My Pacific Coast Ride
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 356
Likes: 1
From: Mesa Arizona
My Pacific Coast Ride
Two years ago my good friend trailered his bike from NY to my home here in Arizona. We had some time, so we planned to ride the Pacific Coast. We left in late May and headed from Phoenix up towards the Hoover Dam, and into Nevada for our first stop...Vegas...what an awesome place, no need to say more. The ride up there was windy and dusty, but it was the start of an incredible trip.
We left Vegas early the next morning and headed north on US 93. I've always wanted to ride "The Extra Terrestrial Highway", and that was our destination for the day. The ride up 93 and then west on 375 is a very lonely ride. We stopped at the A Le Inn for some pie and conversation with any locals. People are as scarce there as trees and buildings! The ride took us across Nevada to Tonopah and into California. We hooked up with US 395 and rode north through some very relaxing and beautiful country. The miles melted away as we headed north, just enjoying the California countryside.
The route we picked took us up to Lake Tahoe, Carson City, and Reno before we made our way into Oregon. I must say, stopping at Tahoe was well worth the detour. The ride along the lake and over the mountains was breathless. The water was crystal clear and blue. The vistas from atop the mountains seemed endless. A night in Reno was fun also .
From Reno, we reentered California for a long trip north to Oregon. I remember some very beautiful roads with little traffic, and then the scenery seemed to open a bit more as we rode through southern Oregon. We had a destination in mind...Crater Lake.
We stayed at a motel at the fork of 97 and 58 that night. We awoke to find frost on our seats, but we were determined to see Crater Lake. Now, this is a week befor Memorial Day, and as we headed up the mountain towards the lake, snow started piling up on the side of the road. The temps were in the high 50's, so riding was comfortable. On top of the volcano there was about 10' of snow on the ground. The rim road was not opened yet. We were able to go to the lodge and take in the sights from vantage points near the lodge, but that was it. Still, the lake did not disappoint. I've never seen bluer water in my life. The clarity of the air was amazing. The blue water of the lake surrounded by pure white snow is a memory I will always have.
The trip continued up the eastern half of Oregon, which is basically a desert. Sparse vegetation, mountain peaks in the distance, and uncluttered loneliness is what I remember along the way. We made our way up through the Dalles, and along the Columbia River Gorge, high on the mountain...looking down at the river valley below. From there we passed through Portland and made our way to Tillamook at the coast. The next day started a thousand mile odyssey along the Pacific Coast. Some of the most spectacular scenery, and the most awesome motorcycling was along this coast. We picked roads that hugged the coast as much as possible, there seemed to be never ending views of the mighty ocean. We walked along empty beaches, soared a thousand feet above the waves on a road clinging to the mountainside, witnessed seals and sea lions basking in the sun. We drove through the Avenue of the Giants in Redwood State Park. I will never forget how insignificant I felt standing among these two hundred and fifty foot tall trees that were thousands of years old. It was spiritual delight being close to them...I really can't describe the feeling more than that.
The trip took us south along the coastal highway through some very beautiful little towns, and through San Francisco, across the Golden Gate, and down through Big Sur. We ended up in Oceanside on Memorial Day weekend. From there we headed east, over the mountains and through the Anza-Borrego State Park, where we encountered a Haboob, which was so severe we had to seek shelter in an old store front. We passed through great sand dunes, and back to civilization as we crossed from California into Arizona, and back to Phoenix.
This trip had just about everything one could want from a motorcycle trip. Lonely desert riding, twisty mountain roads, endless empty straight-a ways, awesome mountain views, tranquil cruising along the ocean, spiritual calmness in the huge forest, wind, rain, plentiful warm sunshine, fantastic people, and more than anything, memories to last a lifetime.
I've been lucky to ride a lot of different places. Every road I have experienced in my life was "The Perfect Road" in it's own way. Get out and enjoy our awesome hobby, it's what motorcycles are made for.
We left Vegas early the next morning and headed north on US 93. I've always wanted to ride "The Extra Terrestrial Highway", and that was our destination for the day. The ride up 93 and then west on 375 is a very lonely ride. We stopped at the A Le Inn for some pie and conversation with any locals. People are as scarce there as trees and buildings! The ride took us across Nevada to Tonopah and into California. We hooked up with US 395 and rode north through some very relaxing and beautiful country. The miles melted away as we headed north, just enjoying the California countryside.
The route we picked took us up to Lake Tahoe, Carson City, and Reno before we made our way into Oregon. I must say, stopping at Tahoe was well worth the detour. The ride along the lake and over the mountains was breathless. The water was crystal clear and blue. The vistas from atop the mountains seemed endless. A night in Reno was fun also .
From Reno, we reentered California for a long trip north to Oregon. I remember some very beautiful roads with little traffic, and then the scenery seemed to open a bit more as we rode through southern Oregon. We had a destination in mind...Crater Lake.
We stayed at a motel at the fork of 97 and 58 that night. We awoke to find frost on our seats, but we were determined to see Crater Lake. Now, this is a week befor Memorial Day, and as we headed up the mountain towards the lake, snow started piling up on the side of the road. The temps were in the high 50's, so riding was comfortable. On top of the volcano there was about 10' of snow on the ground. The rim road was not opened yet. We were able to go to the lodge and take in the sights from vantage points near the lodge, but that was it. Still, the lake did not disappoint. I've never seen bluer water in my life. The clarity of the air was amazing. The blue water of the lake surrounded by pure white snow is a memory I will always have.
The trip continued up the eastern half of Oregon, which is basically a desert. Sparse vegetation, mountain peaks in the distance, and uncluttered loneliness is what I remember along the way. We made our way up through the Dalles, and along the Columbia River Gorge, high on the mountain...looking down at the river valley below. From there we passed through Portland and made our way to Tillamook at the coast. The next day started a thousand mile odyssey along the Pacific Coast. Some of the most spectacular scenery, and the most awesome motorcycling was along this coast. We picked roads that hugged the coast as much as possible, there seemed to be never ending views of the mighty ocean. We walked along empty beaches, soared a thousand feet above the waves on a road clinging to the mountainside, witnessed seals and sea lions basking in the sun. We drove through the Avenue of the Giants in Redwood State Park. I will never forget how insignificant I felt standing among these two hundred and fifty foot tall trees that were thousands of years old. It was spiritual delight being close to them...I really can't describe the feeling more than that.
The trip took us south along the coastal highway through some very beautiful little towns, and through San Francisco, across the Golden Gate, and down through Big Sur. We ended up in Oceanside on Memorial Day weekend. From there we headed east, over the mountains and through the Anza-Borrego State Park, where we encountered a Haboob, which was so severe we had to seek shelter in an old store front. We passed through great sand dunes, and back to civilization as we crossed from California into Arizona, and back to Phoenix.
This trip had just about everything one could want from a motorcycle trip. Lonely desert riding, twisty mountain roads, endless empty straight-a ways, awesome mountain views, tranquil cruising along the ocean, spiritual calmness in the huge forest, wind, rain, plentiful warm sunshine, fantastic people, and more than anything, memories to last a lifetime.
I've been lucky to ride a lot of different places. Every road I have experienced in my life was "The Perfect Road" in it's own way. Get out and enjoy our awesome hobby, it's what motorcycles are made for.
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 356
Likes: 1
From: Mesa Arizona
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Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 356
Likes: 1
From: Mesa Arizona
Posting some pictures
I took literally hundreds and hundreds of photos along the way. I am posting some that I think represent some of the diverse and awesome scenery we experienced along this wonderful ride. I hope you enjoy them
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