Washington/Oregon/NoCal must ride roads?

[Beardo]

Came down the 101 along the coast, made it to Crescent city last night. Thank God for Frog Toggs and pinlock visors...rained about 6 hours straight. Still enjoyed the ride and seeing the ocean.  Was a different kind of ride...went from “track mode” scraping pegs on the 20 to watching the ocean and trying not to hydroplane.

Today going to do the Avenue of the Giants, then 36, 3, then up 97 towards Crater Lake. Not sure how far we’ll go today, it’s a sightseeing day 

[The emperor has no clothes]

Came down the 101 along the coast, made it to Crescent city last night. Thank God for Frog Toggs and pinlock visors...rained about 6 hours straight. Still enjoyed the ride and seeing the ocean.  Was a different kind of ride...went from “track mode” scraping pegs on the 20 to watching the ocean and trying not to hydroplane.

Today going to do the Avenue of the Giants, then 36, 3, then up 97 towards Crater Lake. Not sure how far we’ll go today, it’s a sightseeing day  

Dude ! You rock   I had my doubts you'd make it there. You are in for a great day. There are a couple drive thru trees, if you are up for full tourist mode. I think the most recent one I did was in Legget. Have fun.



I'll look for you later. We will be flying over you on the way to SeaTac. 

[sheets]

On the Avenue of the Giants . . . look for signs leading to Founders Grove. A good parking area with some easy walking in immediate vicinity of ancient trees. A snapshot glimpse of the entire redwood region.

Drive thru tree is in Leggett - a little further south. At the intersection of Hwy 101 & Hwy 01.

If you come back by way of 101, lodging and eats at Giuntoli Lane at the north end of Arcata (near junction with Hwy 299).

How far on Hwy 36? My opinion the best part of 36 is near I-5, the east end of the section starting from 101 - about ten miles of roller coaster fun.
 
Depending on which direction you are on 299 when you reach Weaverville, the junction with Hwy 3 (--> Yreka) is near the west end of town - the old pioneer section. The current era expanded part of town is east of the intersection - by about a mile - with shopping and places to eat. The grocery store has a good deli section for ready to eat stuff and sandwiches. A few tables and chairs out front of the store.



Hope my neck of the woods leave a favorable impression.  

[gordonv]

Now Crescent City, my first time seeing the open Pacific (any) Ocean. Was there in Apr 2010 on my drive down to Las Vegas picking up my 1st Valkyrie. Stayed there over night.

Then the next night in Healdburg CA (n of Santa Rosa/San Fran). A good place to sample wines. We got a room just out of the DT centre, walking into town, and started drinking. In the US, you pay $5, get 3 x 1/2 glasses of wine to sample, and I don't think one place held us to that, and we had 5-6 at each place, till we where happy with the samples. At home, tastings are (were) free, and you get splashes, enough to sample the wine.

One other thing, stop at a rest stop. When we drove through the northern states, there was a flyer with hotels listed and discounted room rates, at the rest stop. Might be worth your wild to look, and maybe choose a direction on that.

[Beardo]

Was another great day. Avenue of the Giants was amazing. Makes us feel so darned insignificant.

Went back up the 101, went down the 36...on my top 5 roads for fun, scenery, etc.  But when I look on my Google Map machine and I see that 36 joins to 3...I assume that means I can continue from the one to the other. Got almost to Dinsmore and there was a very nice lady standing under an umbrella beside a “Road Closed” sign. Explained that it has heaved badly and we can’t go through. Ah jeez....we had to ride the same awesome road again.  No complaints here...there’s worse things to do than wander California’s backroads. 

Back through Eureka, up to 299 and over to Weaverville for a bite. 299...also a great ride. Lots of fast sweepers 

Couple notes...love a few things down here...frequent use of centre turning lanes and roundabouts  .  Dislikes: no daytime running lights. Probably 20% of the vehicles in the heavy rain yesterday didn’t have their lights on. 

 Also, twice today, we hit construction and we got waved to the front of the line. Is that common down here? Both guys were riders and I think just wanted to talk to me about the bike, but it was nice. Everyone wants to talk about the bike, which sucks when you wear earplugs...it’s a pain to take the helmet off and remove the plugs, so I’ve found yelling is just best. One old bearded dude literally ran across a busy street to talk to me about it. Said he was buying one when he retires, hasn’t had a bike since a Norton in the 70s. I suggested that they’ve changed a bit since then 

Met an awesome couple on a KTM 1290 at the Avenue if the Giants. They looked about 90. Could have talked to them for hours. They were surprised that we rode there from SK....like them riding a bike like that isn’t surprising!  There are some amazing people out there. I like visiting with those kinda folks. Get me in a room with more than 10 people though, I’m ready to bolt.

Thanks again for helping me out with all the great suggestions. So appreciated.

