Lake Havasu to Troutdale Oregon

[Big-D]

One of my daughters got married and moved to Troutdale Oregon last July. So I have decided to go pay them a visit this July, being I have not seen their new home yet. So I have my excuse for a fairly long trip. I have not yet decided upon my exact departure date, except that it will be after the 4th of July to help avoid the higher cost of lodging and food. I thought about doing a little camping, but I have not made up my mind yet.

On the advice of Old Michael I have decided to get out of Dodge (Lake Havasu) real quick and head straight for the coast leaving home as the sun rises. So I will consider my journey beginning once I hit the California coast in Santa Barbara heading north. My plan is to follow Hwy-1 as much as possible, except for by-passing the military bases. I want to also by-pass the large cities (i.e. Los Angeles, San Francisco and Portland) as quickly as possible. I am giving myself four days to cover the 1516 miles. I want to plan my arrival in Troutdale on Thursday afternoon so my daughter does not have to miss any work. I’ll stay three days and then head home back to Havasu.

Once again taking heed of Old Michael's advice, avoiding the heat by either running along the coast or staying up in the mountains, I will return home via the inner mountain ranges. Once I get closer to home, heat avoidance will be impossible, in which case I will cover ground as fast as I can. My return trip will take me through Mount Hood N.F., south to Crater Lake, Klamath Falls, Modoc & Lassen N.F. and into Lake Tahoe. Leaving Tahoe I will continue south staying in the mountains, crossing west on Hwy-108 just north of Yosemite, then cut back entering the west entrance of Yosemite on Hwy-120 once again riding east until connecting with Hwy-395 south. I plan on turning right on Hwy-158 (June Lake Loop) just to see what is there. Taking another detour turning right on Hwy-203 Mammoth Scenic Loop to see what is there also. Returning back to Hwy-395 south, I figure once I reach Bishop the heat will be on the raise. I will continue on Hwy-395 by-passing Death Valley as I have no intention on a Death Valley visit in July. Once I reach Hwy-58 I will turn toward Barstow. With the sun at my back, it’ll be high speed touring on I-40 making a beeline back home to Havasu.

I figure by taking my time, allowing plenty of time for photos, food and sight seeing, fours days up, three days there and three (maybe 4) days back, 10 or 11 days should be sufficient to cover less than 3000 miles.

I’ve attached an itinerary of my directions north to Oregon and then back south to Barstow, until I hit that boring I-40 for the last leg of my journey. PLEASE…………. Look over my planned route and feel free to comment, make suggestions or offer advice. With my new Rifle windshield, I will have received my new Russell Day Long and I will install new rubber while I wait for my seat to be returned. I will top everything off with new oil & filter, change the rear differential oil, grease the spline and finally check the vacuum on the throttle bodies. Of course I will be sporting my new Michelin CT in rear and my PRII up front. I will be ready to tour.

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To Troutdale, OR

Route Home to Havasu

 

[Bustanut joker]

Nice post D an' I'd sure like to tag along however...

It's to far away, I can't get the time nor the cash..

But here's the kicker..

I don't wanna play "wait up" for no slow assed Gen II bike!!!!

Yer pal,

Bust.

:jester:

 

[FJRay]

You will go right past my front door on your way south. If you need anything give me a shout. Also have extra rooms if you need a place to crash.

 

[BIODSL]

Big-D...not much to say or add. Sounds like you've planned things out pretty well. I'd suggest you set up some arrangement to dry under way; staying hydrated is extremely important. A small Camelbak or Platypus in a tank bag is probably the simplest solution.

 

[Roy Epperson]

Big-D,

You might consider going up Hwy 1 from Santa Cruz to the Golden Gate. Hwy 17 from Santa Cruz to 280 can be slow depending on the time of day. It's in the coastal mountains but its a 55 MPH road (posted and if not familiar best not exceed too much as it is a narrow 4 lane with a concrete barrier between directions.

I live in Foster City (San Mateo) and regularly ride to Santa Cruz via 1. It's two lane with come passing lanes posted 55 generally you can run 60 to 65 and feel safe from a LEO perspective. It is not the heavy tourist route that Cambria to Monterrey is. That time of year Hwy 1 from Cambria to SF will be wind in your face (if it is blowing) and sun in you face in the late afternoon. Between Cambria and Monterrey, be sure and ride on the right side of you lane (do watch for rocks on the road in steep sections. Tourists in RVs and cars spend more to time watching the coast line than staying in their lane. Even riding right with my several trips a year for the past many years going both ways, I have almost become a hood ornament several times more times than I would like. Beautiful ride, just keep awake for the traffic.

Can't argue with the rest of the route. I've been on all the roads. Let me know when you will be coming Santa Cruz North and where you're staying. Perhaps I can met up with you and give you a "proper escort" North for on a day ride for me.

