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Death Valley Tour, April 14-18, 2012

Griffindor said:
John, I'll bring my old faithful Garmin GPS, just to make sure.:thumbup

sv2007, I guess you will be cutting through Hwy 17, coming from Hwy 1, right? I'm trying to plan my trip back with you & to that point where I'll be a solo rider.
uhmmm.... ' hope I will be able to join , even for just a day. Of course, better if I could go for the whole adventure on this Rods' DV trip & back. Except for the dirt road parts.

Rod, let me know if there's a pre-ride meet for this.
Click to expand...

Yes, I'd be very interested in a pre-ride meet too. It can be just a quick ride , a chance to meet folks face to face.

Where are you going? I'm flexible on where to cut over to the bay from hwy 1, as long as it isn't dark. I'm ok riding in the dark, but afraid of getting hit by others.
 
rodr said:
Again, unless someone is gonna trailer bikes or something it will be pretty tough to bring much stuff to cook with. I have a 2-burner propane camp stove but it wouldn't be much fun to ride with. How are you at cooking on a camp fire? Chili or chowder sounds good to me. :teeth
Click to expand...

More thoughts on food/camping:
Cooking over a camp fire is aokay if there is a grill for meat.

Campsite Questions:
What about water?
Firewood?
How primitive are these sites?
Closet town for provisioning?
Estimated mileage on day1 & target arrival time?

Another option since we are camping one night is to go simple on food - either eat out, bring in sammiches etc, or do easy cooking like one pot mac/cheese/weenies, or cans chilli/stew/soup.

If some of us can bring backpacking stoves and cook kits, then that and paper bowls/utensils and we have all we need for quick & easy meals in pm and am (gotta have my mornin' coffee :teeth).

Let's have people post up on the preferences for camping dinner/brkfast and what camping gear they have...I will start:

- I have located a small stove & cook gear to bring
- I can do meal planing/prep/cook
- I am okay with all dinner options, including cooking for dinner IF we have water, fire pit, etc
- I definitely need coffee in the am but can go either way on brkfst
- I have all basic camping gear & can bring water in camelback
- I am looking to share a tent with someone


T
 
I'm going back to Solano Co. I would definitely go through SF & to Golden Gate Bridge from there, to Hwy 37. For sure darkness will catch me heading home. But that's ok with me.....

sv2007 said:
Yes, I'd be very interested in a pre-ride meet too. It can be just a quick ride , a chance to meet folks face to face.

Where are you going? I'm flexible on where to cut over to the bay from hwy 1, as long as it isn't dark. I'm ok riding in the dark, but afraid of getting hit by others.
Click to expand...
 
sv2007 said:
Yes, I'd be very interested in a pre-ride meet too. It can be just a quick ride , a chance to meet folks face to face.
Click to expand...

Y'all feel free to suggest something! Sundays are usually good for me, and as of right now I don't have any plans for this Sunday.
 
Griffindor said:
I'm going back to Solano Co. I would definitely go through SF & to Golden Gate Bridge from there, to Hwy 37. For sure darkness will catch me heading home. But that's ok with me.....
Click to expand...

I can ride with you until either Woodside 84 or hwy 92, if you like.
There's a nice sandwich shop/deli in Pescadero; also some other food places near HMB.
 
Titus58 said:
More thoughts on food/camping:
Cooking over a camp fire is aokay if there is a grill for meat.

Campsite Questions:
What about water?
Firewood?
How primitive are these sites?
Closet town for provisioning?
Estimated mileage on day1 & target arrival time?
Click to expand...

It's minimal. This campground has 13 sites. Each has a covered picnic table and a fire pit. There are toilets but no trash cans and no potable water. So trash will have to be packed out or burned. I just called and learned there's no place nearby to buy firewood either. Looks like Santa Margarita, about 2 hours from the site, will be the best place to get provisions.

From Oakland it's 316 miles to the campground. About 7-8 hours of ride time plus gas/rest/food stops. We'll want to get an early start.

Another option since we are camping one night is to go simple on food - either eat out, bring in sammiches etc, or do easy cooking like one pot mac/cheese/weenies, or cans chilli/stew/soup.

If some of us can bring backpacking stoves and cook kits, then that and paper bowls/utensils and we have all we need for quick & easy meals in pm and am (gotta have my mornin' coffee :teeth).

Let's have people post up on the preferences for camping dinner/brkfast and what camping gear they have...I will start:

- I have located a small stove & cook gear to bring
- I can do meal planing/prep/cook
- I am okay with all dinner options, including cooking for dinner IF we have water, fire pit, etc
- I definitely need coffee in the am but can go either way on brkfst
- I have all basic camping gear & can bring water in camelback
- I am looking to share a tent with someone

T
Click to expand...

I'm wide open to anyone's ideas on all this!
 