Just a few pics from today...

[Beardo]

Wife recalled seeing a sign saying something about hours, but we weren’t paying attention or were going too fast.  

Glad we weren’t. It was worth the ride. X2.

She said we could have waited til 17:00 but it was 14:00, didn’t want to wait. Didn’t have to tell me twice to ride it again.

[Jess from VA]

Really enjoying your posts and pics. 

VA also requires.... if wipers on, headlights on too.  Very few people know this law, or they are worried about their batteries running down. 

It is really amazing to see some of the oldest living things on the planet. 

A group of us riding a few years ago stopped on a WVa mountain for coffee.  It snowed a blizzard while we sat inside, laughing as the snow piled up on our bikes.

There were a bunch of logging and dump trucks running up and down, and we rode down the mountain in their tracks.... carefully.

[Disco]

Thanks for taking us along!   

[Savago]

@Beardo: congrats on joining the club of the riders who conquered the Serpent to the Sea (CA-36)!

Nothing less than 1811 curves in 140 miles!

And people talk about the 'Tail of the Dragon' as a huge challenge....
 

You are now eligible to wear one of this:

[Savago]

@Beardo, oh wait... you didn't ride the segment from Forest Glen to Red Bluff?

[Disco]

Great pic! 

I have a couple that are very similar.    

Now, about that shirt... 

[Beardo]

We’re meandering our way north and east, just looking for some new places we haven’t been and looking for the squiggliest lines on the map.

We did Crater Lake yesterday, was beautiful.



Took the 26 from Prineville to John Day. Nice road and scenery. There were 2 Valkyrie’s at the motel we were at, one parked right beside me. Anyone here?

Continued on the 26 this morning, then the 7...yet another great road. Is every road good around here??

Big bike rally in Baker City. Too many dudes dressed up like pirates for this guy. Kept going.

Up the 84 for a bit to the 82, headed to Joseph. Stopped at the Chamber of Commerce building for a map and asked what is THE road/site to see...he said Hells Canyon. Hells Canyon it is. Crappy road but nice view at the top.



I knew msb had been here so I texted him and asked what the must ride roads in the area are. He just replied one word. Rattlesnake.

Well, I don’t see that on the map I got. So let’s just head north on the 3/129, it looks like it has some curves.  My Lord did it have curves. It wasn’t til we saw the sign something about a Rattlesnake River did I realize that was the road the was talking about.  What an amazing ride.  





Looks like I’ll be buying some new peg studs when I get home.  

Didn’t think anything would match the Cali roads but Oregon is putting up a good fight. Plus they don’t have the stupid gas nozzle vent pieces of crap here.

Note for next year. For a trip this long...347 of your favourite songs is not a long enough playlist. Many are no longer my favourites.  

In Coeur d’Alene for the night. Looking for more squiggly lines tomorrow.

[msb]

Wow, that Rattlesnake River route sure looks fantastic in the Sun!! When the Idaho boys lead us along their last September when we joined them for their Joseph Jaunt meetup, it was a little more Grey....and a "little" wetter as well. Was still a great ride but  man, I sure hope we're lucky enough to enjoy it again with the weather you experienced when we head down again this September! 
Great post....love the ongoing pics and reporting....you two are sure putting than nice new Wing to good use.

The ride around Lake Coeur d'Alene  is a nice easy ride, lots of curves and views of the lake. Heading North up through NE ID and  NW MT is some of our favorite riding down there...look up Lake Koocanusa  (lake in the Kootenay region that borders SE BC and NW MT....hence the name Koo...Can...Usa). Beautiful scenery and road, very little traffic). Ride up from  Coeur d'Alene is great too.. I'm sure you'll be taking the absolute longest route home, but ya gotta get back to good old Saskabush soon so you can even out your tires by wearing down some of the centre tread

[0leman]

Beardo, thanks for sharing some of the roads in OR with others.  Now there will be more wanting to come to ride them for themselves.  Just more traffic for us Oregonians to face.   

Seriously, glad you found them interesting to drive.  I get to drive them nearly all year, except for high country ones (snow/ice is not fun on two wheels).

Enjoy the rest of your ride.

[Beardo]

Sorry Oleman...your secret is out.  

We left Coeur d’Alene, heading north...but we weren’t ready to point home just yet. We’ve done northern Idaho a few times in the last few years, but haven’t done the Icefields Parkway in a while. Had a nice short ride up to Radium and had a nice supper. Bike is a bloody mess after about 7000 km.



Had to keep an eye on the radar, there’s some storms in the area. Managed to avoid the rain past Lake Louise and north. Were planning on going all the way to Jasper but the radar suggested otherwise. Was a nice ride nonetheless.







