May or september ?
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 976
Likes: 212
From: northern nj
May or september ?
I am going to CALIFORNIA for a 30 day trip with my wife riding from N.J. ,thru the south , then the coast to WASHINGTON and back to N.J. My plan was to go thru the south , then CALIFORNIA , WASHINGTON then thru the north back to N.J. leaving about middle may , But wife is thinking go north then down the coast and thru the south back to N.J. in september . I think it would be better weather in may then sept . ANY THOUGHTS OR REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE ? I have an 08 ultra with 65,000 miles and will be towing a small cargo trailer ( my wifes luggage ) A TRIP I WANTED TO DO FOR YEARS !!
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 587
Likes: 312
From: here n there
Rainier and North Cascades National parks are two must-sees in Washington. The highway through North Cascades is one of the best rides in the northwest. Depending on how much snow we get this winter it may or may not be open in May. Regardless of which way you ride it you should take California 1 on the coast and US 101 on the northern California coast and up the Oregon and Washington coasts. May can still be chilly and damp from NorCal through Washington but September is usually spectacular.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 197
Likes: 46
From: Rubidoux ca
MAY, MAY, MAY, I rode from California to Laconia in 16 left in May four weeks was barely long enough I was just looking at the weather this past September "couple weeks ago" and thought yeah the weather's a lot better in the Spring
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 600
Likes: 231
From: Dewey, Arizona 86327
Lived in California for many years. I'd do May for sure. Everything will be green, there will be wildflowers, and moderate temperatures. North of the Bay Area it will get markedly colder, but nothing unbearable.
California has what we used to call the 'endless summer'. The last rain is sometime in April, and then it won't rain again until the middle of October. Everything gets hot, dry, dusty and sorta dead. The fire danger is really high, so some parks and campsites will have restrictions. On the Coast, be ready for fog, any time of year, and the farther north, the more so.
Anything through southern CA, Arizona, etc will be SERIOUSLY hot in September. Like 100 or so, and conditions that are dangerous in many ways. If you must travel then, carry plenty of water. Stay on the main roads. You can die in the heat in about 4 hours. DON'T follow the 'shortcut' your GPS shows you. Arizona had a lot of side roads that start out looking good, a few miles in they turn into a Jeep trail, then a goat trail, and there's no good place tor turn around. Folks get lost and die every year, although usually in winter. Still, late summer early fall is no fun for hundreds of miles.
California has what we used to call the 'endless summer'. The last rain is sometime in April, and then it won't rain again until the middle of October. Everything gets hot, dry, dusty and sorta dead. The fire danger is really high, so some parks and campsites will have restrictions. On the Coast, be ready for fog, any time of year, and the farther north, the more so.
Anything through southern CA, Arizona, etc will be SERIOUSLY hot in September. Like 100 or so, and conditions that are dangerous in many ways. If you must travel then, carry plenty of water. Stay on the main roads. You can die in the heat in about 4 hours. DON'T follow the 'shortcut' your GPS shows you. Arizona had a lot of side roads that start out looking good, a few miles in they turn into a Jeep trail, then a goat trail, and there's no good place tor turn around. Folks get lost and die every year, although usually in winter. Still, late summer early fall is no fun for hundreds of miles.
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Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,122
Likes: 51,434
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Rainier and North Cascades National parks are two must-sees in Washington. The highway through North Cascades is one of the best rides in the northwest. Depending on how much snow we get this winter it may or may not be open in May. Regardless of which way you ride it you should take California 1 on the coast and US 101 on the northern California coast and up the Oregon and Washington coasts. May can still be chilly and damp from NorCal through Washington but September is usually spectacular.
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Club Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 20,424
Likes: 24,217
From: WetCoast
Less fog in Sept on the coast. And the best way to travel is South. The view is forward and to your right, as well as the pullouts, so you dont have to cross traffic going into or coming out of them.
My ride down the coast in 016.....
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/road-...l#post15223055
My ride down the coast in 016.....
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/road-...l#post15223055
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 485
Likes: 84
From: Quincy, Ca
Late summer early fall is the best for the west coast. Too good a chance for snow in NorCal, Ore and Washington in May and Jun. Not so much coming down but still piled up from the winter. It will generally be cool to cold anytime of the year along the coast. Also spring time and summer good chances for drizzle from the marine layer and also just plain rain. I have not ridden in the south but have in Arizona and New Mexico in July and August. Hot but doable. A good mesh jacket will be a must.
kk
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