Hey,

Will be flying out west with 12 guys from NY/NJ and renting bikes in San Diego. I came up with the tentative route below but would really appreciate advice and suggestions from you guys who live there and ride these roads.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...4,4.938354&z=8

The only definite's at this point are the dates, May 12-17 and the starting point, San Diego, CA.

The 5 days I came up with are:
Day 1 - San Diego, CA to Desert Hot Springs, CA
Day 2 - Lake Havasu City, AZ
Day 3 - Las Vegas, NV
Day 4- Ridgecrest, CA
Day 5 - San Diego, CA

Advice on roads, sites, destinations, areas to see/avoid would be real helpful.

Thanks.

Stu

 

Do you want to spend time getting there or make time? You can go from S.D. to Havasu in an easy day but if you want to spend time seeing other things then keep the route you've chosen. Day 1 to DHS. Freeways, three hours. Back fun roads, five or six hours. Back roads. N on 5. Exit Del Mar Heights Rd. Left to coast road. North to hiway 76 in Oceanside. East on 76 to 79. Pala Casino has a good buffet. It's about 5 miles east of 15 on 76. At 79 go north. About 30 miles up make a left and go through DeAnza. At stop past DeAnza go right to drop into Palm Springs or go left to go into Idyllwild. If you go left you can eat in Idyllwild or just ride through to Hiway 10. When you hit the 10 go east about twenty miles to DHS. Either direction is good. Day 2. DHS to the harley dealer on Indian and Hiway 10 if you didn't hit it yesterday. Go north on Indian and catch the hiway to Yucca Valley. In Yucca Valley stop at Hutchins Harley on the right side of the main hiway. They have an old style diner in front of the store and some pretty cool old rides to shoot some pics of. Go east to 29 Palms. Fill up with gas. Go north to Amboy and ride Old Route 66 to Needles. Stop at Amboy though for some pics and to meet the sheriff who runs the gas station. As you get close to the colorado river there are several different routes you can choose to get to Havasu. You don't need to go into Needles if you don't desire to. There are hiways on both sides of the river that will get you down to Havasu. When you get into Havasu make sure and get some pics of the London Bridge. There was a really good Micro Brewery and Restaurant on the west side of the bridge. Don't know if it's still there but it's worth checking for. Day 3. To get to Vegas first go to Laughlin, NV to see where the river run is held each year. Then go to Oatman on Hiway 66 to see the donkeys. Then I would head towards Kingman, AZ and take the hiway to Hoover Dam. Tour the dam. It's worth the time. You'll also be able to see the new bridge being built south of the dam that will take the traffic off of the dam eventually. Then it's off to Vegas to lose all you got left. And go to the Harley Davidson Cafe for a meal. Go online to print out a coupon if they still do that. Day 4 is a little off my track so someone else needs to give some help. Day 5 you'll be heading back into So Cal. You can take 395 down to the 15 just above Cajon Pass. Personally I prefer taking the 215 into San Bernardino to the 60 east in Riverside and back onto the 215 in Edgemont. 215 connects with the 15 in Temecula. At the second exit after the merge, Rancho California Rd., get off and go right. Take the first right on Jefferson and go up to the first light and make another right. Eat at Rosa's. Very good mexican food in a simple diner. After you fill up go south on Jefferson to Quaid HD on the left. It's past old town Temecula. Go south out of Quaid and get 15 south. If you want more two lane, get off on Mission Rd. at Fallbrook, go right to the light and the left to get the old 395. You can follow 395 all the way through Escondido and it'll connect back up with the 15 to get you back to SD. Have a blast.

 

I will be hitting the part of your route from Lake Havasu City, to Henderson NV, to the Valley of Fire in about 9 days (13th). Can't wait. I'll let you know what I find.

 

When you leave Vegas you might as well go through death valley on your way to 395.

 

Hey Other Sheep,

Thanks for the info. I will route it up. The first day I only went as far as Desert Hot Springs since we are flying in that morning and need to rent the bikes and probably won't leave the dealer till after 1:00. At first considered going south and east and head to Yuma, AZ, but going towards desert Hot Springs looked nore interesting.

Been to a bunch of the places (Oatman, Kingman, Laughlin, Hoover Dam, Vegas) you mentioned in previous years, just not real familiar with CA, other than Death Valley.

We've found that avoiding the Interstates is more fun (other then when we need to get from one place to another more quickly) and try and ride the secondary roads. Doing about 250 miles/day usually is perfect since we have a little time to look around, but we often end up riding 300 miles or more per day, and occasionally 450 miles or more.

Really appreciate the advice on specific place to see and eat and will try and get there. Thanks!

 

Have a blast! You'll love the Valley of Fire. Let me know how it goes.

 

Hey Time2Cruise, if you are going to the Valley of Fire try taking the North Shore road around Lake Mead. Great diversion from the Interstate and some twisties and great scenery. It will take you right to the turn-off to the Valley of Fire (marked with a sign). There was some construction along the North Shore Road but only for about a couple of thousand feet the rest is well paved. Have a great trip.

 

Day 1 route change. Because of the late start I think I would recommend going up the 15 to the 76. Go east to the 79 and go left about twenty miles. Right towards DeAnza to the stop and the right to Palm Springs. Good ride, nice sights, kodak moments and you won't get into the Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs area too late.

 

Day 1 dinner. Take Indian south past the 10 to E. Vista Chino, right turn to N. Palm Canyon. Left turn to 222 S. Palm Canyon. Las Casuelas Terraza. Get a patio seat and enjoy the band that has been playing there for the past twenty years or more. Really good mexican food. No weird stuff, just really good food. And the margueritas are some of the best you'll ever try. On the rocks. Only problem is it may spoil the rest of your meal stops for the remainder of the trip. You'll go home talking about it.

 

Already in the ride plan. Thanks.