Headed east at Saskatchewan River Crossing. We were attempting to outrun a storm. East for a bit. Then storm. So south for a bit. Storm again. Thought we had outsmarted it then it caught us. Hardest rain/hail/wind I’ve ever ridden in. Was a blast. Seriously, was pretty exciting.

Wife got a few pics after we made it through.






Can tell we’re back on the prairies  



Last leg home tomorrow. Has been a great trip. Covered a lot of miles and seen some great country, thanks to a lot of you all for the suggestions. To those who offered to meet up, I appreciate the offers but as you can tell, our plan was to cover a lot of miles and see as much as we can.

Thanks for coming along  

[The emperor has no clothes]

Now that you’ve had the chance to get the new wing some good miles, how are you liking it ? Seat ok ? Lack of highway pegs an issue ?

[Beardo]

Now that you’ve had the chance to get the new wing some good miles, how are you liking it ? Seat ok ? Lack of highway pegs an issue ?

Have ridden it from basically Vancouver to Quebec last year and now this and we love it.

Anyone who says you can’t 2 up tour because of the lack of luggage space...you’re just taking too much. We found a few things we don’t need to take next year when we do the Maritimes. Such as: my big cold weather gauntlet gloves. With the heated grips, the hands stay toasty warm, I can just take 2 summer pairs in case 1 gets wet. I’m going to buy a new helmet with a transitions visor so I don’t need to take a second (clear) visor in case we have to ride at night. So that’ll free up some more space too. But we had all the clothes and stuff we needed, and even had room for the tire plug kit and air compressor. Only had to wash 1 shirt once.

Highway pegs...I honestly don’t want or need them. Love the position of the pegs. No knee or leg issues at all.

We averaged probably close to 500 mile days every day and the seat is ok. Sure the butt got a little sore at times but I don’t want to change it unless someone makes what I would want. When I changed the seat on my Harley and on my Valk, it made it more comfortable but was much thicker, so I was then sitting on the bike rather than in it. I like to ride fairly aggressively and i don’t want to lose that feel. Plus raising both the wife and I up a couple inches will negatively affect the balance.

The power and smoothness...well everyone on this site knows all about that already. Just great.

Apple CarPlay is freaking great.

Met a lot of riders on this trip with KTMs, FJRs, Connies, Beemers, and I love and would happily own any of them, but every one of their riders agreed for doing 2-up touring, we bought the best bike. I tend to agree.

[The emperor has no clothes]

 

[DDT (12)]

Jason,

Absolutely awesome trek!!! Man, you sure know how to inspire us wannabes... In fact, I'm getting ready to head that way myself with Troutdude and meeting-up with his spouse Water Bug in Calgary for the Icefields Parkway ride you've jus taken... See what you've done!

DDT

[Beardo]

Jason,

Absolutely awesome trek!!! Man, you sure know how to inspire us wannabes... In fact, I'm getting ready to head that way myself with Troutdude and meeting-up with his spouse Water Bug in Calgary for the Icefields Parkway ride you've jus taken... See what you've done!

DDT

Oh, you’ll love it!  Keep in mind tourist season is in full swing now. For example, Lake Louise was “full” and the only way you could get there was a shuttle bus. Banff and Jasper will be very busy as well. We preferred to have the road and the amazing scenery be our destination, so we avoided the tourist traps like the plague. There’s many lookouts and quieter spots along the parkway to absorb the sights without having to deal with that.

Have a great time and let me be the first to say Welcome to Canada!

[Gryphon Rider]

Jason,

Absolutely awesome trek!!! Man, you sure know how to inspire us wannabes... In fact, I'm getting ready to head that way myself with Troutdude and meeting-up with his spouse Water Bug in Calgary for the Icefields Parkway ride you've jus taken... See what you've done!

DDT

Oh, you’ll love it!  Keep in mind tourist season is in full swing now. For example, Lake Louise was “full” and the only way you could get there was a shuttle bus. Banff and Jasper will be very busy as well. We preferred to have the road and the amazing scenery be our destination, so we avoided the tourist traps like the plague. There’s many lookouts and quieter spots along the parkway to absorb the sights without having to deal with that.

Have a great time and let me be the first to say Welcome to Canada!

While tourist season certainly is in full swing, now that the Stampede is past it will ease a little.  If you get to the most popular attractions, like Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, early on a weekday, parking should be okay.  Just be sure to arrive before Calgarian families can arrive.  On a weekend or especially a long weekend, all bets are off.  A couple of years ago I intended to go hiking at Lake Louise on Canada Day with my family.  We gave up and continued up to Bow Lake, where we barely got parking, but had a beautiful day.

[Deerslayer]

I was up there a few years ago with my local riding club.. The Vermin.
we road the park on Tuesday -Wednesday.
yes, it was busy but we had absolutely no issues of it being 'too busy'

this is a must do bucket list ride.

..Slayer