Denver to the Pacific NW ride in progress....(Continued 9-19-11, page 4)

[ajeli]

I'm following Cole. Please keep it up. 

[Cole]

Stopped in Coos Bay for a break. Trying to make it to Crescent City, Ca tonight to camp.

Sun is HOT right now, feels grat. Foggy and cool this morning.

My HTC EVO still has water under the screen and won't turn on. The prognosis is not good. Had it stuck in the fan of the hotel room all last night. Helped, but still pretty full of water. It was in the top inside pocket of my Wolfman tank bag. Feeling less impressed by it right now.

[Cole]

[Cole]

Okay, I've been slacking something fierce here.

First thing that should be noted is that gear that is "Waterproof" in Colorado is NOT "Waterproof" in Washington:ear

That lead to a few technical difficulties along the way. (My cell phone looked like an aquarium).
 

Anyway. Here are a bunch of pictures from along the way.

This is what the road looked like for nearly 1,300 miles. Nearly perfect pavement and almost zero traffic. We were alone for almost 95% of the time. This was honestly the biggest hurdle for getting the play by play posted this leg of the trip. We were having soooooooo much fun riding that we nearly forgot to stop some days. There were a couple of days where we rode until we could not go further because of darkness and fog. Covering way more  miles than we had intended and actually found ourselves in San Francisco 2 days early because of it:eek1

So for the next leg, I swear I will stop having "too much fun" and take a break long enough to post the pictures sooner. :D




This was the start to the "Avenue of the Giants" its a scenic byway to 101 in California that winds through about 70 miles of Redwoods. AWESOME!! Never saw another car. :clap




Some of the spots on the coast are just amazing.





This was apparently a popular local spot. So we stopped to enjoy some local food!!:clap



While I'm sure a beer or wine would have gone well with this, there is a strict no alcohol on the bike rule that we follow!!:freaky

[Cole]

San Francisco was a lot of fun. We apparently picked the most popular gay hotel in the city. (Not that there is anything wrong with that). I waled into the lobby of this "3+ star" place wearing my insanely yellow jacket, bright helmet and two panniers and I did not stand out AT ALL!! I was by far the least interesting thing to see in the hotel. Jeska and I were the odd couple out in this place. All nice, just interesting. I would have taken some pictures but not sure any of it should be posted here:huh

Soo..here was our luxury valet spot in the alley way garage.



Just an interesting San Francisco biker sitting along the road.



MMMMM.....Soy Latte in San Francisco. (at a Breakfast/Laundry place)




Had an awesome diner at a Brazilian Steakhouse called "Bossa Nova". If you get there, eat there!!

[Cole]

We have two KLR650s stored in the bay area and have a new place lined up to store them in L.A. 

Plan is to fly out on the night of the 29th and ride south, flying home to Colorado from L.A on the 2nd of 2012! :clap

Just a few quick days to ride!

Would love some route, stop, etc suggestions.

Bikes are loaded with camping gear but also willing to stop at a cool hotel!

Google maps version of the ways to get there.

[flyinfireman]

Great ride report! i've enjoyed reading it all along. i'd take route 3, haven't been that way entirely but I've driven the others in the camper and I'd give it a try. 1st two are straight and right down the valley.

[Jettn Jim]

Great RR  
Now you ask sooo  I'll tell ya.... none a those routes are gonna show ya much new.... sooo follow me onto some TWISTY stuff off the beaten path
Rode alot of these this past May and loved them.
Out a the Bay area go 130 east to Del Puerto Canyon Rd. to Patterson. Then flat line it East through Turlock to Hopeton, then Merced Falls, then take Hormitos/Merced Falls Rd. J16 to Old Toll Rd. to the Mariposa Yosemite Airport. Now your in the Seirra Foothills.... Then Hwy 49 the Golden Chain Hwy to Oakhurst.... now its starts gett'n fun   Take Rd 426 to Rd 222 along Bass Lake onto North Fork...stay Rd 222Auberry Rd to Kerckhoff Lake and Powerhouse Rd..THIS IS TWISTY   down to Auberry and go left/east on Hwy168  for just a bit to Lodge road, go southeast on Burrough Valley Rd to Maxon Rd to Trimmer, then southwest on E.Trimmer Springs Rd. to Piedra then southeast on N Elwood Rd to Squaw Valley.  Then you can shoot across Hwy 180 on Indian Guide Rd and take Ruth Hill Rd or many others that are all basically super twisty around here.  You'll see when you zoom in on Google maps.  Pick your poison to to Lake Kaweah and onto Isabella Lake... to Bealville then Horse Thief or any number of small twisty roads taking you torward Castaic Lake... then onto Santa Clarita and Little Tujunga canyon Rd... now your near L.A.

From the Bay to Merced falls may be a bit sparce but it gets goood then.  If you opt to stay more coastal then zooom in closer and take the smaller TWISTY stuff... it's all over the place... I've had a blast weaving in and around these little jewels and meeting GREAT people back in the small towns.
Cheers, Peace and Happy Holidays,
Jim

[Cole]

Thanks for the input Jim.  The Seirras get snow! We couldn't cross some of the passed there last June in car. Maybe I'm wrong here but wouldn't the foothills even run the risk of snow?

