http://www.stromtrooper.com The place to share your motorcycling adventures. en Fri, 10 Sep 2010 03:04:59 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.stromtrooper.com/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.stromtrooper.com http://www.stromtrooper.com/ride-reports-route-sheets/57424-northern-california-5-day-tour.html Thu, 09 Sep 2010 04:55:23 GMT We started planning this trip during the fall, just as the weather started to cool and riding was finally becoming more comfortable from the blazing... We started planning this trip during the fall, just as the weather started to cool and riding was finally becoming more comfortable from the blazing heat of the Sacramento Valley.

The next day I am greeted with a rough map of a 1000 mile trip through Northern California. I guess he was serious. Not only that but Rich told me his wife, Angie, a surgery nurse, and his friend John had agreed to come along. Rich and Angie would be on a BMW R1150RT, John would be on his Honda CBX and I would be on my ’08 Vee Strom. Now the route was in the planning stage. With the help of Google maps, the generous input from numerous fellow Stromtroopers, we came up of a rough route that would take us from Sacramento, to Lake Tahoe, Hwy 89 to Lake Almanor and Chester for the night. The second day would take us over Mt. Lassen and then eventually to Eureka for the second night. Down the coast to Fort Bragg and then off to Tiburon. (near Sausalito/Mill Valley in Marin County) The last day was going to be a quick ride home via the freeway.

I posted my plans here hoping to get some input and I thank those who advised that Hwy 36 and Mattole Road were some of the best roads with the best scenery. Those were both awesome roads and will be ridden again, more on that later.

July 18th was the first day of our trip. Kari and I met for breakfast and then it was off to Rich’s house. We planned to meet at 9am and be on the road by 10am and we did, but this was the last time that our schedule would be met. I like to be on the road early and get to the next destination early, but that didn’t bode well for the others, oh well, I am adaptable. We made it 22 miles before the first incident that would haunt this trip, luckily no one got hurt, but the Harley causality was life threatening and had to be towed home.



Our plan was for a nice leisurely ride around Lake Tahoe and take lots of pictures on Hwy 89, but this Harley incident put us three hours behind schedule and there was no time to stop for pictures. Although while waiting for Rich to show up, Angie, John and I found a wonderful BBQ place in Placerville, WildHog BBQ. We rode up Hwy 50 and around the north shore of Lake Tahoe. It was amazingly beautiful, although the car traffic was annoying and it seems that stopping to take pictures was the norm and combined with people parking on the side of the road offered a challenging ride. We averted numerous close calls and made it around Lake Tahoe. I wish I was able to take some pictures because it was so beautiful. I live somewhat close to the lake but have never ridden around the north shore before, I live such a sheltered life, I must change that. I will be back.

Hwy 89 was just the opposite, we saw very little traffic and the cars we did see were very courteous and allowed us to pass. What a difference! I have never been on Hwy 89 before and it was truly amazing, the small towns were beautiful and I wished we could have stopped and around every corner there was just that prettier than the last. We came into very large valleys with lots of cows, one or two houses and no people visible. California can be jam packed full of people, cars and houses but once you go north it can get very rural. I like rural. We saw plenty of CHP but they were not interested in us and we sped by. We tried to be reasonable close to the speed limit but the sweeping turns and wonderful road conditions made it impossible.

We pulled into Chester around 8pm and found Kari waiting for us in a chase car. We checked into the Best Western, grabbed a late dinner at the diner next door. After a decent dinner we retired to the hot tub to soothe the aching muscles. Beer and a hot tub would be the norm every night, a good plan.

We awoke rested, grabbed our free breakfast and started to Mount Lassen. We decide to put the luggage from the motorcycles in the car and thus enabled us to have some nimble handling motorcycles.

Having never been to Mount Lassen before it was well worth the trip, very beautiful and there was still plenty of snow.


The road to the summit was very nice and twisty with great views. As we pulled into the park we stopped for pictures and met another rider who was coming down from Oregon heading for the MotoGP at Laguna Seca. He told us there was road construction and be prepared for some dirt and gravel and mud. We thought about it and decided that we could do that. We should have turned around. Then we hit the construction. All told there was over ten miles where the asphalt was torn up and it was now a dirt and gravel road. We would ride for a couple of miles, escorted by a pace vehicle, and then wait for on-coming traffic to pass, then a couple of more miles, etc… We sure could have used the chase car with the cold drinks safely stored in the trunk, back at the park entrance. It was hot, dusty and tough riding. We were fortunate that we were allowed to stay at the front of the pack, less dust. But it seems the water truck that is used to keep the dust down thought it would be funny to stay in front of us and turn dust to mud. The Vee handled the road without incident and I found that standing up made it easier. The BMW and Honda were slip sliding all over the road. It was very amusing. Glad no one crashed.


We raced west to I-5 in the blazing heat towards Red Bluff and Hwy 36. We stopped for gas and a cold drink (no chase car yet) and started on the most amazing and awe inspiring motorcycle road. Everyone has seen the road sign with curves next 140 miles. We blew by that with great anticipation. We were not disappointed. The first part was hilly with gradual turns, a rollercoaster of a motorcycle road. Then it started to change with bigger turns, tight turns, hairpin turns, small hills, big bumps and the occasional patches of gravel in the road. There was a definite pucker factor when leaning into a turn and finding gravel. We made it through without crashing, luckily.

