Planning a Ride up to CA-36 - Need Suggestions/Advice

duck_rider

duck_rider

Well-known member
Hey There,

I haven't taken time off of work in a while and have been thinking about riding up to CA-36 from San Francisco over the course of 3-4 days. General lineup:

  1. Head up 101N to Skaggs and cut over to the coast (avoiding Tomales Bay/Marin as I always ride that)
  2. Ride up the coast all the way to Garberville. Crash for the night
  3. Ride from Garberville to CA-36 by way of Alderpoint Road
  4. Take CA-36 over the mountain then head down south to Lodoga by way of highway 306 (avoiding I-5)
  5. Stop in Lodoga for the night
  6. Head south back from from Lodoga by way of Berryessa (I know the roads around Berryessa/Clearlake so may deviate a bit)

General route: https://goo.gl/maps/9HHcG1cQSJ72


Could anyone let me know if there are some roads I'm missing or some roads I should avoid due to straightness/boredom! This will all be done on a BMW R9t because I'm young and stupid and want back problems when I'm older.
 
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J

Junkie

gone for now
Some of that route (parts of Lowrey/90 at least, maybe more) is gravel, not sure if that's what you want to do on an R9t.

That also seems like relatively short days if you're just crashing for the night at each place.
 
dravnx

dravnx

Well-known member
The section of Alderpoint from Garberville to the intersection with Zenia is pretty rough with huge pot holes. It's doable but keep your sight lines. I second Zenia or Ruth Zenia Rd. Both really nice. Watch your fuel range though. Ain't nothing out there.
I rode Annapolis Rd to Healdsburg on Skaggs 2 days ago. Shweet!
 
duck_rider

duck_rider

Well-known member
Junkie said:
Some of that route (parts of Lowrey/90 at least, maybe more) is gravel, not sure if that's what you want to do on an R9t.

That also seems like relatively short days if you're just crashing for the night at each place.
Click to expand...

Yeah, there's a section of Lowrey that doesn't have the preview on Google Maps. Very possible I might have to detour onto the 5. The days are also fairly short. I may ride all the way to Eureka instead of Garberville and then ride around a bit more on the 36.

dravnx said:
The section of Alderpoint from Garberville to the intersection with Zenia is pretty rough with huge pot holes. It's doable but keep your sight lines. I second Zenia or Ruth Zenia Rd. Both really nice. Watch your fuel range though. Ain't nothing out there.
I rode Annapolis Rd to Healdsburg on Skaggs 2 days ago. Shweet!
Click to expand...

I'll likely go up to Eureka instead and then take CA-36 the entire way and do a quick loop on Zenia/Ruth Zenia and just avoide Alderpoint Road. Thank you!
 
GPzPop

GPzPop

Ask me about my B-1-D
Also, the section of 36 between 3 and Red Bluff / i5 is pretty epic and not to be missed!
 
dravnx

dravnx

Well-known member
Check the hours that 36 is open
There is construction near Bridgeville
Could have a major impact on your plans
 
Hoho

Hoho

Ride to Eat
dravnx said:
Check the hours that 36 is open
There is construction near Bridgeville
Could have a major impact on your plans
Click to expand...

Not if he takes Alder Point Rd -> Zenia -> Van Duzen Rd. That will bring him out way past Bridgeville and sadly, past the Mad River burger joint.
 
Lonster

Lonster

GaMMa RaNGeR
Hoho said:
Not if he takes Alder Point Rd -> Zenia -> Van Duzen Rd. That will bring him out way past Bridgeville and sadly, past the Mad River burger joint.
Click to expand...


And misses a full THIRD of 36.
Closure on the weekend is limited to a 5 minute traffic light. But if you are traveling during the week (M-F), the road from a little past Larabee Valley to Dinsmore is closed from 7am until 12---open---then closed again from 1pm until 5pm.
 
Hoho

Hoho

Ride to Eat
Lonster said:
And misses a full THIRD of 36.
Closure on the weekend is limited to a 5 minute traffic light. But if you are traveling during the week (M-F), the road from a little past Larabee Valley to Dinsmore is closed from 7am until 12---open---then closed again from 1pm until 5pm.
Click to expand...

Sad, but true. But Alderpoint, Zenia, and Van Duzen are great goaty roads though. The weekend closure sounds way more reasonable than most of the day during weekdays.
 
Hoho

Hoho

Ride to Eat
89fj said:
have a burger at the place in mad river :thumbup
Click to expand...

Yes! Highly recommended. Good burgers. Just don't be grumpy or get charged with a $10 surcharge.

picture.php
 
duck_rider

duck_rider

Well-known member
Hoho said:
Not if he takes Alder Point Rd -> Zenia -> Van Duzen Rd. That will bring him out way past Bridgeville and sadly, past the Mad River burger joint.
Click to expand...

I'm likely gonna shoot to leave Eureka at 6am, that'd put me in Bridgeville a little before 7. DOT Website says 36 is closed 8am-12pm and 2pm-5pm, so hopefully I'd get through. If not, I'd take Alderpoint down to Van Duzen which should spit me right at Mad River Burger. But thank you for the rec! Saw it on Google Maps and wondered if it was worth the stop.
 
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Hoho

Hoho

Ride to Eat
duck_rider said:
I'm likely gonna shoot to leave Eureka at 6am, that'd put me in Bridgeville a little before 7. DOT Website says 36 is closed 8am-12pm and 2pm-5pm, so hopefully I'd get through. If not, I'd take Alderpoint down to Van Duzen which should spit me right at Mad River Burger.
Click to expand...

:thumbup

As a slight thread jack, has anyone taken Kneeland Rd up in that area? It looks interesting... also goaty and some dirt/gravelly bits. It comes out at Bridgeville, from 101 by Eureka.
 
dravnx

dravnx

Well-known member
I don't get the all the love for the Mad River burger joint. I've eaten there a half dozen times because that's where everyone wants to eat. Very surely owner, long waits and frozen beef patties. I guess location, location, location.
 
Hoho

Hoho

Ride to Eat
dravnx said:
I don't get the all the love for the Mad River burger joint. I've eaten there a half dozen times because that's where everyone wants to eat. Very surely owner, long waits and frozen beef patties. I guess location, location, location.
Click to expand...

If he's grouchy, charge him $10. :laughing
 
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