HVs Fly and Ride Adventure

[HV]

Ok....so it all started with a few drinks on New Years Eve ....a bunch of us OFs thought...Damn we should do a fly and ride... to Vegas and ride over to CA and back... do some sight seeing in between etc... well.........Its a Done Deal...we Fly out from the great white north here on Monday  Mar 23 ...Get in Vegas in the evening ...Bikes will be ready Tue AM ... and we are off to CA ... not sure what route etc yet we are taking... one of the guys is programing various ones in to his GPS ... we will be riding in between LA and SF ... North or South ..... perhaps Grand Canyon area etc we will be doing a week deal so the bikes have to be back in Vegas in 7 days ...Ill be taking a Camera and note book and keeping track of the ride...for a detailed HTT Report 

[RK101]

Sounds Great Brian. We'll be looking foward to the pics.

[BaggerRed]

Kool!!!!!! Have fun and enjoy the ride! (actually , I'm jealous)

[HIPPO]

Do you know where you will stay in Vegas?

[HV]

Not yet Frank ...as soon as we book something Ill let you know 

[HIPPO]

If you are getting the bikes from the dealer, they are quite a bit East of the strip as is the airport. Prolly best to get a small hotel close to the dealer rather then one of the big hotels. They usually are a pain with bikes. The small motels you can park the bikes right outside of the room. We always get rooms at ground level.

[truck]

Be sure to see the Grand Canyon and the giant Sequoias, two sites you will never forget.
Might be a problem with the Sequoias though....snow on the roads.

[HIPPO]

I'm sure that you already know that both Nevada and California are part of the PITA states that require hellmets.

[HIPPO]

Be sure to see the Grand Canyon and the giant Sequoias, two sites you will never forget.
Might be a problem with the Sequoias though....snow on the roads.

No, the real big redwoods are close to sea level, maybe rain but odds are that by the end of march the weather will be fine. Heck, run the race track between Fortuna and Red Bluff, one of the best motorcycle roads ever. Part of it is like a redwood tunnel.

Even the Grand Canyon should be OK by then, the least preferable south side almost for sure.

[CraigArizona85248]

Even the Grand Canyon should be OK by then, the least preferable south side almost for sure.

I'm not sure if the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is open in March.  Pretty sure they don't open until mid April or May due to snow.  If you want to see the North Rim (which is the nicest as Frank pointed out), you better make sure it will be open.

Sounds like a fun trip!

-Craig

[Dennis The Menace]

Brian, I was just in Vegas on Weds.  Picked up my boat from Lake Mead and brought it back to Denver (yeah, that was me pulling a boat down I-40 in 9 degree weather in northern AZ on Weds--I aint very smart). 

It was nice at 60 degeres.  The traffic and peds at the Hoover Dam were unreal for this time of year, but I recommend you stop by and look over the edge anyway. lol  Also, they are building a huge bridge over the dam and it will have a helluva view when done, for your next trip.

You will have good weather that time of year, plenty of sunny warm days.  Nights will be cool tho in March.  Also, the airport is just SW of the strip, but I would stay out of there with a bike.  Get a cab from wherever you stay if you need to go downtown to tour the sites.  The casinos are hurting big time right now, so you should be able to get some great deals on lodging and maybe even a complete air-hotel package.

If you head over to Grand Canyon, I would plan the southern route through AZ.  The trip via Utah and Zion Park are great and very scenic, but you can get cold and snow that time of year, especially on the north rim.  But, check the weather when you get into town and go from there.

I dont think we will have our place out there until summer, but if we do, I would sure let you guys stay with us.  But, we are getting a place in Lake Las Vegas, which is pretty far to the southeast side, near Henderson.  Still, my place is yours if I am there.

Any way we can help, let us know.

Dennis

[CraigArizona85248]

Actually the airport in Vegas is not SW of the strip or quite a ways east of the strip.  It is located at the southern end of the strip, right across the strip (to the east) from Mandelay Bay and the Luxor.  The entrance to the airport is 1 mile east of the strip off of Tropicana Blvd.

-Craig

[HIPPO]

Even the Grand Canyon should be OK by then, the least preferable south side almost for sure.

I'm not sure if the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is open in March.  Pretty sure they don't open until mid April or May due to snow.  If you want to see the North Rim (which is the nicest as Frank pointed out), you better make sure it will be open.

Sounds like a fun trip!

-Craig

It changes from year to year, as you know. A few years ago went that way in the first week of April (HV is talking last week of March) on the way to UT following the ridge road all through the NP's and into Moab.
Perfect weather.
A week later it was snowing and hailing golf balls. 

[HIPPO]

Yeah, the airport isn't that far to the East of the strip down there, but if you run straight N from the airport without going to the strip it's like running one side of a triangle going to the dealer.

I guess a cab would take you the scenic route though. 

[HV]

Great information guys... Ill be making notes all the time until we leave... and ill post where we will be as soon as I know for sure... 6 of us going.... Myself ...a guy that owns his own HVAC Company .. A Auto Tech that works for the local Dodge Dealer.... A Semi retired Auto Tech that worked on High End cars ... ( BMW  etc ) ....and 2 more guys that just want to go... ....

[Dakota]

 If you're riding to San Francisco, I believe I remember a park on the north side called Muir Woods, I think, that has a lot of the big redwoods.  That wouldn't be much out of your way-I think it's on the north side of the bay, north of SF.


