| Author | Message | ||
     Al_Lighton |
Juan, I might be. Goes about like this. IF I can find a direct flight from SD or HellA to Tampa or Miami for a reasonable amount, and IF I can convince my 6 year old son that sending him to visit the grandparents in Florida doesn't mean that we're abandoning him for life, my wife and I will go, her on her S3, me on my S1W (ouch!). If I can't convince the 6 year old of that, then I'll convince my lovely wife that I will be gone without her for 5 days while I do the first few legs. But I probably won't make it to Eureka if that's the way it goes down.  If that doesn't work, I'll just polish something in the garage instead. Al | ||
| FB |
V2win and Racerboy, check out this Buell ride thru Death Valley (credit one Joe Peralta for putting the gig together....and for covincing me that riding back and forth in front of his camera thru freezing snow was a good idea :-) whilst i work on s'more route choices for y'all. Ferris | ||
| FB |
if you make it to Lone Pine, this is what i'd suggest: turn west at the only traffic light in town, onto Whitney Portal Rd. about 1/2 mile later, turn left (south) onto Tuttle Creek Rd. prepare for big fun :-) when you seen the sign that says "Narrow, Winding Road, Use Extreem Caution" (their spelling, not mine :-), best to throw out the anchor. go slow and enjoy, as you're now dissecting a pretty tasty portion of the Alabama Hills (home of many classic old westerns), and i can about guarantee that you'll NEVER see scenery like this again. (and when you see the cabin siting by the stream--it'll be on your right--surrounded by boulders considerably larger than the cabin, it's ok to stop and drool :-) Tuttle Creek Rd. is all paved (although it's plenty cobby) and i never miss it when i'm in the area. when you come out on top, you'll be looking in the near distance at a series of switchbacks that knife up the side of the massive Sierra Mountains. wanna ride that road? you can! :-) stay tuned, Ferris | ||
| Racerboy |
Al...Hey you know there's a place in FL with funny ears and a castle...You're riding!... Jim..Man I just checked my mapping program and it shows Emerald Bay on the southwest side of the lake...So what's it to be guys?...The tour book recommended east side or as I remember it, the more scenic west...Or is it that Emerald Bay just struck me down so badly that I overlooked that the rest of the west was not so spectacular... Ferris...You the man!...You're cautions noted...John and I travel a lot together and both of us like to ride the same scoot home that we start out on (hell, we just like to get home)...So our riding style away is probably like a lot of others, conservative...Although there was this one time of the Cherohala Skyway during the Deal's Gap thing that John just had to see how good another guy was...They were both good!... All...Whitehorse Press has three, soon to be four, Motorcycle Adventure Maps of CA...If you're going to register for this ride hold off on buying these as Leslie is trying to work a deal to make them part of the rally packet...Although we both would be very interested if someone in each of the four areas covered could critique them...From our distant vantage point they look great... We flatlanders and the ice bound princess in Buellaland are stoked...Les said today that she wished it was July so that she could be reading about this whole forray in Fuell... Again, tnx for all the help See Ya! Bob | ||
| Turnagain |
Ferris, Sparky & et al., As a navigational aid and way to envision where you're sending Coverboy (aka Racerboy Bob) and V2Win, could you point us to some maps at the TopoZone.com site? Sort of like this one of Deal's Gap. I looked up Palomar and can zero in on some pretty twisty stuff, but can't tell if that's what you're describing. Thanks, Steve(2) dcbrag | ||
| Racerboy |
Steve...I looked up Death Valley, Furnace Creek...Not too often you see a topo with a line labeled "Sea Level"...Way cool...Click your way up to CA190 and then follow it west until it becomes CA136 and you'll get an idea of the twistie factor as it climbs out of the valley... Also, Ferris, I had no idea that the highest mt in the lower 48 was in CA...Amazing, what with me being the "1999 Trivia Champion of St Augustine's Church, Belleville, Illinois"...The Sierra's get no respect back here...Thank John Denver for that...But I should have had some idea of their enormity since there was a cafeteria at the U of Colorado named "Donner Cafeteria"...Very appropro, don't you think?... See Ya! Bob | ||
