| Author | Message | ||
     Sparky |
Speaking of Death Valley, this weekend 1/17 - 1/19 is LA#1's (HOG) annual Pre-Superbowl camp outing in Furnace Creek. Officially I can bring one guest to join the ride & the fun by signing a waiver. Hey, but if a bunch wants to ride along, of course you can. I'd like to know if anybody who posts here would be interested in this sort of thing. Death Valley weather forecast looks to be dry and relatively warm, mid 70's -- good riding weather -- but dips to 40s or so at nights. As expected the ride out of LA through Lancaster is the coldest part so be prepared. The event features a BBQ both nights with a roaring campfire (3 pickups full of wood) & optional day rides on Saturday. The ride leaves Bartels' at 6 am Friday, takes 405N, 5, 14, Garlock Rd., 395, 178E & 190 with a breakfast/gas stop at Mike's in Mojave, grocery/liquor/last gas stop in Ridgecrest. Last year on this ride, Jen & I took in the Guggenheim in Las Vegas. Glad we did. I think it's closed now though. I'm doing a shakedown run today with camping gear strapped to the Firebolt. Made it to work. So far so good. Sparky | ||
| Ferris |
Sparky, i had a delivery to Furnace Creek last Thursday and another to Stovepipe Wells last Friday, and the weather in DV both days was PERFECT!!! have fun, wish i could be there with you, are you guys gonna run up to Scotty's Castle? have you ever ridden out of the valley over to Beatty? FB | ||
| Ferris |
ps to Sparky: by taking 178 from Ridgecrest out thru Trona, instead of taking 395 north up to Olancha before you turn to the east, you miss the glorious, twisty descent from Darwin down into the Panamint Valley. have you ever gone this way? FB | ||
| Lornce |
Sparky, Thanks for the Caltrans info, sure it'll be useful. Too bad winter closing Crest Hwy... Sorta what I thought... Would love to see the route sheets for Palomar and the Anza Borega region... Thanks again! Jim sb, Thanks for your input. We plan to stick to the coastal region north of Santa Barbara, no more than 50 miles or so inland. Yosemite is out in March, I think. Fond mems of the area between Santa Cruz and Alice's... Big Basin etc... Keen to repeat. North of San Fran is all new to me... Look forward to more rugged coastal highway.... Firemanjim, Al an Ferris Let's keep in touch, it'd be great if you could join us. We arrive Encinitas March 8th for an Airheads Beemer Club 'doo' and leave on the bikes from there on the 10th. Mt. Palomar on the 9th seems inevitable.... cheers, Lornce | ||
| Jim_Sb |
Okay, here's a road condition update from the guy who rode them yesterday!  Angeles Crest Highway - snow closure after the ski resorts. Road is clear and dry to Newcomb's Ranch and pretty good to the ski resorts (we went as far as we could). It was c-o-l-d up there early Sunday, we did hit one ice patch leaned over a bit in the shade - whoops... Big Tujunga Canyon - sunny, warm and clean. Fun. Angeles Forest Highway - sunny, warm and clean. Fun. Cerro Noroeste (from Lake in the Woods past Pine Mountain Resort up the the 33/166 junction) sunny and warm, the stretch from Lake in the Woods to Pine Mountain Resort was covered with whatever cinder mix they use up there. Yuck. From P/M/R onward the road was fabulous. 33 South into Ojai - sunny, warm and clean. Sparky, thanks for the invitation but The Warden would kill me if I took off for a 3 day ride! Enjoy. Lornce, as the others indicated, post here when you're planning on being in the area. If you're around here on a weekend I'd enjoy showing you some good roads. Just have to sneak away from the Warden for a bit... | ||
| Sparky |
Ferris, There's usually a splinter group that visits Scotty's every year. I like that green hot rod '29 (I think) pickup that's always parked up by the gate, must belong to a Ranger. The castle is such a mind boggling experience to behold! Yeah, we've visited Beatty and, on the way there, stopped at the brothel, the one with the airplane out front. For pictures of course,... of the plane, The plane! A couple years ago a film crew took movies of us winding down 190's twisties from Olancha. Those magnificient views are still etched in memory. My favorite way into DV though is through Trona & the old Trona-Wildrose Rd. Even though it's rough, washboard & gravelly in spots, it's a historic, terrain following, challenging road through the Panamints. It's a heads-up road. Last year there was an ice patch on one section that was always in the shadows. Some guys just blasted right over it, but I stopped & tip toed around it.  