Days off...fair skies...sail some asphalt...route questions

[BillSmith]

Got some days off, Friday this week, Monday of next. Debating on some asphalt to sail. Weekend is taken, but I'm gonna bracket Sat/Sun with a pair of one-day long rides.

Questions:

1) 130 or Quimby approaching Mt. Ham? I've done both in a car.

2) Mines in decent shape? Del Puerto? If I'm feeling it, could also wander out Tesla and the rest of the foothills. All good?

3) Thinking about taking a big loop trip to SoCal. Haven't done the 25 to 33 before. Thought about taking it all the way to Ojai. Long route. Anyone attempt to do that in a day? Advice/comments appreciated. Debating about taking US-1 or 101 back. Current plan/route: To Hell (SoCal/Ojai) and Back

 

[motobigboy]

lucky dog, have a good time

 

[mbsv]

At the end of 25, keep going straight (well maybe dogleg left) instead of turning left onto 198--continue to San Miguel/Paso Robles/229/58/33. Though I imagine 198's nice too, I suspect 33 in the CV isn't. Note: No gas from Tres Pinos to just beyond San Miguel, so be sure you have enough to make that 100 mile stretch. Similarly from Maricopa (one gas station) to Ojai (plenty), though maybe there's something along the way.

1's much more tiring than 101, but you can make that choice on your way back, or consider short jaunts like foxen canyon or Naciemento Lake or back to 25 while mostly taking 101.

You can probably find lots of posts here on this too.

Link to map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sou...285,-120.140991&spn=2.521416,4.938354&t=p&z=8

(Which looks like a lot of hours to me--i've done it one way in a day before but it's longer than i'd do as a round trip. but i have no idea how far you like to ride in a day)

 

[BillSmith]

Thanks for the heads-up on the "no gas" between Tres Pinos and parts south. I'll probably go the 33 though.

I can handle a lotta asphalt in one day. Long as I don't have to do it again the next. Going the coast route upon return looks to be way to daunting. It'd be 101 and still a long day/night.

Decisions, decisions.

 

[BillSmith]

over, under, around and through...

Road report after my Mt. Hamilton jaunt.

Hitting every light on Alum Rock was a major pain.

Need a filter to take pics of the sweeping vistas on the early climb up the mountain. Great view, weather perfect.

There were some successful suicide squirrels. Saw a tabby cat bolt across 130 with a big fat squirrel in its mouth. Nice catch kitty!

Chimunks, turkeys, but no trantulas.

There was something oily looking on the asphalt in the last few miles up Mt. Ham. Looked like something was plopped on both sides of the road at the same point, then it flowed (or spread?) down on the uphill side of the road. Don't want to start another "bags `o grease" thread, but...What was that stuff?

In a hurry, I scampered down the backside, roared past the Junction, rocks in the usual places on Mines. Had a pickup truck take a pass at me. Just did the old, "I'll edge ya", move. No harm, no foul, but...it was a chicken shit move by the driver to play chicken in that manner. Everyone else I encounterd was nice. Yielding the road if they saw me on their six. Waving back when I offered one.

Deer. Had a few bolt into the brush on Mines. Be careful. Bambi's in heat and Buck ain't looking out for you during mating season.

Lastly, (insert readers' applause) I am sure I picked up this habit somewhere...I find my reaction to a car cutting me off is, "Steer to the rear." In other words, with a car blowing a turn on Mines Rd. sitting directly in front of me, kinda angled awkwardly across both lanes, I did what I have now come to realize is some ingrained reflex of moving my scoot to the back bumper of the vehicle in question. Whether it was from years of riding bicycles, motorcycles or avoiding rush hour traffic mistakes, that's my reaction. Hope it keeps working.

 

[Junkie]

You're considering doing Ojai and back in a day? That'll be one hell of a ride... I think Ojai one day, back the next would be a lot more fun.

 

[BillSmith]

After hamfisting the handle bars up and down Mt. Hammy today, I think you might be right, Junkie. I know the roads around Ojai are twisty mothers. Finishing the first half of the ride with that might do me in.

On the flip side, I've sat on a bicycle saddle for hours on end circumnavigating Lake Tahoe. Then again, I was in my 30s. Google says 14 hours or so down `n back. Ouch. No time for picture taking or scenic vista viewing.

Wife is intrigued enough that we might take the convertible and do a two-day in the car. Probably singing America's "Ventura Highway" the whole trip.

 

[flying_hun]

Just to Ojai in a day on that route would be long for lots of folks. There and back would be fairly impressive. If you take 198 to 33 from the southern end of 25, prepare for long periods of boredom south of Coalinga before you get to the fun part of 33.

If you want to do a day ride loop on 25 while avoiding the tedium of freeways, here is a loop from Hollister to Coalinga and back that will keep you entertained. Fill up and get lunch in Coalinga before heading back.

[gmap]<iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=hollister,+ca&daddr=Airline+Hwy%2FCA-25+to:coalinga,+ca+to:Coalinga+Rd+to:Cienega+Rd+to:hollister,+ca&geocode=%3BFQ6lLAId6p_I-A%3B%3BFU-dKQId1vLO-A%3BFUasMAIdH_TD-A%3B&hl=en&mra=ls&via=1&sll=36.81863,-121.394119&sspn=0.124503,0.308647&ie=UTF8&ll=36.46921,-120.88307&spn=0.77494,1.05854&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=hollister,+ca&daddr=Airline+Hwy%2FCA-25+to:coalinga,+ca+to:Coalinga+Rd+to:Cienega+Rd+to:hollister,+ca&geocode=%3BFQ6lLAId6p_I-A%3B%3BFU-dKQId1vLO-A%3BFUasMAIdH_TD-A%3B&hl=en&mra=ls&via=1&sll=36.81863,-121.394119&sspn=0.124503,0.308647&ie=UTF8&ll=36.46921,-120.88307&spn=0.77494,1.05854" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small>[/gmap]

 

[BillSmith]

FHun,

That looks like excellent route for a day tripper. Maybe I can fuel up at Harris Ranch!

Thanks!