| FB |
gents, it's not just the twisties on the way out of DV, but the ambiance as well. you'll have to see it for yourselves to appreciate fully :-) tried to do the TopoZone thing, bogged my confuser down big time, sorry. Donner Cafe? ouch! :-) ok, if you've made it this far, perhaps you're willing to go a little farther. (hmmm, sounds like a line out of "Shawshank Redemption"....) when you emerge from the boulders and level out on Tuttle Creek Road, you're looking directly ahead at an amazing series of switchbacks that cut up a near vertical face on the Sierras at the base of Mt. Whitney. the engineering gem you're looking at is called Horseshoe Meadows Road, and it climbs from just over 3,000 feet to 10,040 feet in 24 miles. the views, needless to say, are pretty spectacular. Horseshoe Meadows Rd. is paved, and shouldn't be missed. at the top you'll find streams, trails, and beauty beyond compare. so proceed south on Tuttle Creek Rd., about a mile or so. take a right (west) on Lubken Canyon Road, then quickly a left (south) on Horseshoe Meadows Rd. when you've soaked in as much as a mere mortal can absorb, retrace your steps back to Lubken Canyon Rd., and take it east back out to Highway 395. Lubken Cyn. Rd. is no slouch either, but will probably be pretty anticlimactic after what you've just experienced :-) take a right (south) on 395 (your directional options at this point are a bit limited by the, um, fourteen and a half thousand foot wall of granite at your back :-), and continue your journey towards Sandy Eggo. it's bedtime, i'll jump back on here sometime this weekend and toss out a coupla options for the next segment on your Excellent Adventure :-) ride to lean, Ferris ps: i've got a shot of my Buell in the exact same spot as V2win's in the link above, and by gawd isn't the pavement on Deal's Gap hard on tires? and the Cherohala Skyway? all i can say is wow! | ||
| FB |
pss to V2Win: loved your Iron Butt Adventure piece. ALL of it :-) | ||
| FB |
psss: Dow Villa Motel, Lone Pine, CA | ||
| FB |
pssss: Lone Pine Visitor's Bureau | ||
| FB |
so you're finally headed south on 395 from Lone Pine (you DID fuel up at Lee's Frontier Market Chevron, on the south end of town, right? gas, free coffee, booze seven days a week, and bad-ass firearms for sale--your basic one-stop shopping :-) no worries if you burned up some petrol doing Horseshoe Meadows, there's fuel 20 min so. of Lone Pine in Olancha, 35 min. so. at Coso Junction, and 50 min. so. at Pearsonville. depending on your time and desire, you're now faced with several options. are you tired of riding and just wanna get to San Diego? (say it ain't so!) then stay on 395 and go, go, go. you'll hate this road once you skirt the edge of Ridgecrest (be on the lookout for jet fly-by's, you may even spot a Stealth fighter doing the Mach-arena (sorry........ :-) 395 from Ridgecrest north is a motorcycle rider's dream, as it caresses the Sierras in a long, languid dance of paved, pulsating passion (sorry again, i've been drinking....) 395 from Ridgecrest south sucks hard, unless relentless traffic including motorhomes and big-rigs, no scenery (excepting the endless Mojave Desert), and two-wheeled boredom blow your dress up. but, if ya gotta make time, 395 is your weapon. it'll eventually dump you out on I-15 at Cajon Pass, just north of San Bernardino, and from there you're on your own how to continue on. just don't say i didn't warn you. Ferris | ||
| FB |