More on camping -

Ansd some of my questions -

First day mileage is 310, 9-10hrs with stops...put us in @6pm w/8am depart
- enough time for cooking real meal

60 miles from Santa Margarita to our camp site
- gas up @ Santa Margarita and get additional provisions as needed
- close enough for carrying perishables/ice if we want fresh food :thumbup

Maricopa is first town we come to 40miles away the next morning - easy to have a hot breakfast there and go light on camping breakfast.

I'm in for a pre-trip meeting as well...just say where/when.


T
 
I think we'll go with the Death Valley Inn (formerly Burro Inn). I called them to confirm the group rate but the manager is out until Monday, so might not hear back until then.

Anyway, reasons for this over the Stagecoach are:

1. Better reviews
2. Better rate (one person indicated that was meaningful)
3. Entertainment at the Stagecoach, when they have it, is only Friday/Saturday nights
4. Dining/drinking places all seem to be within a 10 minute walk no matter where you are

So I should have instructions for getting the group rate on Monday and I'll reserve my own room at that time and also find out about the cancellation policy. To be continued!
 
Talked to the manager of the Death Valley Inn this morning (no callback on Monday as promised), they are stalling on the discount. She promised a decision on Friday so I'll play chicken with 'em til then. :)
 
sv2007 said:
Yes, I'd be very interested in a pre-ride meet too. It can be just a quick ride , a chance to meet folks face to face.
Click to expand...

I'm joining this ride on Sunday, might be a good chance for anyone interested to meet up. :ride
 
I was out there a couple weeks ago and it was an awesome weekend. We did Lippencott pass to Saline Valley Rd to the hot springs where we camped and then the next day we went north to Eureka dunes and out Decdedra Canyon to Big Pine. It was awesome. Here's a little video my friend made.

http://vimeo.com/37357247
 
rodr said:
I'm joining this ride on Sunday, might be a good chance for anyone interested to meet up. :ride
Click to expand...

Thanks, but I think I'll skip it. "Jeep trail" is not going to work out well with my 13" (or was it 14") tires.

Also, it looks like I won't be able to go for the DV 1 day trip after all :(
 
you're not going:x. That's ok, I'm not so sure myself either. But we'll see when that day comes.


sv2007 said:
Thanks, but I think I'll skip it. "Jeep trail" is not going to work out well with my 13" (or was it 14") tires.

Also, it looks like I won't be able to go for the DV 1 day trip after all :(
Click to expand...
 
TT120 said:
I was out there a couple weeks ago and it was an awesome weekend. We did Lippencott pass to Saline Valley Rd to the hot springs where we camped and then the next day we went north to Eureka dunes and out Decdedra Canyon to Big Pine. It was awesome. Here's a little video my friend made.

http://vimeo.com/37357247
Click to expand...


Looks awesome, I had lunch up in that overlook after the bike eating boulders in Steel Pass
:thumbup

Rod I really wish I could join you guys for part of this :(
Sounds like a fantastic trip.
 
Happy Hornet said:
Looks awesome, I had lunch up in that overlook after the bike eating boulders in Steel Pass
:thumbup

Rod I really wish I could join you guys for part of this :(
Sounds like a fantastic trip.
Click to expand...

Well G, come along! Soda Lake Road is the only dirt/gravel part on the latest route, and any sort of bike should be fine with that. Saline is an option for the adventurous, but as already noted I probably won't do that.
 
I'd like to join you for a couple of days. I'd leave Friday morning, since I already have that day off work. My plan would be:

Friday 4/13 home (Walnut Creek) to Pinnacles Nat'l Monument, camp & hike
Saturday meet you as you travel along Hwy 25 near Pinnacles or farther south to Carrizo Plain, explore and camp
Sunday head north along Nacimiento-Ferguson Rd to Hwy 1 OR G16 out of Greenfield to Carmel Valley (I don't have experience or info on this road...anyone?)
Return home Sunday 4/15, or if others want to spend one more night camping, take another day off work. Camp at Andrew Molera SP or ...?

Anyone interested in joining me in this return Sunday (and Monday?)
 
Griffindor said:
you're not going:x. That's ok, I'm not so sure myself either. But we'll see when that day comes.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I was really excited about being able to go on this ride. Wife decided that I should take vacation time and go w/ her for spring break just yesterday.
 
Time to book rooms!

We have a hotel and a group rate!

It's the Death Valley Inn, 775-553-9400. Mention the Bay Area Riders Forum to get the rate, it's $59.96 per night including tax for a double. It's good for April 15-18, 8 rooms are available, and it's OK to book fewer nights. Their normal rate for that is $68.61 so this is a pretty good deal. If there's any confusion ask for Dawn, the manager.

Suggest everyone call and reserve soon. I booked mine today and would share with one roommate, PM me if interested.

This is gonna be epic!! :ride
 
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