2012 West Coast Discovery

[John Fabian]

Thanks for the great report. I shall never ride this route. I am glad you have the skill and weather to do so. Be safe. - John

[johnpitts01]

We always carry paper maps.
Usually we copy the pages from the Benchmark maps with the route highlighted. For this trip we also had the Washington BDR map.
On this trip we never pulled out the paper maps.

BUT

We had Byways Huegel monitoring the fire situation and we spoke to him a few times to understand the possible impact on the route.

If the fires forced any closures to the planned route we likely would have referred to the paper maps to plan an altternate.

[DockingPilot]

Hello !!


They were everywhere !






For some reason, I loose John and Bruce, and am riding solo for a bit.


I stopped for lunch and bingo, John and I are reunited and enjoy some seafood chowder.




After lunch


Whata dork


Here comes John on the WR


Just like the Jersey shore

[DockingPilot]

"The Lost Coast".......now found.



We all met back at the motel later that day. Had a few beers, relaxed in the the hot tub with the million dollar view then.....
Headed back over to the Chart House where Tugboat Annie took our order for the second night. Man did it taste good too !




NEXT UP:
We start to make our way east with Reno starting to come into view

[byways]

So begins the journey home ...

[DirtyBlackIrish]

Nice run fellas!!!

[DockingPilot]

We are not done ! Two more days in the saddle yet fellas


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[thebugslayer]

Originally Posted by DockingPilot

We are not done !

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Then neither are we! Thanks for all your work allowing us to live vicariously through you.

[byways]

Originally Posted by DockingPilot

We are not done ! Two more days in the saddle yet fellas

You mean two more days on the edges of our seats!

[oldtrucks]

I'm anxious to see if you came up with a secret route across the valley.

[DockingPilot]

Originally Posted by John Fabian

Thanks for the great report. I shall never ride this route. I am glad you have the skill and weather to do so. Be safe. - John

Thank you John. You also live in a beautiful part of the country I see! We loved riding NE and plan to do so again in the near future.
Thanks for the nice comments.
Frank

[DockingPilot]

to be honest,
I was getting a bit tired and was starting to long for my wife. This was a big trip, and certainly not the easiest route we've ever ridden.

The Push to Reno.............
The 2nd morning in Shelter Cove we once again awake to zero viz. Quiet, breezy with the dew point matching the temperature, we pack up and head over the King Range one last time.
Regrouping in:


Well if I had to pick the Bowery in NYC or Gaberville, I'd pick Garberville too. Hands down !



We fuel up, lube the chains and point the bikes on a easterly heading


This morning, the route consisted of major, strength sapping, non stop switchbacks. I stop here for a coffee. We are all spread out pretty far, so I am by myself. In fact I wouldn't reconnect with Mikee and the Panzer until we hit Reno the next day. Thats how free we are on these trips.
This area seemed pretty remote to me. I remember thinking when I walked in and looked at the stock on the shelves, "who do they sell this to out here" ?


I pull up to see John and Bruce with the tops popped in Covello.
Mikee being way out ahead, had continued on Mendicino Pass heading for Reno.
We had lunch in Covelo






Meanwhile Mike taking the high road, is riding the Panzer through:


And we, taking the low road are going through here


Clear Lake California


This was new, a palm tree !


Mike was paralleling us to the north and enjoying better scenery for sure. He was out of cell range though and we couldn't hook up. He opted to camp that night in this awesome spot.










Mikee enjoying a night solo. It's times like these one never forgets.


The next morning


Mike prepares a pine cone for breakfast


We blitzed across the central Valley. The worlds food is grown here. Nevada City is where we will overnight.


Prime Rib !




NEXT UP:

We head up into the sierra forest to Henness Pass !
And I'll take it home to Reno

[DockingPilot]

Breakfast in the historic town of Nevada City for us before heading up to Henness Pass Road, said to be the last, largely unpaved trans-Sierra road.


The ride to get up there would be awesome






The pavement would end here




Starts out as beautiful, white hard pack sand. We are climbing all the time.


Deep in the Sierras


Lots of classic "Bonanza" type scenery




Mountain Lion Country ?

[DockingPilot]

Descending now




The final few miles left in an epic, huge trip.


All of us riding solo for the last day. It gave a chance to reflect on the entire journey.




We have made it to Reno 15 days after the start in Seattle.
Without a hitch. No drama, no mechanical problems, just a great ride.


We start to call each other for the rendezvous to drop the bike's at:


The great folks at Sierra BMW accepting our bikes until Federal picks them up for the long haul back to NJ.


We grab a cab to the casino/hotel (no not the Mustang Ranch )




We go to the "Adventure Desk" to check in our GPS units and get our "Adventure Passports" stamped


I somehow shrunk on this trip


Of course we hit the famous all you can eat buffet


On the way to the airport the next morning we pass the Adventure desk !!





And so, another great trip, the "2012 West Coast Discovery", has ended. But not in mind.
We headed to the airport and flew back to NJ only to start planning our next big one.



I hope you fellas enjoyed coming along.
See ya next time

[John Fabian]

Originally Posted by DockingPilot

And so, another great trip has ended. But not in mind.
We headed to the airport and flew back to NJ only to start planning our next big one.



I hope you fellas enjoyed coming along.
See ya next time

Congratulations on such a wonderful ride. Thank you for sharing. I won't ask where on the trip you reached your maximum speed. Will you post a map of the terrain covered? I am awe struck by the lack of rain and dry trails. Perfect timing. Thanks again, from a Front Country Rider. -J