Death Valley Tour, April 14-18, 2012

[Griffindor]

Hey Tim, thanks man, as much as I wanted to, but I can't do overnight rides as of this time. 'also not a fan of camping.

Did Rod change the departure date? hmmmmmm

Seems like a very nice group of riders on this one.
Anyways, I'll see you all on the anniversary ride, it's been quite awhile since we all rode together...

Hey Will/Griff, why don't you camp Saturday night with us and head home Sunday morning?

 

[Titus58]

I also vote for more than 1 day of camping since we're bring our gear...but the idea of hot showers is good too. I think Rod's plan is sunday night hotel and we plan out that night do we camp the next few nights etc....that works for me.

If we have time Sun am I would love to explore some of the dirt trails in Carrizo for maybe 1-2hrs before we head out for DV. I believe Sunday's ride is ~330miles and all paved highway.

Another idea is to plan a short side trip up to Kernville (10mi N of 178 near Lake Isabella) to check out the WARPED campground (for next year!) say hello, and hopefully get updated ride info on DV, as they will have ridden it on Friday/Saturday.


I'm looking forward to this trip ...just secured some decent camping gear and have been busy with the vstrom: new Shinko tires, lower gearing, new chain and oil service...getting ready to


T

 

[rodr]

Did Rod change the departure date? hmmmmmm

No date changes, although it looks like few, if anybody, wants to do the full 7 days. What has changed is we probably won't do Saline.

I also vote for more than 1 day of camping since we're bring our gear...but the idea of hot showers is good too. I think Rod's plan is sunday night hotel and we plan out that night do we camp the next few nights etc....that works for me.

My plan was to camp on the first and last night. But I may be talked into more camping after 1 or 2 nights in Beatty.

If we have time Sun am I would love to explore some of the dirt trails in Carrizo for maybe 1-2hrs before we head out for DV. I believe Sunday's ride is ~330miles and all paved highway.

Another idea is to plan a short side trip up to Kernville (10mi N of 178 near Lake Isabella) to check out the WARPED campground (for next year!) say hello, and hopefully get updated ride info on DV, as they will have ridden it on Friday/Saturday.

Well... Google says Sunday's ride is 7 hours 46 minutes. The first part of that is an unpaved section of Soda Lake Road. But yeah it could easily be way off.

If you wanna explore Carrizo some more, we could change the plan to spend 2 nights there, leaving a full day to explore. I'm not gonna push that but if y'all want to, speak up!

I'm looking forward to this trip ...just secured some decent camping gear and have been busy with the vstrom: new Shinko tires, lower gearing, new chain and oil service...getting ready to

I'mma gettin' excited! Gonna order new tires too.

 

[Banjoboy]

If the northern passes aren't open we are all f'd so man up with the rest of us.

Just got a new pair of pr3's. Broke 'em in with rain, snow and hail on Mines Road today. Where was everybody? Missed y'all at The Junction today. Business was good. Someone came in and paid for $300 of beer. I was the only biker around.

But yer just an inexperienced boy. T'ain't got nuth'in to do with being "manly" son, sum of us gotta work fer a live'in.

Hey Tim, thanks man, as much as I wanted to, but I can't do overnight rides as of this time. 'also not a fan of camping.

Did Rod change the departure date? hmmmmmm

Seems like a very nice group of riders on this one.
Anyways, I'll see you all on the anniversary ride, it's been quite awhile since we all rode together...

Like I said Will, I may just do one day too.

 

[Griffindor]

got yah, Andy. Are you going to bring your Dirt bike (FZ) if you do just a day trip? or the FJR?

 

[Star Man]

After seeing Woodschick's ride report on her b-day ride to the Carrizo Plain, I want to spent more time there and explore it. I was "planning" on seeing how much time we had Sat/Sun to ride Carrizo, how good/bad the campground was before making my mind up to either continue with the group to DV or stay one more day in Carrizo. If the Carrizo Plain is a good as everyone says it is, I may just stay there and blow off DV (been there a number of times). My route home would be the reverse of our route down there as I can't think of a better way to go.

 

[rodr]

As another option, some of you could go down on Friday and have all of Saturday to camp and explore Carrizo while the rest of us are riding down. Would need to plan the details in advance, as there's no cell service there.

 

[rodr]

Here's a cool DV report in progress. Gives a pretty good idea of what the dirt roads look like there now. Doesn't seem bad at all, though they have full knobbies and looks can be deceiving!

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=774723

 

[rodr]

It's 17 days away!

Think I'm gonna put on a new Shinko 705 rear and a TKC-80 front. That oughta be interesting.

Tim, would you delegate some of us to bring some of the stuff for Saturday's dinner? And how many will have extra space to haul a small bundle of firewood from Santa Margarita? I will plan to be one, but that's not enough.

All note: Trash has to be burned in the camp fire or packed out. Plan accordingly!