   I just googled it and here it is:   http://www.nps.gov/muwo/

  Zion National Park in SW Utah is beautiful but I would guess too cold and wintery that time of year.

[truck]

I'm talking BIG.

More Sherman Tree statistics:
(If your browser does not support tables, you may see the Sherman Tree statistics here.)

Feet Meters
Height above Base 274.9 83.8 
Circumference at Ground 102.6 31.1 
Maximum Diameter at Base 36.5 11.1 
Diameter 60' (18.3 m) above base 17.5  5.3
Diameter 180' (54.9 m) above base 14.0  4.3
Diameter of Largest Branch 6.8 2.1 
Height of First Large Branch above the Base 130.0  39.6
Average Crown Spread 106.5 32.5 


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Grant_tree

[seattledyna]

second on the Muir Woods, since you will be limited on time you can experience the Redwoods without riding 100s more miles up the coast.

That whole area in Marin County is amazing!

and maybe some of us guys in the region can catch up for a visit.

[HV]

We may set up in a room for a few days and 2 or 3 guys can run on day trips any place they want..., hard to say what we will do for sure......Ill try to get online at some point from there and check in here

[Dennis The Menace]

If you do stay a few days in LV area, also look into riding up to Charleston Peak, if there isnt too much snow.  I havent been yet, but locals told me its a popular ride and very good views of the LV area from up there.  Its got a lot of snow up there now, but I dont know about late March. 

Laughlin River Run is late April, but worth a ride down to check out the scenary.  I havent been through there in many years, buts it should be a nice putt down from LV for lunch or drinks.

It would also be a good time to ride over to Death Valley, since it will only be 10 degrees less than hotter than hell. lol  Lowest point in the US at 282 feet below sea level, you can expect 80 degree temps that time of year.  The surrounding peaks make for an awesome experience, as some are well over 10,000 feet above sea level.  It is very possible to go from hot weather to snowline in a matter of miles in the park.  And, all in a day ride from LV.

Anyway, sounds exciting, and you guys will have fun planning teh trip, and even more fun riding it.  And, Craig is correct, the airport is directly south of the strip.  I would try to hole up even farther south or in Henderson, but south to southwest of the airport would be best if you are wanting to take day trips.  The traffic on I-15 through LV is horrible, so avoid it at all costs during the day.  South side is closer to things to see on a day trip anyway.

Dennis

Dennis

[someday69]

hey don't forget the santa cruz area,,there are some great rides through redwoods,-(big basin national park) santa cruz has a boardwalk,,and the pacific coast highway from there to san francisco is way kelw,,,AND,,,you could let me ride with ya....too...someday...

[HV]

hey don't forget the santa cruz area,,there are some great rides through redwoods,-(big basin national park) santa cruz has a boardwalk,,and the pacific coast highway from there to san francisco is way kelw,,,AND,,,you could let me ride with ya....too...someday...

Damn fine idea.. the PC highway is a must IMHO

[texaskatfish]

HV ya rascal we're jealous!!!

How yall gonna be able to tell if stock rental bikes are even running or not?

Megasnikkerâ,,¢

[03deuce]

HV,
I live on the central coast of California, so I can probably offer some suggestions for that portion of your trip.  There are two routes from LA to SF, the PCH (Highway one) and the interstate (US 101).  You can make faster time on the 101, but I agree that the PCH from LA to SF is a biker must do.  Not sure if you guys have been in this area of the US before or if this will be your first trip.  You guys are from Canada, so the weather probably won't be a problem, but riding along the ocean, when it is foggy, can be quite cool, so be prepared for warm weather and cold/cool. 
I have always enjoyed riding the PCH from Santa Monica to the Oxnard/Ventura area, you are right next to the pacific ocean all the way.  If you have time, I would stop in Santa Barbara.  You can ride your bikes out on to Stearns Wharf (the pier) and take in the ocean and the mountains at the same time.  North of Santa Barbara there are some interesting and quaint beach towns.  Pismo Beach and Morro Bay are a couple you could check out.  Time permitting I would stop at the Hearst Castle visitor center, good place for a pit stop.  From there heading north toward Big Sur there is a beach area full of elephant seals, further north you can stop at Ragged Point, park and walk down behind the motel/restaurant.  The view of the California coast looking north is one of my favorites.  You will be right along the ocean from here to Monterey, several places to pull over and take pictures.  Another must stop is the Nepenthe restaurant  (http://www.nepenthebigsur.com/) From the highway it just looks like a parking lot and some trees, but when you walk up the stairs to the restaurant, you have this fabulous view of the ocean, very cool.  In the Monterey area you could check out Cannery Row, Pacific Grove, or Pebble Beach to name a few.  Someone else mentioned checking out the coast redwood trees in the Santa Cruz area.  Further north near Half Moon Bay you can turn right and ride to the top of the mountain.  From there you can see the San Francisco Bay to the east and the pacific ocean to the west, very cool.  Highway one takes you through San Francisco right to the Golden Gate bridge.  You can cross the bridge and pull into the visitors center on the north end.  Great views of the bridge and the city from there.  The last suggestion I'll add, is a day trip to Yosemite National Park.  March could be a little cool there, but the scenery is great!
P.S.  As a final comment, the PCH can be very foggy at times, so you could keep an eye on the weather and decide if you want to ride it going north on your way to SF or wait and ride it going south on your return trip to LA.
Hope this helps.

[HIPPO]

If you pack too much into the trip, it's just going to be a rat race from a to b to c and back.

Pick up the bikes and take it one day at the time.