if you're thinkin' that you've got just a little adventure left in you at this point, stay to the right (on 14) at the 395/14 split just south of Pearsonville. both 395 and 14 will take you (basically) to L.A., but 395 puts you in the eastern side of the L.A. basin, and 14 dumps you out on I-5 on the west side (but avoid this particular vehicular jungle if at all possible). so why take 14, you ask? so that you can gain access to the legendary Angeles Crest Highway, you ninny! not sure how the BRAG ride is gonna bring you north from SD, they may haul you up on the Crest for all i know. but if you wanna do it southbound, here's how. like i said before, stay to the right at the 395/14 split (watch for the signs, can't miss it), and churn your way southbound. (this stretch of road doesn't win any awards for being motorcycle-friendly, either--sorry, ya just gotta suck it up). when you enter Rosamond you're only about five minutes from Willow Springs Int'l Raceway, in case you want to get a photo (watch for the signs :-) Lancaster is next, then Palmdale. (by the way, this is Edwards AFB/The Right Stuff territory, ya never know WHAT you'll see flying by...) towards the south end of PD, look for 138 east. this'll extremely sucky little piece of tarmac will get you to Pearblossom, and JUST after PB take a right on any road that mentions Valyermo, Wrightwood, Mountain High, Hwy. 2, etc. NOW you're gonna start having fun again :-) at this point you're climbing out of the Mojave and up into the San Gabriel Mountains--good stuff. when you get to Hwy. 2 (Angeles Crest Hwy!), hang a right and let 'er rip :-) be sure to stop at Newcomb's Ranch (they speak motorcycles here). you'll end up (eventually) in Glendale (and you'll have had a ton o' fun getting there), and, as above, you're on your own how to navigate from there thru the maelstrom that is L.A. more to come, Ferris | ||
| FB |
<snip> | ||
| Firemanjim |
Ferris,I can see that you all of a sudden have way too much time on your hands.You should be out in the garage polishing/cleaning/painting/disassembling/assembling a certain S-2.Now go do it,boy!!When can we see you on the road again? | ||
| FB |
you'll have to ask Fearless, FMJ, she handles the money these days (she KNOWS better than to let me near it :-) when's your new Firebolt gonna be under your butt? Ferris | ||
| FB |
so Racerboy and V2Win, i've got two more interesting diversions i can throw your way, one of which takes you thru a Joshua tree forest, on an RTBR (Rip, Turn 'n Burn Road), the other thru a grove of giant Sequoia trees (after negotiating a nifty 9,000-foot mountain pass), both of which are basically on your way. interested??? ride to lean, Ferris :-) | ||
| Racerboy |
Ferris...We had our monthly Buell ride here today and had four riders show...Ed D on his Ultra, Josh and Mariabelen (she has a Blast but was pillion today on their S3T) Ray (a good friend from HSTA on his wife's Blackbird as his Cagiva is sickly) and myself on my other ride, a R1100RT...The excuse I'm currently fond of is that the Buell has 207's that are about cooked and I'm trying not the reshod it until CA but I don't think I'm fooling many (think great big fairing, tall screen and heated grips)...Wx was OK but a bit chilly at about 50...Didn't use my electrics but others were...We sallied down south to a Civil War battle site and watched the video and then a diorama that is computer controlled and shows how the battle took place...It was fought in Pilot Knob MO over an important iron operation but also to draw Federal's away from Sherman on his march through GA...Did not capture the iron mines or railroad but did distract some of the feds...2000 northern troops held off 15000 southerners...Obviously, the rebels were very short of arms (only four canons)... Here's our deal so far...Leave STL Tue to stay with John's sister in Childress TX Tue eve...Wed is to Flagstaff...Thr on to Furnace Creek...Fri we were planning on SD but are wondering if we shouldn't stay out in the desert area longer as we really don't need to be in SD until Sat...I guess your latest posts above are directed right at this line of thought...We were planning on doing Joshua Tree and Polomar on Sat from SD but we can stay easy and do them on the way out...Is the Salton Sea worth a look?... Our current plan for Sun (first day of the Tour) is to not do the route planned for the group...Rather, we are going to head N to LA and on the The Rock Store (which is supposed to be best done on a Sun)...John found a SCAB ride from Bartels to The Rock Store somewhere and we'll use that route once we get up there...Then we will ride E picking up the Angeles Crest which will deposit us close to Victorville which is the BRAG Tour destination for Sun eve...So if we stay easy one day longer before arriving SD we will have more time to do as many of the things you've suggested as possible...As I said before, you the man...Thanks for all the help...And yes, Willow Springs is one of the places I would like to see...We read about it in just about every moto mag and it would be fun to put a face to the name... See Ya! Bob | ||
