MissMoxy
'svbeesgal'
Northern California Backroads 1,500 mile Moto Adventure Recap
Over labor day weekend I had 5 days to fly by the seat of my pants with my motorcycle. Well, this turned out to be 1,500 miles.
Recap of the roads:
-LavaBeds/TuleLake Circle. Just West of 139 and South of Oregon. I missed the turnoff to SR10 that would have led me to 97. Oh well. https://goo.gl/maps/M7Q66
-Bracketed by SH 139 on the north beginning at Perez and running to SH 89 in the south: FR 97 /49 to 15. This runs North/South. This is all paved. Approx 70 miles
https://goo.gl/maps/OsHx0
-Bracketed by SH 89 on the south and US-97 in the north: 13 paved to 19 North. Runs North/South and East/ West. 18 miles of well maintained gravel/dirt. The 'end' on FR 42N12 road yielded phenomenal sweeper pavement for about 5 miles:
https://goo.gl/maps/Kl6mk
-Patrick Creek Rd runs north/south- Situated just east of 199 between O'Brien , OR and Patrick Creek, CA. approx. 19 miles of gravel/dirt :
https://goo.gl/maps/2PV2u
-to explore later : 427/15 which runs north/south between 199 on the North and ends up in Kalamath on the 101. Approx 46 miles of pavement/gravel :
https://goo.gl/maps/YIu6o
-Drury Scenic Parkway. Runs west of 101 between Klamath and Berry Glen. 19 miles of paved road winding through old growth and elk grazing fields.
https://goo.gl/maps/BsjLd
-Bald Hills Road runs east/west: Bracketed by the 101 just above Orick and starts with a steep ascent to Lady Bird Johnson Groveand runs to Weitchpec on the 96 approx. 40 miles of road, each end is paved with about 15 miles of gravel in the middle.
https://goo.gl/maps/2hAFo
-FR 1 ~Titlow Hill Rd, Runs North/South between SR299 and SR36/. All paved running mainly along a ridgetop. approx. 50 miles
https://goo.gl/maps/1NkBB
-Alderpoint to Kettenpom- Runs East/West just East of the 101 by Garberville. Approx 30 miles of pavement with patches of gravel and potholes
https://goo.gl/maps/GPu1n
-Mountain Road/Mina Road. 20 miles of pavement and 20 miles of rough pointy gravel. Runs North/South out of Kettenpom and on to Covelo.
https://goo.gl/maps/0kgoL
-Out of Vichy Hot Springs just east of 101 is Watson/Knobhill to Old River Rd and connects on to the 175. This paved road runs along the grapevines and gives hilly and good off-the freeway scenery . Approx 17 mile drive
https://goo.gl/maps/f1CLJ
I will state, in this life we are given certain circumstances we have to personally navigat through. These circumstances we can sit and wait through while plopped in front of the TV, video game, computer leaking our life away into technology or get out there and go and make your own adventure while making careful arrangements.
My trip began with the basics to adhere to: Adequate sleep, proper nourishment, rest stops, bike well maintained, proper contacts and AGAT all be adequately proportioned and above all to NOT PUSH THE TRIP. If I felt like resting for the rest of the 4 days, I'd have done it. I don't mean to speak in code. However, I will state, for 40 years I was fighting a virus, which for the most part caused me to get out there and live life because I was not sure how short it may become. Really, how short may any of our lives unexpectedly be ? I didn't really understand how I was affected until I was cured. I was on life-changing meds while on this trip with the side effects really only being positive. Fuck! To experience moto tripping in a new, day-to-day unraveling, glorious way was simply spine-tingling. I wanted to hug and cry because life really became life. Energy became energy. The roads to travel and dream of really became exciting. I poke myself each morning and dance around and say "this is the REAL me". Wahhoo ! Bless two-wheeled therapy !
A few weeks before this trip, someone at a BARF gathering- Jeff, a fellow VStrom rider, gave me the glorious gift of a Triple AAA map of northern California . After a few nights of studying, I realized this map revealed roads my bulky California Road Atlas failed to show. Oh mon dieu ! For the past 8 years I've been unaware ! I guess it's time to catch up !
I , once again, had a sketchy plan of a route for backroads. These roads, much to my abrupt woohoo while ON the turn off to that road, turned out to be gravel which were I will classify as beginner/moderate easy. At first I was a little trepid of what I was to meet ahead, but I was determined to pass through that fear and muscle through it. As the saying goes = There's always time to do it right=. So, I got this.
There were some grades while on the gravel ~ 14% on Mina road, and a few slighter ones on Bald Hills and about 14% on Pattrick creek. I envied the dirtbikers knobbies I met while on this little delightful road. My bike had stock, Trail Wing tires and handled well with a tad skidding.
As one says, the bike is only as good as the rider. Well *ppsshh*, waves hand in the air.... if I can do it on my 475 lb laden Vstrom, anyone can do it.