Does yer delivery vehicle have markings (in case I might spot you on the road Fri/Sat)? Lornce, the Calif BRAG Tour supplied us with these fantastic Mad Maps. If you don't have a set for where you're going, I've got an extra set. They provide detailed insider info on twisties desireability, hangouts & roadside attractions for motorcyclists. Beats gas station maps IMO. When you get in the area, ping me & I'll hook you up with these & Jerry's Palomar/Borrego maps. One of Jerry's is the trip that Al mentioned above. Jim_SB, thanks for the road report. Hey, the next time you guys do 33/Frazier Park, let me know. I need to scrub in the edges too. Sparky | ||
| Jim_Sb |
Sparky, I'll remember that. What town are you coming from? What routing do you like to take when you ride the 33? I'm sure we could work out a letter "P" shaped route from Ojai, 33 North to 166 East to Cerro Noroeste SE to Lockwood Valley West to 33 South back into Ojai sometime. What did you have in mind? What's your preferred riding day and time? | ||
| Sparky |
Jim_SB, I'm within earshot of LAX. Most of the time I'm headed to 33 is with the wife to do Song Dog Rallies. So it's PCH North to 23N, 118W to Balcom Cyn (instead of Grimes Cyn), So. Mountain Road West to 150 into Ojai. If I'm rushed, it would be PCH North to 33. A couple times we went the other way: Bouquet Cyn, Lake Elizabeth, 3 Points to 138W, Gorman Post to Frazier Pk, Cerro Noroeste, 166 & 33. This is a little longer but it's especially satisfying for the Spring Rally (first w/e in May) to see all the multi-colored spring flowers displayed on the hillsides by Gorman. I can't commit to spontaneous long day rides. Those need a little planning. That's why I'm glad we have this resource to pool our ideas and sort things out. Thanks, Sparky | ||
| Jim_Sb |
Hi Sparky, I'm familiar with all those roads - but have never ridden Balcom. I will.  I'm still looking for a great way to hook up Angeles Crest / Angeles Forest / Big Tujunga with Frazier Park. I need to spend some time on Bouquet Canyon, Sand Canyon and San Francisquito to see if I can come up with a better (less slab - more twisties) routing. | ||
| Ferris |
Sparky, is there a road in SoCal that you HAVEN'T yet ridden??? i drive my own rig, an '01 Toyota Tacoma ext-cab, white w/white canopy, no markings, CD player set on "Stun". if i see a bunch of DV-bound scooters out that direction on Friday or Saturday i'll stick a big thumbs-up out the window with my left hand and be wipin' drool off my chin with my right hand FB | ||
| Sparky |
Guys, I found a clip of the movie I mentioned above on the LA#1 home page and click the link Riding with LA#1 Video. Caveat: I haven't seen it yet -- it takes Windows Media Player v7 & my work PC is not upgraded, YMMV. Jim_Sb, there are a couple ways to do it (Crest to Frazier Park) that I've been on. Tim H. led a Golden State BRAG ride last year from Glendale HD/B to Newcomb's then back to Big Tujunga, Foothill Bl West, Osborne, Little Tujunga, Sand Cyn, Sierra, Vasquez Cyn, Bouquet Cyn, Lake Elizabeth West to the Rock Inn. The ride ended there but to get to Frazier Park, continue on Lake Elizabeth, turn right at 3 Points to 138W, Gorman Post, then under the Fwy to Frazier Pk. The other way is North on Angeles Forest Hwy, 14N, Palmdale Bl exit & West on N2, becomes Lake Elizabeth Rd then continue as above. There you have it -- So many roads, so little time, eh? When the weather warms up this'll be a good one. Ferris, I'll be lookin' out for ya. A white Toyota and a blue thumb stickin' out! Just got a call from ASB, my Firebolt luggage rack just came in! Hi Ho, Hi Ho, a campin' we will go... Sparky | ||
| Jim_Sb |
Sparky, I've done the Lake Elizabeth route many times. The Little Tujunga / Sand Canyon route sounds better. I'll check it out soon. PS. After you leave Harley's Rock Inn continue West on Lake E. road for awhile. Before you get to the 138 there's an intersection (not really marked) with some kind of little shop on the corner. If you turn left there (the road may be called G2 - not sure) you'll find a freshly paved, super technical little stretch - no signage of any kind, no striping, seriously sharp turns so watch yourself - but a narrow, fun little road with no traffic. Feels like a long, twisty driveway. It dead ends into the Old Road - a twisty little bit you take Northward into the 138. | ||
