Hwy 36/Lost Coast/Anderson Valley

[slackmeyer]

Cross posted from another forum, since I figured this is a good day ride for most of the people looking at this forum.

Last Sunday I decided to head up north and do a big loop of some favorite roads, all together. I started about 7 AM, slabbed up 5 to Red Bluff, and from there on out, it was all good twisty roads- Highway 36 to Fortuna, then Matole road to Petrolia and Honeydew and Humboldt redwoods, then Highway 1 from Legget to Ft. Bragg, and then 128 through the Anderson valley and down to Cloverdale.

It was a great day, about 680 miles and 13 hours, so I got back just before dark. Here are a few pictures.

Starting at Red Bluff on Highway 36, around 9:30 AM:

Monument rd/Bear river ridge road from Rio Dell to Matole road:

Classic Matole road shot:

Not so classic yet shot:

Lunch spot:

Through the redwoods on the way home:

zak

 

[flying_hun]

Nice! That's a BIG day. That's even bigger than Tom's Butt Abuse Ride because we didn't hit the Lost Coast.

Why does it look like you're going north on Mattole Road? Did you turn around to take that shot?

Was the Wildwood store open? Last year that was the only place on 36 that had premium gas, a concern when riding the Hyper. :teeth

 

[slackmeyer]

If you mean that classic shot of the rock island from Matole road, that's actually the view you get heading south- the road winds around to drop into the valley there, so I was headed NW at that point.

I'm pretty sure the Wildwood store was open, but I didn't stop- ahhh the luxury of having 5.9 gallons of gas and getting about 45 mpg.

It was a big ride, but the thing was so damn entertaining that I couldn't keep a grin off my face, and I was disappointed to get back on 101 at the end of the day. I'll be doing that ride again.

 

[flying_hun]

If you mean that classic shot of the rock island from Matole road, that's actually the view you get heading south- the road winds around to drop into the valley there, so I was headed NW at that point.

I'm pretty sure the Wildwood store was open, but I didn't stop- ahhh the luxury of having 5.9 gallons of gas and getting about 45 mpg.

Oops, guess I never noticed. :laughing

The HM has many virtues, but range ain't one of them...... :|

 

[slackmeyer]

You could always take a side trip up 3 and gas up at Hayfork, I'd think they would have premium. What's your range on that thing?

 

[maskmarney]

justgastanks.com

At the website justgastanks.com, they offer many kinds of auxiliary gas tanks; even though my bike has a 5.8 gallon tank, I'm considering buying an auxiliary tank and attaching it to a sport rack on the back of my bike- just in case!

 

[flying_hun]

What's your range on that thing?

Depending upon the enthusiasm with which the throttle gets twisted, between 80 and 100 miles before the low fuel light comes on. :teeth


I love that ride up and down Hayfork pass. :thumbup

 

[slackmeyer]

So, anybody have any good suggestions for cutting out the I-5 portion of this route, and replacing it with something nice? I figure I could tack on another 100 miles or so and still enjoy it as a day ride.

zak

 

[flying_hun]

So, anybody have any good suggestions for cutting out the I-5 portion of this route, and replacing it with something nice? I figure I could tack on another 100 miles or so and still enjoy it as a day ride.

zak

Does the name Leesville-Lodoga ring a bell? You could tie that in with Hwy 16 up through the Capay Valley, and round it out with a run out to Paskenta. That would skip most of I-5, and give you a chance to ride some crappy pavement and some non-paved roads as well. arty It's likely to take much longer. Yes, I've ridden all those roads on the Hyper. Photo below taken on Leesville-Lodoga.

 

[slackmeyer]

Looks great from your picture, I'll check it out. I wouldn't mind breaking it into 2 days, and also adding King's ridge and Usal road off of Matole. Later in the season, when Usal is more appropriate for overweight dual sport posers (the bike, not me).

 

[NoGall]

That's one impressive 1-day'er. Fucking nice!

 

[slackmeyer]

That's one impressive 1-day'er. Fucking nice!

It's a winner. Just don't stop much if you want to get home in daylight.

zak

 

[NoGall]

It's a winner. Just don't stop much if you want to get home in daylight.

zak

:laughing That goes without sayin'. My riding buds have also discussed this one point over-and-over: If you don't have to stop at the Mad River burger joint, that saves about 1.5 hours

 

[vaara]

I'm heading up there this weekend... but with a couple of riders who don't wanna do the whole thing in a day. So we're spending the night in Ferndale. :ride

 

[flying_hun]

Try Papa Joe's for breakfast. Kind of a funky local place.

 

[boney]

Nice ride Zak. I wish I could'a gone with.

 

[slackmeyer]

Nice ride Zak. I wish I could'a gone with.

Name your day, and we'll do it. You ride the RT for these type of trips?