trip Advisor in Monterey

And if you are any sort of gear head Laguna Seca is there too, we used to watch the races from the base.

Thanks that good advice!!

We too tried to make the 17 mile run once or twice on the bike and as stated no bikes unless you are a resident or registered guest at one of the Lodges.

I've done the Big sur run lots of times and we're gonna spend an extra day this time in Cambria so the girls can see Hearst Castle