Roy

 

[user 213]

On the return trip - 26 isn't all that special. Consider slabbing out I-84 to Pendleton just so you can ride the best part of US-395 from Pendleton to John Day. Continuing South or cutting West from there.

There are a ton of fun roads around Condon too.

Another alternative with more fun is a short drone South on I-5 to Eugene, then pick up 58 and follow that over to 97 to pick up on your route into Klamath Falls. 58 is much more scenic and twisty than 26. Do watch for the deer. LEO presence is almost garranteed just East of Oakridge on 58. Usually just one Stater though.

 

[2wheeldrift]

Nice post D an' I'd sure like to tag along however...
It's to far away, I can't get the time nor the cash..

But here's the kicker..

I don't wanna play "wait up" for no slow assed Gen II bike!!!!

Yer pal,

Bust.

:jester:

WTF. Have you lost your mind? Maybe jumped ship or just siding with RH/RJ?????? :huh:

 

[beemerdons]

Looks like a fantastic M/C trip Dan and you are getting some good advice from the locals. However, I do have to question something though: "On the advice of Old Michael..." and "Taking heed of Old Michael..."! Are ye fecking nuts Big-D lad? You're now taking advice from the World's Largest Irish Leprechaun? Ye are mad, Man! Don't take the counsel of any of we Hibernians, we are all lunatics!

 

[orestes]

Looks like a fantastic M/C trip Dan and you are getting some good advice from the locals. However, I do have to question something though: "On the advice of Old Michael..." and "Taking heed of Old Michael..."! Are ye fecking nuts Big-D lad? You're now taking advice from the World's Largest Irish Leprechaun? Ye are mad, Man! Don't take the counsel of any of we Hibernians, we are all lunatics!

Where I am more concerned about the CT!

 

[Big-D]

Big-D,You might consider going up Hwy 1 from Santa Cruz to the Golden Gate. Hwy 17 from Santa Cruz to 280 can be slow depending on the time of day. It's in the coastal mountains but its a 55 MPH road (posted and if not familiar best not exceed too much as it is a narrow 4 lane with a concrete barrier between directions.

I live in Foster City (San Mateo) and regularly ride to Santa Cruz via 1. It's two lane with come passing lanes posted 55 generally you can run 60 to 65 and feel safe from a LEO perspective. It is not the heavy tourist route that Cambria to Monterrey is. That time of year Hwy 1 from Cambria to SF will be wind in your face (if it is blowing) and sun in you face in the late afternoon. Between Cambria and Monterrey, be sure and ride on the right side of you lane (do watch for rocks on the road in steep sections. Tourists in RVs and cars spend more to time watching the coast line than staying in their lane. Even riding right with my several trips a year for the past many years going both ways, I have almost become a hood ornament several times more times than I would like. Beautiful ride, just keep awake for the traffic.

Can't argue with the rest of the route. I've been on all the roads. Let me know when you will be coming Santa Cruz North and where you're staying. Perhaps I can met up with you and give you a "proper escort" North for on a day ride for me.

Roy

Thanks Roy! After looking over the route I made on Google Map, I saw where it had taken it upon itself to redirect my route in the Frisco area. Actually on my real route on Mapsource that I will load into my GPS, I am staying on Hwy-1, especially through Frisco. I was stationed on T.I. back in my Navy days in the early 70's and didn't like the traffic much then either. But thanks a bunch for noticing.

Where I am more concerned about the CT!

My buddy Dave, yes I have decided to cross over to the Darkside and see how my FJR rides and handles. I have a brand new set of PRII's sitting in my garage in case I want to switch back. Because the handling and basic functionality of the quantitative calculations of dynamics, pertaining to both the second and third law of motion, meaning when the calculus derivatives & physics are taken into consideration, with the geometry of the two tires in question being similar, the CT should begin wearing like that of a motorcycle tire, thereby eliminating any changes in feel and handling. Unless of course the stresses that arise during very high rates of speed on a closed course straight-away and curves that are usually only associated with Superbike and/or GP races, or probably in the case when Fairlaner is in Hot Pursuit after the likes of BeemerDon and Niehart have run off with his bottle of Jack, otherwise everything should be fine! Provided of course I do not run into a tree!

 

[dcarver]

I will buy the Pr2's from you.. 80 USD per unit... cause I love you.

and I know what happens to darksiders..

and.. when will you be in the San Luis Obispo, Atascadero, Paso Robles region?

 

[UHOH]

Sounds fun - a thought on your return trip route.

maybe add a couple days and go across the Rockies to Montana.

... east from Portland to Lewiston, ID, get rte #12 across Idaho / Lolo Pass into MT (Missoula).

Then south back into Idaho, thru the mtns again (to Salmon, Ketchum and Twin Falls) and then home.

That time of year no way to avoid hi-heat areas that I know of...