As discussed previously, the first-ever NorCal/Bay Area overnighter will take place on April 13th & 14th. The destination is...there isn't really a destination. CA36 and CA 299, with some sweet roads in between. The route:
At the moment, it sounds like some of us will be camping, and some will be hoteling. That can be worked out later, but we'll likely stop for the night in the Fortuna/Eureka/Arcata area.
Meeting point is Oakville Grocery, 7856 St Helena Hwy, Oakville, CA, at 9am.
Wish I could come along. Some of my favorite roads! We always try to stay at the motel next to the brew pub in Fortuna. And we try to avoid Highway 36 near the coast on Friday afternoons - too many Yahoos driving pick-up trucks fast and wild around blind corners!
Nice Honda shop in St. Helena. It's open on Mondays. Eureka Power Sports is also a nice shop with good customer service - even for riders just passing through. The mechanic let us borrow his tools to remove our wheels for new tires. That's pretty rare.
Looks nice. An hour more isn't bad.
Think well be up there while its still daylight?
I haven't pitched a tent in the dark since I don't know when.
Tj.
Luckily it stays light I bit later now. But idk what time we would be getting there. Depends how often we stop along the way. Also, at least for that area, I don't think there are many food options around. I'd be perfectly fine bringing my stove and some camping food to make dinner there but idk about you guys. It might be worth seeing if we could find somewhere closer to camp. So we could go grab a campsite then ride back into town and meet up with the hotel guys for dinner.
Only problem I possibly see is how much farther are we going to have to go to find a campsite vs. the people who are staying in a hotel. It may not be an issue but we will have to break off at some point then meet up again the following day.
I'd assume that most campgrounds are going to be in the Trinity National Forest, which is a little ways in from Arcata and Eureka, depending where everyone else stays.
Probably the closest one would be the Boise Creek Campground which is about 40 minutes from Arcata. Thats really not too bad. We can figure it out, but we could always get dinner then go set up camp or something, and the hotel guys can just meet us there in the morning since its on the way.
Just went to "reserve America" the Boise creek campground does not open till 4/24.
This might be tough.
As far as B. S camping, there is a KOA in Eureka. Buy hey! They have beer on site!
Tj.
Humboldt redwoods state park camp grounds are open during that time. Just a little south of hwy 36 on 101.
Going through the "reserve America" website, I can see that a lot of the campgrounds won't be open for the season when we get up there. I have used this website to book camp spots before,Works pretty good.
Going up during this time of year I think our choices will be somewhat limited.
Tj.
On 36 by 101 is grizzly creek redwoods state park. Looks like its open. First come first served.
Tj.
To be honest, a campground with a "closed" sign has never stopped me, unless there's barbed wire across the road. "Closed" means "free" and "quiet" when you're on a motorbike.
hahaha, that is brilliant. I would have no issues doing this. only issue is their bathrooms are probably locked... :/
Its totally out of the way, about 50 minutes north of Arcata, but I stayed at a campground the first night of my canada trip in Klamath that was freaking awesome. and they have Wifi :tongue: . And it is open.
That is what I was going to suggest for the campers. The town of Trinidad is nearby and they have some decent eats. The Moonstone grill, and Larrupins come to mind. If you're staying in Eureka, avoid Applebees, try Shamus T Bones for some BBQ, Lost Coast Brewery for pub food and obvious other reasons, Bless my Soul cafe for some southern style food, or the AA bar for some steaks.
As far as the ride, I see Van Duzen rd is on there, connectin 36 and Garberville, fun for dual sports, but I would avoid it on my bike, road is in terrible condition. At least to my knowledge. I would suggest taking the 3 from 299 to the 36, it would cut out eureka and make camping a little more difficult, but it is a nice ride. Or cut out 299 and take 36 the whole way.
Fortuna has a bunch of hotels right next to the Eel River Brewery if you want to stay there. If you head south from there, you can take the Avenue of the Giants almost to Garberville, a nice little ride. Then cut over to the coast and take the 1.