I was over-electroniced: Two cell phones, a portable 1,300 MaH recharger, spot tracker, Sena, Pandora, cords and cables, straps, Mr. Happy, lip gloss, plenty of munchies, and a glove compartment first aid kit. This was really getting funny. How much shit did I really need ? Anymore and I would become a traveling christmas tree.
Mr. Happy I sadly lost on highway 89 heading up to 13 that morning. It felt similar to Tom Hanks losing Nelson in the movie ' Castaway'. I saw him fly off behind me and lie on the road to become morning roadkill *sniff* I had him for approx. 50 k miles for reminder happiness.
So many enjoyable gravel roads: I come back with dualsport, yes ? *snickers*
I took off after work to make it to Reno for the night, a 3 hour jaunt. Can't beat a 40 buck hotel that turned out to be comfy. My plan the next day was to take 395 North and wing it from there. Love those wings, don't you ? You have to fly in life sometimes. Go for it ! Now where was I? There was a storm passing through North of Susanville so I wasn't sure how I was going to deflect it, if at all. Sometimes feeling the rain again while riding is ... well, just part of riding and adventuring.
The shoe tree: a must stop and leave some of your stinky wears! This'll be on your right as you travel North on 395
The list of backroads I took in order were as follows, well, follows through as the pictures get piled in here. I'll try and limit the pics to 7 for each road....:
Highway 139 Runs North South just west of 395. There was a storm passing through so I opted to take 139 instead of heading to Alturas.
I Inadvertently made it into Merrill Oregon because I had to find/get gas. I opted to pass on podunk gas in Adin. My whoops. On my way back into California I decided to detour through the Lavabeds. The golden sea of grass amongst the craggy lava and undulating pavement was a nice alternative to straight 139.The need to head north and get gas was a great benefit because in that time the hailstorm passed through 97 and most of my route was clear (despite being sleeted on for a few miles) . The temperature was in the low 50's brrr... once it was nice not to be sweating.
1. FR97 to 49 South ~Runs North/South between Highway 139 and Highway 89. This was all paved. Much wildlife and few cars
I made it to McCloud that evening. Most places were booked but I found the Timber Inn right next to the Chevron Station where I tanked up on mocha and a munchie dinner and studying up on the map. The Timber Inn had 50 buck rooms complete with kitchenette and could sleep 8 ! Yipes. They were needing some spiffying up but I couldn't pass the price. That night it was chilly and made it into the 30's. I waylayed taking off in the morning by two hours and left at 10 am so the weather would warm up to 50... well, brr, it was still brrr traveling but exhiliarating.
~~~~~~Shasta is within all these storm clouds , this was the night before I was to travel FR13/19 ~~~~
The day after
Over labor day weekend I had 5 days to fly by the seat of my pants with my motorcycle. Well, this turned out to be 1,500 miles.
Recap of the roads:
-LavaBeds/TuleLake Circle. Just West of 139 and South of Oregon. I missed the turnoff to SR10 that would have led me to 97. Oh well. https://goo.gl/maps/M7Q66
-Bracketed by SH 139 on the north beginning at Perez and running to SH 89 in the south: FR 97 /49 to 15. This runs North/South. This is all paved. Approx 70 miles
https://goo.gl/maps/OsHx0
-Bracketed by SH 89 on the south and US-97 in the north: 13 paved to 19 North. Runs North/South and East/ West. 18 miles of well maintained gravel/dirt. The 'end' on FR 42N12 road yielded phenomenal sweeper pavement for about 5 miles:
https://goo.gl/maps/Kl6mk
-Patrick Creek Rd runs north/south- Situated just east of 199 between O'Brien , OR and Patrick Creek, CA. approx. 19 miles of gravel/dirt :
https://goo.gl/maps/2PV2u
-to explore later : 427/15 which runs north/south between 199 on the North and ends up in Kalamath on the 101. Approx 46 miles of pavement/gravel :
https://goo.gl/maps/YIu6o
-Drury Scenic Parkway. Runs west of 101 between Klamath and Berry Glen. 19 miles of paved road winding through old growth and elk grazing fields.
https://goo.gl/maps/BsjLd
-Bald Hills Road runs east/west: Bracketed by the 101 just above Orick and starts with a steep ascent to Lady Bird Johnson Groveand runs to Weitchpec on the 96 approx. 40 miles of road, each end is paved with about 15 miles of gravel in the middle.
https://goo.gl/maps/2hAFo
-FR 1 ~Titlow Hill Rd, Runs North/South between SR299 and SR36/. All paved running mainly along a ridgetop. approx. 50 miles
https://goo.gl/maps/1NkBB
-Alderpoint to Kettenpom- Runs East/West just East of the 101 by Garberville. Approx 30 miles of pavement with patches of gravel and potholes
https://goo.gl/maps/GPu1n
-Mountain Road/Mina Road. 20 miles of pavement and 20 miles of rough pointy gravel. Runs North/South out of Kettenpom and on to Covelo.
https://goo.gl/maps/0kgoL
-Out of Vichy Hot Springs just east of 101 is Watson/Knobhill to Old River Rd and connects on to the 175. This paved road runs along the grapevines and gives hilly and good off-the freeway scenery . Approx 17 mile drive
https://goo.gl/maps/f1CLJ
I will state, in this life we are given certain circumstances we have to personally navigat through. These circumstances we can sit and wait through while plopped in front of the TV, video game, computer leaking our life away into technology or get out there and go and make your own adventure while making careful arrangements.