We would rather ride coast road since we live in the Colorado Rockies and can rise twisty mountains any time we want.....but always up for a cool senic road!

[SLO-KLR]

This time of year is a bit of a risk weather wise heading for the Sierras.  While I don't think there is much of any snow right now (unlike last year) it can all change drastically with just one storm.  Lots of roads to ride between the Pacific coast and the great valley.  At the least it would be winter riding with the cold mountain temps which of course you can do at home anytime. 

[Jettn Jim]

True being your from Co and all... forgot that.  As for snow... all the riding I pointed out is well below that level and this has been a dry winter.  But yup gotta agree since you got arid Mtns at home you would prob enjoy the Coastal Seirras more, just remember to gey off the big roads 

[Cole]

It's on!!:clap

Here is the quick summary. I will fill in details in a little bit.

I spent the last 10 days riding my KTM from Colorado to L.A. along the back roads. When I got to L.A. I hoped on a plane to San Francisco where the two KLR650s are stored.  After sitting for 6 months they both fired right up!!:clap:clap

Bill, the guy that has been storing them took me on a very cool 150 mile back road ride yesterday.

Jeska is on a plane right now and will be reunited with her KLR in a few hours. Then we head down the coast toward L.A. For the next five days. She will get back on a plane and I will store the KLRs and get back on my KTM:freaky


......it will post some details and pictures of the first 10 days here shortly. Then the updates of the days to come as they happen. :D

[Cole]

Day one from Denver was a highway blast up I70. I usually hate the super slab but if you have to ride it , I70 from Denver to Grand Junction is probably one of the finest stretches.

I just wanted to "get out of my backyard" and on to the fun stuff as quickly as possible. :lol3

Glenwood Canyon tunnel!

[Cole]

Day one from Denver was a highway blast up I70. I usually hate the super slab but if you have to ride it , I70 from Denver to Grand Junction is probably one of the finest stretches.

I just wanted to "get out of my backyard" and on to the fun stuff as quickly as possible. :lol3

Glenwood Canyon tunnel!



Day two started out calm and great for riding. I took a nice dirt route(that I can't find the pictures from just now) for lunch. Then back on the two lane toward Hanksville. Stopped to take a picture and found the start of what would be 100+ miles of windy insanity!!

My KTM has a slight case of narcolepsy anyway, so the big gust of wind did not help it any.   The scary thing is that two cars drove by me while the KTM was down like this. I was 70 miles from the nearest town!

[Jettn Jim]

WooHoo glad to see ya on the move... 
LOL.....Have ya ever weighed that thing fully loaded for tour?  I'd really like to know...

[Cole]

Let's just say that if I weren't a 6'2 crossfitter......it may have been a bit more difficult to pick up

[SLO-KLR]

COOL!  I'm glad you two are finally getting your trip in.  Give me a call if you're passing thru SLO County.  Do you still have my number?  I'm taking a buddy for a little off road ride on Saturday.

[Cole]

Sent you a text. We will be in Paso Robles tomorrow afternoon at the inn!

[Cole]

[Cole]

[Cole]

Hey guys! Sorry this ride report didn't continue.....the ride did.  ....and has been great!

I originally started posting this ride report here. Then posted some on a blog called Coffee Motorcycles and Wine. Eventually got talked into starting a magazine for the iPhone/iPad & Android Tablets. 

The Magazine is called "Mōtum Magazine" and available on the iTunes and Google Play.  There is a bunch of Klr content in it and I want to do some more if someone wants to help .

This link *should* give you free access to the first installment of the KLR ride story! http://contentviewer.adobe.com/s/Motum%20Magazine/0a17fb34d2ac4a48a3c23d5e4e280e40/28%20April%202012/Fly%20Ride%20Repeat.html

Here are a few screen shots !







I'll come back in a bit and post some more pictures of this summers trip. I did about 18,000 miles of roaming around the country on the bikes. Most of which was on the KTM but there was lots of KLR fun too!

[ajeli]

Hey, cool Cole! 

[Jettn Jim]

Excellent Cole!!!   
How can I help? 

[Cole]

Excellent Cole!!!   
How can I help? 

I want to add some "Bikeographies" to the magazine. History, strengths and weaknesses, common issues, knows cures. Want to do classic bikes like the KLR and not just reports on new stuff on a showroom floor.

[Cole]

Now, I feel compelled to add a bit to this original thread.

To catch you up with a quick summary.

This spring I headed out alone from Denver on my KTM Adventure. Met a really cool guy on a KLR in Utah where we got stopped by snow, took a 90 mile detour through the dirt and ended up in Zion National Park before heading our own ways.



Long story short. I then rode to L.A where I tossed the KTM in storage at my Aunt's house and boarded a plane for San Francisco where the KLRs were.

Got to San Francisco a day and a half before Jeska to make sure the KLRs ran and fix any issues. Well, no surprise, they both fired right up and didn't need a thing

So, Bill, the guy that had been so kind to store the bikes for us hopped on his R1200S and took me on a VERY spirited tour of the local back roads.  We got to the top of one road and he said "I had no idea you could do that on one of those things" to which I relied "You can't" Pretty sure I need new brakes now 

Bill off in the distance.