| Sparky |
Racerboy, I'll betcha FB's waiting for me to chime in here. So, if you're near the 395/14 Jct and wanna see Willow Springs, there is a major piece of backroad artwork called Caliente-Bodfish, aka "The Lion's Trail", that you After Caliente-Bodfish make a left (South/East) on 58 and then a right on Tehachapi-Willow Springs Rd. This road'll take you within a mile of the track. For more info and map, try reversing the directions shown here: Lake Isabella ride. For other scenic rides in SoCal, try the links on my Ride Maps page. One of them, S.C.A.B. Mother of All Rides II, includes the Angeles Crest Hwy. Unless that road is closed due to Winter Closure, it will be part of Day 2 of the upcoming All Calif BRAG ride. I can't wait to hear all of your "Excellent Adventures" in person. Sparky 96S1, 98S3 | ||
| FB |
Sparky, YOU are da man!!! cool maps dude :-) Racerboy, i've not been to the Salton Sea yet (i'm still a relative newbie to this part of the hemisphere), so someone else will have to give you tour advice for down that way. Victorville, eh? great Buell dealership, i hear, and right in the middle of Marcy's Playground (Tat 'n Maria, that is, aka American Sport Bike :-) well, i'll toss out my last two diversions, and let you guys decide as your trip unfolds whether it's in the cards or not. about 50 minutes south of Lone Pine, on 395, is Pearsonville. exactly 3 miles BEFORE you get to Pearsonville you'll see a sign on your right (west) for Kennedy Meadows. this is A Great Road! (GET GAS IN PVILLE, IT'LL BE AWHILE BEFORE YOU SEE ANY MORE) i'll not hype it too much, but part of it's charm is 9,000-foot-plus Sherman Pass. this road will ultimately drop you out on the North Fork of the Kern River Rd. (i believe it's Mountain 99, see Sparky's map). if you take a right here, then another right at the (very remote) stop sign you'll see in about 10 minutes, you'll be about 5 minutes away from the Trail of 100 Giants, a darned impressive stand of monstrous Seqouia trees. when you've finally run out of words to adequately describe the trees u-turn and back-track down 99, continue past the Sherman Pass Rd. turnoff, and then down a little slice of paved paradise that'll drop you into Kernville. if you've the time, Kernville is worth a short layover. there are several nifty antique stores, and good food at Cheryl's Diner (right Sparky? :-) follow the signs to the town of Lake Isabella, at the other end of Isabella Lake, and get gas (if you didn't in Kernville). my other diversion also brings you Lake Isabella, so i'll close this post ad generate option #2. Ferris | ||
| Firemanjim |
So,Ferris.Seeing as how we'll be in your area for the CA BRAG ride are you gonna come and visit?? | ||
| FB |
the Sherman Pass Rd. can be a little time-consuming--long, plenty narrow in places, lots of scenery stops--so if you don't think you've got the time, but aren't amped abut blazing down 14 or 395 just yet, here is option #2. stay to the right, on 14, at the 395/14 split. in about 5 miles Hwy 178 veers off to the right (west). this is also A Great Road! the first thirty miles or so are basically uninhabited, and only very occasionally patrolled, and the pavement is sublime (about 20 miles of this section was recently repaved, and will be aged to perfection by the time you guys get out here :-) you'll see mile after mile of Joshua trees (and sagebrush), along with smooth, sweeping corners and long, rolling straights. this is a good road to stretch out on. (having said that, this is also a good road to watch for cattle on, as it's all open range. the bastards like to graze on the shoulders on some of the best, tightest corners :-) in short order you'll crest Walker Pass (the Pacific Crest Trail crosses here), and then begin a slow, gradual down-run toward Lake Isabella. let 'em rip, just be ready for cows. when you start seeing houses spring up, you're approaching the Lake, and continue on thru Onyx (the general store here was established in 1861 :-), Weldon, Southlake, Mountain Mesa, and then exit 178 into the town of Lake Isabella. get gas. ok, both the above options have brought you to the same place, it's time now to point you in the direction of one of Sparky's faves, the Lion's Trail :-) ride to lean, Ferris | ||