My trip began with the basics to adhere to: Adequate sleep, proper nourishment, rest stops, bike well maintained, proper contacts and AGAT all be adequately proportioned and above all to NOT PUSH THE TRIP. If I felt like resting for the rest of the 4 days, I'd have done it. I don't mean to speak in code. However, I will state, for 40 years I was fighting a virus, which for the most part caused me to get out there and live life because I was not sure how short it may become. Really, how short may any of our lives unexpectedly be ? I didn't really understand how I was affected until I was cured. I was on life-changing meds while on this trip with the side effects really only being positive. Fuck! To experience moto tripping in a new, day-to-day unraveling, glorious way was simply spine-tingling. I wanted to hug and cry because life really became life. Energy became energy. The roads to travel and dream of really became exciting. I poke myself each morning and dance around and say "this is the REAL me". Wahhoo ! Bless two-wheeled therapy !
A few weeks before this trip, someone at a BARF gathering- Jeff, a fellow VStrom rider, gave me the glorious gift of a Triple AAA map of northern California . After a few nights of studying, I realized this map revealed roads my bulky California Road Atlas failed to show. Oh mon dieu ! For the past 8 years I've been unaware ! I guess it's time to catch up !
I , once again, had a sketchy plan of a route for backroads. These roads, much to my abrupt woohoo while ON the turn off to that road, turned out to be gravel which were I will classify as beginner/moderate easy. At first I was a little trepid of what I was to meet ahead, but I was determined to pass through that fear and muscle through it. As the saying goes = There's always time to do it right=. So, I got this.
There were some grades while on the gravel ~ 14% on Mina road, and a few slighter ones on Bald Hills and about 14% on Pattrick creek. I envied the dirtbikers knobbies I met while on this little delightful road. My bike had stock, Trail Wing tires and handled well with a tad skidding.
As one says, the bike is only as good as the rider. Well *ppsshh*, waves hand in the air.... if I can do it on my 475 lb laden Vstrom, anyone can do it.
I was over-electroniced: Two cell phones, a portable 1,300 MaH recharger, spot tracker, Sena, Pandora, cords and cables, straps, Mr. Happy, lip gloss, plenty of munchies, and a glove compartment first aid kit. This was really getting funny. How much shit did I really need ? Anymore and I would become a traveling christmas tree.
Mr. Happy I sadly lost on highway 89 heading up to 13 that morning. It felt similar to Tom Hanks losing Nelson in the movie ' Castaway'. I saw him fly off behind me and lie on the road to become morning roadkill *sniff* I had him for approx. 50 k miles for reminder happiness.
So many enjoyable gravel roads: I come back with dualsport, yes ? *snickers*
I took off after work to make it to Reno for the night, a 3 hour jaunt. Can't beat a 40 buck hotel that turned out to be comfy. My plan the next day was to take 395 North and wing it from there. Love those wings, don't you ? You have to fly in life sometimes. Go for it ! Now where was I? There was a storm passing through North of Susanville so I wasn't sure how I was going to deflect it, if at all. Sometimes feeling the rain again while riding is ... well, just part of riding and adventuring.
The shoe tree: a must stop and leave some of your stinky wears! This'll be on your right as you travel North on 395
The list of backroads I took in order were as follows, well, follows through as the pictures get piled in here. I'll try and limit the pics to 7 for each road....:
Highway 139 Runs North South just west of 395. There was a storm passing through so I opted to take 139 instead of heading to Alturas.
I Inadvertently made it into Merrill Oregon because I had to find/get gas. I opted to pass on podunk gas in Adin. My whoops. On my way back into California I decided to detour through the Lavabeds. The golden sea of grass amongst the craggy lava and undulating pavement was a nice alternative to straight 139.The need to head north and get gas was a great benefit because in that time the hailstorm passed through 97 and most of my route was clear (despite being sleeted on for a few miles) . The temperature was in the low 50's brrr... once it was nice not to be sweating.
1. FR97 to 49 South ~Runs North/South between Highway 139 and Highway 89. This was all paved. Much wildlife and few cars
I made it to McCloud that evening. Most places were booked but I found the Timber Inn right next to the Chevron Station where I tanked up on mocha and a munchie dinner and studying up on the map. The Timber Inn had 50 buck rooms complete with kitchenette and could sleep 8 ! Yipes. They were needing some spiffying up but I couldn't pass the price. That night it was chilly and made it into the 30's. I waylayed taking off in the morning by two hours and left at 10 am so the weather would warm up to 50... well, brr, it was still brrr traveling but exhiliarating.
~~~~~~Shasta is within all these storm clouds , this was the night before I was to travel FR13/19 ~~~~
The day after
Last edited:
arty