Just my two cents, let me know if you have any questions.
That is what I was going to suggest for the campers. The town of Trinidad is nearby and they have some decent eats. The Moonstone grill, and Larrupins come to mind. If you're staying in Eureka, avoid Applebees, try Shamus T Bones for some BBQ, Lost Coast Brewery for pub food and obvious other reasons, Bless my Soul cafe for some southern style food, or the AA bar for some steaks.
As far as the ride, I see Van Duzen rd is on there, connectin 36 and Garberville, fun for dual sports, but I would avoid it on my bike, road is in terrible condition. At least to my knowledge. I would suggest taking the 3 from 299 to the 36, it would cut out eureka and make camping a little more difficult, but it is a nice ride. Or cut out 299 and take 36 the whole way.
Fortuna has a bunch of hotels right next to the Eel River Brewery if you want to stay there. If you head south from there, you can take the Avenue of the Giants almost to Garberville, a nice little ride. Then cut over to the coast and take the 1.
Just my two cents, let me know if you have any questions.
BigFosty, I was thinking the exact same thing... I have been on that road a long time ago. When my cousin lived in Rio Dell and it was nasty. We should avoid it all together. Brian, maybe an alternative would be better.
Just past that road is Alderpoint rd. pretty much same results and exit point but I was able to check google street view of almost all of it and besides a few goaty sections looks a lot better.
Just past that road is Alderpoint rd. pretty much same results and exit point but I was able to check google street view of almost all of it and besides a few goaty sections looks a lot better.
Haha...sorry to be such a diva. By the way, you don't have to call me "Jesus Christ Brian," just "Jesus" will do, thank you.
I stayed at Patricks Point back on the 48 state GoldWing trip. Nice camp on a bluff, but was crowded (I was there early May of '03). There were also about 20 feral cats in my campsite, 3 of which I let sleep in my tent like a weirdo.
As far as the route, gotta thank Bigfrosty again for lookin out. I'm fine with whatever...however, I personally don't care much for the western portion of 36. That one-lane-but-still-fast crap is the bane of my existence. I don't really mind goaty though, as long as the manical pickup drivers have to slow down too. TC your route on Alderpoint looks pretty good, assuming that road is in good condition.
Maybe it wont be as crowded in April? And I am kind of like a crazy cat lady, so Im totally up for a kitty cuddle puddle.
As for roads, Unless its like single track trails, I'll hit it. goat trails, fire roads, gravel, I dont mind. It makes things interesting. I spent some time going through Alderpoint rd. on street view and Its not perfect but its better than some stuff we have hit in the past.
Never mind, I somewhat take back what I said about Alderpoint. It looks like towards the end there are a couple gravel sections.
Haha...sorry to be such a diva. By the way, you don't have to call me "Jesus Christ Brian," just "Jesus" will do, thank you.
I stayed at Patricks Point back on the 48 state GoldWing trip. Nice camp on a bluff, but was crowded (I was there early May of '03). There were also about 20 feral cats in my campsite, 3 of which I let sleep in my tent like a weirdo.
As far as the route, gotta thank Bigfrosty again for lookin out. I'm fine with whatever...however, I personally don't care much for the western portion of 36. That one-lane-but-still-fast crap is the bane of my existence. I don't really mind goaty though, as long as the manical pickup drivers have to slow down too. TC your route on Alderpoint looks pretty good, assuming that road is in good condition.
I can hear an XC rider drooling for this ride!
Blind corners and pickups could suck. Remember what I told you guys about 236 into Big Basin?
This was as close as I could keep it to the edge when a BMW LT clipped ME. (Not sure what he was thinking, No one else on the road?)
Besides all of that, is there a head count of Hotel er's to Campers yet? So far I hear George and I staying indoors.
I fine with splitting $ a room. No sleep walking or snoring issues here.
Platina rd. is good as far as I remember. And and I'm assuming you just didn't put it on but we are gonna do coast down to 126 and not just take 101 all the way back down right?
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