| Sparky |
Yeah, that corner not marked well is, I think, 3 Points and 3 Points Rd ends at Hwy 138. The last time I was down that twisty road it was pretty rough which made it even more fun (funner?). Glad it's repaved now. I believe it's N2. You ever been south on the Old Road from there, the unmaintained part? Not I but a Beemer rider friend did several years ago. He said it was very entertaining with tumbleweeds, boulders, frost heaves, but passable. Not recommended for the faint of heart. Couldn't be any worse though than when 33 was closed a few yrs ago from the El Nino mudslide. Don't ask how I discovered how bad an unmaintained road can get, as I was zig zagging past uprooted trees & VW sized boulders. Kinda terrifying to think about what could happen any second, it was. | ||
| Jim_Sb |
Sparky, nope. Haven't gone South on the Old Road. I wondered where it ended up. Castaic? Maybe could go from Lake Hughes down Lake Hughes Road (fun) to Castaic then back up the Old Road? I'll try any road once. | ||
| Jprovo |
Who all from SoCal besides me is planning on riding to the Buell 20th party? I have a preliminary travel schedule, but would like to have someone to ride with. James | ||
| Firemanjim |
So how is that E-Bear fella doing with his healing?We haven't heard a peep from/about him since his little get off.And more important--how's the bike!! | ||
| Sparky |
Annual Death Valley winter ride report. Also noted several BMW groups camping in Furnace Creek, standing around their bikes, shooting the $hit. They all eyeballed the Firebolt. Real gearheads, eh? Sparky | ||
| Sarodude |
James- August is a LOOONG way off... I'm in the middle of some events that may drastically change my life and schedule - in VERY VERY good ways. Depending on how things go, maybe I could ride with ya. Loli might be interested too. So, uh, how long does it take to ride to Wisconsin? | ||
| Jprovo |
Saro, Best of luck on your life-changing events. Here's my plan (so far) Saturday 8/16 Meet up in Montclair,CA (PVHD) 8:30-9:00 PVHD-Barstow,CA 81 Miles, 9:00-10:30 Barstow-Primm,NV 113 Miles, 10:30-12:30 Lunch in Primm 12:30-1:00 Primm-Las Vegas (LVHD) 44 Miles, 1:00-2:00 Stretch, Gamble & BS, 2:00-2:30 LVHD-Mesquite,NV 82 Miles, 2:30-4:00 Mesquite-Washington,UT (Zion HD) 42.2 Miles 4:00-5:00 Stretch & BS 5:00-5:30 Zion HD-St.George,UT 5 Miles, 5:30-6:00 Sunday 8/17 St.George-Beaver,UT 104 Miles, 7:00-9:00 Beaver-Nephi,UT 116 Miles, 9:00-11:30 Nephi-Salt Lake City (BSLC) 80 Miles, 11:30-1:00 Meet EZ for Lunch 1:00-2:00 BSLC-Evanston,WY 80 Miles, 2:00-3:45 Evanston-Rock Springs,WY 103 Miles, 3:45-5:15 Rock Springs-Rawlins,WY 108 Miles, 5:15-7:00 Monday 8/18 Rawlins-Laramie,WY 100 Miles, 7:00-8:45 Laramie-Cheyenne,WY (Maverick Buell) 50 Miles, 8:45-9:45 Maverick Buell-Sidney,NE 100 Miles, 9:45-11:30 Sidney-North Platte,NE (Budke's H-D) 122 Miles, 11:30-1:30 Lunch 1:30-2:00 Budke's HD-Kearney,NE 99 Miles, 2:00-3:45 Kearney-Grand Island,NE (HD Central) 49 Miles, 3:45-4:45 HD Central-Lincoln,NE (Frontier Buell) 98 Miles, 4:45-6:30 Frontier Buell-Omaha,NE (Buell of Omaha) 49 Miles, 6:30-7:30 Tuesday 8/19 Buell of Omaha-Walnut,IA 55 Miles, 8:00-9:00 Walnut-Des Moines,IA (Zook's Buell) 92 Miles, 9:00-10:45 Zook's-Waterloo,IA (Buell Cycle Center), 108 Miles, 10:45-11:45 Lunch & BS 12:45-2:00 Buell Cycle Center-Dubuque,IA (Wilwert's Buell), 92 Miles, 2:00-4:00 Wilwert's-Rockford,IL (Kegel Motorcycle Co), 105 Miles, 4:00-6:00 Kegel Motorcycle Co.-New Berlin,WI (Hal's Buell), 82 Miles, 6:00-7:30 of course since it's just me (so far), there won't be a big meeting in Montclair! The days work out to be roughly 500-600 miles, I figure that's do-able without too much stress. | ||
| Sparky |
BRAG meeting/party/tech day announcement. For those who didn't receive the email from Candice, this condensed message is for you: Come join the the B.R.A.G. Golden State Club this Saturday, 1/25 @ Glendale Harley/Buell for the start to the 03 riding season. Sandwich and drink to be provided along with tech advise. Be there at 9:30/10:00. Here's to a great 2003 year, Tim and Candice Hurley. More info: Tech Day -- Learn how to properly inspect & adjust your suspension settings. Get your copy of the first Golden State BRAG newsletter. Sign the 20th Anniversary card to be sent to Erik Buell. Bring your ideas for future rides/events. Don't miss out on the door prizes. Everybody is welcome to attend. Sparky |