We stopped at the Wildwood Store for a late lunch. This place is a gem in the middle of nowhere. A small store with a small restaurant and the owner rides his motorcycle from Redding every day. A very nice guy. The grill was closed but he opened up and made us some hamburgers. They were delicious and the sitting on the patio, watching the traffic go by while waiting for the chase car to show up was very relaxing. Several other motorcycles showed up and we shared road information, everyone agreed that Hwy 36 was the best road they have ever ridden. I can not say it enough, it you haven’t gone, go, if you have, go again. Stop at Wildwood, eat, gas up if you need to, and never take the smile off your face.

The chase car finally caught up and we were off. Hwy 36 starts to climb over several mountains and the road becomes more difficult and technical. I am not that good of a rider and Rich and John and even the chase car soon disappeared. I rode at my own pace and enjoyed it. They stopped to wait and I just blew by them and kept on going. I was having just a good time, I didn’t want to stop. It was pretty much, twist, turn, twist, bump, downshift, upshift and be wowed by the view. I finally decided to let them catch up, near a river with a wide spot in the road.

Very pretty and it was getting cooler. I don’t know if I’ve ever been so relaxed. Everyone met up and we drove towards Eureka. We had Midland radios wired to our helmets and the rest of the trip into Eureka talking about Hwy 36.

Eureka was another new experience for me and since Rich was in charge of setting up our accommodations used Price Line months ago and he had the Super 8 for the night. Not the best place, not in the nicest part of Eureka, I am assuming. But no one messed with our bikes and after a trip to the Lost Coast Brewery for beer and dinner, things got better.


We woke up slightly hung over, but strong coffee, a bagel and cold overcast weather solved that problem.


We headed to Ferndale and the start of Mattole Road. Ferndale is a nice town and it would be a nice place to stay when we do Mattole Road again. We found Mattole Road and the next three hours would be tight turns and rough road. It was incredibly rough and bumpy and when you had the gravel trucks coming at you it makes for an interesting ride. We took a slight detour at Lighthouse Road and five miles of gravel led us to the beach and Mattole Campground, it was worth the detour.



We continued on Mattole Road and hit some road construction, guess we figured out what the gravel trucks were up to. It was a short delay and then it was off to the Redwood forest and a freshly paved road.


It put life into perspective when surrounded by such huge trees that have been around for hundreds of years. It was difficult to keep my eyes on the road because every turn yielded something more awe inspiring. We all agreed it was a beautiful ride but the rough road took a lot away from the beauty.

We latched onto Highway 101 and headed off to Garberville for gas. I have never been to Garberville before and it was very interesting. Dirty, grungy, wearing tie die and playing guitars with their bio-diesel converted school bus.

We watched in amazement while a kid would play a three string guitar on the street corner with a hat out for tips. Every half hour he would take his tips, walk over to the gas station, fill up a two gallon gas can and slowly fill up the school bus. The rest of the bus occupants sat around and smoked weed. They offered Rich weed for a cigarette, seems they had more weed than food or cigarettes. A polite no led to them explaining they came up from southern California to work the Marijuana fields and got paid by the pound. They haven’t figured out how they were going to eat, but stayed high while they tried to figure it out.




We were glad to leave Garberville and start the trek towards Highway 1. The trip between 101 and 1 was a great ride, with the exception of the cars and RV’s that wouldn’t let us pass but it was a pretty ride anyway.

We made it to Fort Bragg for the night and stayed at a mom and pop motel, The Seabird Lodge, which came highly recommended by some friends. A room with a view of the ocean, a continental breakfast with homemade muffins, and an indoor hot tub made this place a welcome respite from a long day.


In the morning we headed off south on Highway 1 towards our final destination of Tiburon. Highway 1 was as beautiful as ever and there was very little traffic. Cold and overcast the whole way, but we expected that and although the ocean views were hard to find, it was still enjoyable.

That is until we hit road construction just outside of Stinson Beach, I thought we actually might make it a whole day without construction.


We rolled into Tiburon around and headed off to the family condo for the night. A free place to stay is always good. We unpacked and off for the Tiburon Lodge and half price beer and appetizers from 4-7. Coincidentally, we got there at 4:30 so we would have enough time to partake and enjoy.



We slept in, had a leisurely breakfast, and prepared ourselves for a very hot ride home. The cool foggy weather was a pain, but I missed it as soon as we hit Highway 80. The only part worth mentioning was the stop in West Sacramento at Whitey’s drive-in for fresh peach milkshakes. Whitey’s is on Jefferson, on the way to Southport and if you find yourself in the area stop by. Be prepared for a wait, because they are not quick, but the prices and quality make it worth the wait. It is all outdoor seating but there is some shade and the milkshakes are a summer ritual.

We said our goodbyes and agreed to make it a yearly event.

Good Times, Good Roads and Good Friends. ]]> Ride Reports (Route Sheets) Cros2087 http://www.stromtrooper.com/ride-reports-route-sheets/57424-northern-california-5-day-tour.html