Ok all you West Coasters

[thompsonian]

So I've been bouncing around the idea of a vacation for the SO & I. Have given some serious thought about flying into San Fran and renting a convertible and driving all the way to Seattle. Just think it would be pretty awesome to drive that road and to see some of the west coast. My big question is how long would that take if anyone has any guestimates? I'm sure more than a few of you all of ridden/driven this route and looking for any guestimates. I have a week for vacation and that's about all I can get away for now. Gotta squirrel a day away for EOM 09 So let the responses begin! My timeframe is prolly round the 4th of July, that's when the plant does "shutdown" and I get my "vacation" so if there's anything I should also avoid during that time, lemme know.

TIA guys/gals!

-Dave

 

[Draggon Rider]

So I've been bouncing around the idea of a vacation for the SO & I. Have given some serious thought about flying into San Fran and renting a convertible and driving all the way to Seattle. Just think it would be pretty awesome to drive that road and to see some of the west coast. My big question is how long would that take if anyone has any guestimates? I'm sure more than a few of you all of ridden/driven this route and looking for any guestimates. I have a week for vacation and that's about all I can get away for now. Gotta squirrel a day away for EOM 09 So let the responses begin! My timeframe is prolly round the 4th of July, that's when the plant does "shutdown" and I get my "vacation" so if there's anything I should also avoid during that time, lemme know.
TIA guys/gals!

-Dave

Yahoo maps says: Trip distance: 921.30 miles Time: 18 hrs 20 mins driving time

But it depends on how many stops you want to make.

I've never done the trip but sounds like fun.

 

[Kromm]

I did that on my bike a few years ago. It's an awesome ride. A convertible would be a close second. It took us 3 days to get to Seattle form SF following hwy 1. And we rode pretty much straight thru. We were going to visit my Mother in law that lived outside of Seattle. We still head up the Ca coast at least once every summer. It is one of my favorite place to go and ride.

Yahoo might say 18 hours, but Hwy 1 has some very tight corners and there are a lot of "sight see'ers" that cruise very slow. 300 miles in a day can be a long day at an average of 30-50 mph. Also since you haven't been here before, there are a lot of interesting places to check out on the coast. Bodaga Bay (where they shot the Hitchcock movie "The Birds"), Fort Ross (an old Russian fort that is now a state park), The Skunk Train that runs from Fort Brag to Willits (https://www.skunktrain.com), The Light house at Point Arena. and that just naming a few of the places in Ca. Oregon and Washington has a bunch of interesting sights to see also. Just be warned that once you get close to the Oregon border the weather can change. We went in the first part of Aug. and it rained from the Ore border to half way through Washington.

I would suggest to go and try to make it to Seattle. but don't cut your self short. See the things that catch your eye, and if you don't make it all the way, well their is always next year.

 

[tcfjr]

A lot of the little coastal towns in Oregon are too touristy for my taste, but I really liked staying in a town called Yachats (pronounced Yah-hots).

There are a lot of great bridges on the 101 through Oregon. See this site for photos and background info. Here's one:

 

[Pjturbo]

Done this more times than I can count. If you want to see things and let the SO get romantic, two weeks. Plan on spending a night at the Mendocino Inn. $$ but your SO will let you do anything, mine did.

Phil

 

[happyPuppy]

It can be done in 3 days by riding long days , but at least 4 days is more realistic. Longer is better,with wonderful riding and way to many places to explore From Eureka to Mendocino , Ft, Bragg, Marin headlands . The ride from Ft Bragg to Willits is nice ( On the skunk if you like trains) way to much too rush IMO.

 

[Silent]

3 days. Did it last year on the FJR. A lot of po-dunk towms with slow speed limits.

 

[thompsonian]

Thanks for the replies. Not really too concerned about stopping on the way. Maybe here or there. Mostly just the adventure of driving it I suppose. Besides, just looked into car rental and that's about $750/week just for the car. Maybe I'm looking at the wrong thing, but I'm gonna check into it more later. Maybe fly into SF Monday AM and fly out Seattle Sat AM.

 

[650cent]

Don't be hesitant to take a couple of side trips inland. Take Hwy 199 thru the Redwoods to Cave Junction in southern Oregon and turn off on 46 to the Oregon Caves National Monument. Would be a good one day or day and half detour, but worth it IMHO.

Bill

 

[madmike2]

Per my Mapsource program:

SanFranciscoInt to Seattle-TacomaInt 1191 mi 23:31:43

July 4th is a HUGE camping weekend for local NorCal folks. You might not have as much traffic on weekdays, but it WILL be the summer season so expect tourists (like yourselves). Tourists may stop in the middle of the road to point and take pictures of Sea Lions on the beach below....hey, it happens!

There are a number of shortcuts you could take. Many secondary highways go from Hwy 1 East to 101 in California. You could eliminate the drive around the Mt. Olymia peninsula. In Oregon and Washington you could cut across from 101 to I-5.

There are just too many options to answer an open ended question. However, variables and changes during the trip can make for interesting and memorable adventures and leave you wanting to return to finish the journey.

You might want to check with AAA (if you are a member) or get some state maps of CA, OR & WA.

In NorCal:

Bodega is the town in which "The Birds" was filmed, not Bodega Bay. Bodega is on the Bodega Hwy , about 2 miles inland of Hwy 1, just South of Bodega Bay. Just inland of there is the town of Occidental...great Italian food and a motorcycle lunch destination. From there its a 1 1/2 hour drive to the Napa wine country......

As others have said, there are many overlooks, beaches and photo opportunities along the winding and sometimes windy or foggy coastline.

Fort Ross is a State Park....because it is the Southern-most point of Russian outpost along the California Coast. It was a Russian fort, thus the historical significance.

Hwy 1 dead ends into Hwy 101 @ Leggett and you begin your continued Northern journey, You might want to visit the Humboldt Redwoods (old growth) and take the side road that parallels Hwy 101....The Avenue of the Giants....

Above that you will pass the intersection of Hwy 36 (TWN's sign picture) and 101 as you enter Fortuna and on to Eureka.

Some of the small towns on the coast are dingy, some are really pretty with restored Victorian homes (like Fort Bragg & Eureka).

It sounds like a lovely, and possibly romantic, vacation adventure.