 

[horsepower]

I may be able to do A to B then back to A again...maybe via 1 thru jaciemento if I can get time off for good behavior. fingers crossed for 2 days free!

 

[rodr]

I called one of the Santa Margarita stores, looks like there are 4 of them that will have firewood and other provisions. 64 miles from the campground, not bad at all.

Also I noticed a motel on Soda Lake Road, about 18 miles before the campground, might be a good option for anyone not into camping.

I may be able to do A to B then back to A again...maybe via 1 thru jaciemento if I can get time off for good behavior. fingers crossed for 2 days free!

Dani, would be so excellent to have you along!

EDIT: I added a new point B as a stop at one of the Santa Margarita stores. Also changed the routing from SM to the campground to skip Parkhill Road, after noticing the routing from Parkhill to 58 is a whole lot of dirt forest roads and I can't find any info at all as to what condition it's in or if it will even be open.

 

[Titus58]

Think I'm gonna put on a new Shinko 705 rear and a TKC-80 front. That oughta be interesting.

Good combination from what I hear I've put ~250miles on my new Shinko 705s and I love them...and the lower gearing

Tim, would you delegate some of us to bring some of the stuff for Saturday's dinner? And how many will have extra space to haul a small bundle of firewood and sixpack of beer from Santa Margarita? I will plan to be one, but that's not enough.

FTFY

I'd be happy to put together a meal plan for sat night and then we can assign food stuffs to folks. I'm hoping to join you guys on the Misfit's anniversary ride this Sunday, so we can talk more then. What's our current headcount for Sat night?


T

 

[rodr]

FTFY

I'm more partial to wine... but yeah, good idea.

I'd be happy to put together a meal plan for sat night and then we can assign food stuffs to folks. I'm hoping to join you guys on the Misfit's anniversary ride this Sunday, so we can talk more then. What's our current headcount for Sat night?

Good question. Right now I'm guessing about 8. Just PM'd the ones who expressed interest to firm that up a bit.

Suggest keeping dinner simple. I think most of us will be ready to relax after the day's ride. arty

 

[rodr]

OK y'all, see the map in post #1. I have moved the official starting point to an Arco station in San Jose. This seems to be an area that is on the route for just about everyone. I picked that gas station at random and don't know the area, so if anyone has a better idea please speak up!

Also I added a new point B for a brief stop at 25 and 146, where we'll meet up with wheel_muse who will be camping the night before at Pinnacles National Monument.

Does anyone know of any gas stations on the route between Hollister and Santa Margarita? Looks like about 150 miles between those two points. Who has less range than that?

 

[wheel_muse]

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

I'm leaning toward early departure Sunday with a G16 return. Anyone care to join me?

 

[NUFC99]

Deffinatly still in for the ride (need to book the room this weekend).I'm waiting for new bags to arrive early next week then will check out how well she loads up with tent sleeping bags etc.. but 99% in for camping will give a for sure early next week

 

[NUFC99]

OK y'all, see the map in post #1. I have moved the official starting point to an Arco station in San Jose. This seems to be an area that is on the route for just about everyone. I picked that gas station at random and don't know the area, so if anyone has a better idea please speak up!

Also I added a new point B for a brief stop at 25 and 146, where we'll meet up with wheel_muse who will be camping the night before at Pinnacles National Monument.

Does anyone know of any gas stations on the route between Hollister and Santa Margarita? Looks like about 150 miles between those two points. Who has less range than that?

Rod, Greg and any other north bay riders wana meet up before slabing out to the south bay?

 

[The Smokester]

OK y'all, see the map in post #1. I have moved the official starting point to an Arco station in San Jose. This seems to be an area that is on the route for just about everyone. I picked that gas station at random and don't know the area, so if anyone has a better idea please speak up!
...

What time?

Should we all exchange cell phone #'s. Might help coordinate while on the road.

 

[rodr]

Rod, Greg and any other north bay riders wana meet up before slabing out to the south bay?

Sure I'm open to that. Why don't you pick a spot that doesn't take me too much out of my way (from Fairfield).

What time?

Want to get to camp well before dark, and allow time for breaks, lunch and picking up provisions in Santa Margarita. Google says about 6.5 hours of ride time. So maybe 8 hours from departure to arrival? I'm thinking KSU in San Jose at 9am, open to discussion.

Should we all exchange cell phone #'s. Might help coordinate while on the road.

Certainly. Via PMs please!

 

[The Smokester]

...Want to get to camp well before dark, and allow time for breaks, lunch and picking up provisions in Santa Margarita. Google says about 6.5 hours of ride time. So maybe 8 hours from departure to arrival? I'm thinking KSU in San Jose at 9am, open to discussion.



Certainly. Via PMs please!

9a, Saturday April 14 at the San Jose Arco (Point A) works for me.

I think that everyone riding with us should PM Rodr their cell phone and mobile email. Then you could aggregate them and send them out all in a lump.