| FB |
FMJ, the thought has crossed my mind........ Ferris  | ||
| FB |
Racerboy, after studying your itinerary and seeing that you've got Friday "free", and having looked at BRAG's schedule for the gig, if it were me....... ........i'd spend Friday riding every tasty backroad i could find between Furnace Creek and San Diego i'll study my maps and estimate the time required to do the options i've outlined. stay tuned, Ferris | ||
| Racerboy |
You guys are killing us...John and I are suffering from info overload from our CA brothers...So many roads, so little time...Sparky, what mapping software are you using for your local rides?...They are spectacular in that they eliminate all the unnecessary clutter...Ferris, are you not going to be able to join us for part of this soiree?...Am looking forward to meeting all of you...Best thing about these BRAG events is to finally put faces to names...Ok guys, so we're desert rats for another day before arriving SD...Well let you know what are final plans are...But I can hear my compadre V2WIN now admonishing me for overplanning the trip (as is my usual want)...One thing about road trips is they kind of take on a life of their own...Last year on our first night in West (By God!) Virginia it rained torrentially flooding the entire southwest part of the state thereby forcing us north to travel the state in a clockwise direction...A week latter when we returned to the southwest there were still washouts and you could see lazyboy chair size bolders where they had been pushed just off the road...We didn't get to do much that we had planned in that part of the state...By the way, there's a great moto destination - W VA...Thanks again... See Ya! Bob | ||
| Sparky |
Racerboy, Joshua Tree is worthwhile seeing but IMO probably won't impress after doing DV. However if you guys're coming into the park from I-10, you'll exit at Twentynine Palms heading to the town of Yucca Valley where you'll find the neatest 50's Diner at Hutchin's Harley. Their food is good & if you like old motorcycles, there's a small exhibit inside the adjoining shop. Forget Salton Sea though. It's only redeeming feature IMO is its contrasting color against the surrounding sand. Mapping program? No, they're simple freehand drawings using Mac/ClarisDraw or PowerPoint. Thanks for the kind words. FB, here's hoping we'll all be sharing lanes with you & yours again come this May, come what may! Sparky 96S1, 98S3 | ||
| FB |
Blake (aka Oh Be Juan), thanks for the snip-job on my double-post above. i promise to go a little easier on the sauce in the future.......... Ferris | ||
| FB |
Racerboy, before i elaborate on the Lion's Trail (which i won't do tonight 'cause it's past my bedtime), a couple of questions: --how many members do you expect in your CA raiding party? --any particular time of day on Sat you'd like to make SD? re: question #2, i'm wondering if you're up for spending the night Fri night somewhere, say maybe half-way-ish between DV and SD, then finishing the ride to SD late Sat morning or early afternoon. TTFN, Ferris | ||
| FB |
Sparky, re: seeing me at some point during the rally, i'm scheming, dude, i REALLY am XOXOXO, FB | ||
| Racerboy |
Ferris...Sorry this is so late but we had a club meeting this evening...As of now there are just two of us coming from STL and unless we pick up more on the way west that'll be about it...As to arrival time in SD, I'll talk to John but I would guess that as long as we are in by early evening Saturday that would be OK...That will give us two full days to do DV and the other desert hotspots (pun intended)... See Ya! Bob | ||
| Firemanjim |
Ferris,are you lookin to put some boys up for the night in the Bueller mansion?I might be game for that also. |
