Want to tour Texas to California- Suggestions?

[tthouses]

ive got a few weeks off end of april and was thinking of riding from austin, where i live, out west to california and then head up the pacific coast hgwy 1. if any of you have done a route could you lend some suggestions. is trucking up hgwy 1 good or is it slab? not sure about return trip from northern california.
thanks in advance
paul
tthouses@sbcglobal.net
austin
R90/6

[mundobravo]

try to work some of Northern New Mexico in , going out or back .... any road .. lol ..

[DarrylRi]

Definitely take in northern New Mexico, and plot a course in between I-10 and I-40 across Arizona, too. Lots of fine riding and beautiful scenery there.

Coming into California, I'd recommend taking I-40 to Barstow and then CA-58 all the way to Santa Margarita on US-101 (or, even better, near the end, take CA-229 to Creston, which is 6 miles of go-kart track and puts The Dragon to shame for concentrated fun). The 100 miles from Buttonwillow to Santa Margarita have a wide variety of great fun!

From there, you need only follow 101 a short ways to catch CA-46 west to PCH/CA-1 at Cambria. (For an extra dose of bumpy fun, look for Santa Rosa Creek Rd. on the right half way along CA-46.)

PCH. This is the section you want to ride. Preferably mid week. It goes past San Simeon and Hearst Castle. Just past this point, there are a couple vista point parking areas where the elephant seals congregate. Be careful along here as the tourists will stop suddenly in the middle of the road when they realize that there are large mammals lying in the sand.

Be sure you have gas before leaving Cambria, it's expensive until you get to Carmel.

I don't know how much farther north you have in mind. For the return, you could take a local favortie route south, begining in Hollister. South on CA-25, then make a jog to the left at CA-198 to get onto Peachtree Rd. This changes to Indian Valley Rd. about half way and comes back out on US-101 at San Miguel.

[PMonk]

This ride starts in Las Vegas New Mexico, where you will follow NM 518 north to Mora. This is in itself a nice ride but it only gets better.
In Mora look for the Tapetes de Lana. You will turn right on NM 434, sign is a little hard to see. The rug weaving store is worth a stop. Many looms are demonstrated and you can buy some authentic hand woven rugs made by local weavers.

You will follow 434 to Angel Fire. Be careful because once you pass Coyote Creek State park, the road gets real narrow and real twisty with no center line until you reach the top of the canyon.

At the last intersection in Angelfire, turn right on US 64 and ride to the little town of Eagle's Nest. If you are in the fall you might want to attend the worm eating contest at the fish fest.

Just as you enter Eagle's Nest you will turn north on NM 38 toward Red River. A cute ski resort town. Be careful, after you top Bobcat pass the descent into Red River the road runs at the base of some high cliffs with lots of loose rock and sometimes you find them in the road. After stopping in Red River and enjoying ice cream, chocolate fudge and coffee at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate emporium you continue on towards Questa where you will turn right (south) on 522.

Just before you get to Taos you turn right (west) on US64 again. If you are into wierd metaphysical talking to crystals and such stuff you might enjoy Taos. There are nice museums and it is a real tourist trap / I mean attraction.

You will notice the ground goes away when you cross the bridge over the Rio Grand river. A nice rest area is located on the west side of the bridge and you can walk across on walkways on either side. Not for those afraid of heights.

US 64 goes through some beautiful high mountain scenery (Aspens are great in last wk of september and first week of October). Stop at Chama a little north of 64 on 17. This is where the Cumbres and Toltec narrow gauge steam train starts it's trek to the town of Antonito Colorade. I would advise you ride 17 to Antonito and back. It is spectacular along the Conejos river. Again especially in fall.

At Biggs NM you will turn north on US 84 to Pagosa Springs Colorado where you will take US160 east across Wolf Creek Pass to South Fork where you will turn left (north) on Colo 149 passing through Creede and Lake City Colorado. Last time I stayed at motel in Creede we got the John Wayne room. It is decorated with lots of pictures and posters. That is the room John Wayne stayed in when he visited his mining interests in Creede. Did I mention there are bunches of mountains along this road? It is fantastic.

Eventually you will intersect US 50 and turn west. Just after going through Sapireno you will want to take Colo 92 and enjoy the ride along the north rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Actually you will be on the rim. So sight seeing while riding is not advised. There are plenty of turn outs and observation points to enjoy the view. The road is super curvy and not much traffic and ends in Delta where you can rejoin US 50 west.

I can't wait to get back and ride the mountains again this fall. Hope this is helpful.

[tthouses]

Hi Darryl, thanks for the input. I will certainly look into these routes. I was planning on going farther north into california, maybe san fran or big redwood territory. whats your make on the furhter northern california routes? return i havent decided but i thought heading east and then down towards texas. will get maps and check out your suggestions. so you do beer judging? i might need to visit you out in california!
regards
paul

Definitely take in northern New Mexico, and plot a course in between I-10 and I-40 across Arizona, too. Lots of fine riding and beautiful scenery there.

Coming into California, I'd recommend taking I-40 to Barstow and then CA-58 all the way to Santa Margarita on US-101 (or, even better, near the end, take CA-229 to Creston, which is 6 miles of go-kart track and puts The Dragon to shame for concentrated fun). The 100 miles from Buttonwillow to Santa Margarita have a wide variety of great fun!

From there, you need only follow 101 a short ways to catch CA-46 west to PCH/CA-1 at Cambria. (For an extra dose of bumpy fun, look for Santa Rosa Creek Rd. on the right half way along CA-46.)

PCH. This is the section you want to ride. Preferably mid week. It goes past San Simeon and Hearst Castle. Just past this point, there are a couple vista point parking areas where the elephant seals congregate. Be careful along here as the tourists will stop suddenly in the middle of the road when they realize that there are large mammals lying in the sand.

Be sure you have gas before leaving Cambria, it's expensive until you get to Carmel.

I don't know how much farther north you have in mind. For the return, you could take a local favortie route south, begining in Hollister. South on CA-25, then make a jog to the left at CA-198 to get onto Peachtree Rd. This changes to Indian Valley Rd. about half way and comes back out on US-101 at San Miguel.

[RTRandy]

This ride starts in Las Vegas New Mexico, where you will follow NM 518 north to Mora

Well yes, kinda sorta. If you're coming up from Austin and somehow coming by way of I-40 through Amarillo, I highly recommend picking up Hwy 104 at Tucomcari and taking that to Las Vegas, NM. From there follow PMonks route starting in Las Vegas at Hwy 518 to get to the enchanted circle ride. Hwy 104 is a great well paved road with spectacular views and has it all: High dessert, sweepers, hairpins, mountain pass, rolling meadows, high speed straightaways, very little traffic if any.

Taos isn't a bad place to stay if that can be a stopping point. Highly recommend The Bean for Breakfast. There are two in Taos and I recommend the one at the south end of town.

[stkmkt1]

To get to PMonk's ride, head over to El Paso and head North on 54 up through Alamogordo. If you have not checked out White Sands, take 70 West and take a ride through the white sands. You'll probably see a few stealth fighters flying around because they are based at Holloman Air Force Base.

After that, head east back to 54 in Alamogordo and head north to 380 West. It cuts through the youngest volcano lava field in the continental US (not including St. Helens). You ride right through the black lava field. Then hit 25 North up to 40 and PMonk's ride near Las Vegas.

Another kind of cool place to ride is Rt 244 out of Cloudcroft to Ruidoso. In Alamogordo, take 82 up to Cloudcroft. This is a 16 mile trip up the mountain on a twisty narrow road from about 4000' to about 11,000'. Rt 244 is a nice two-lane twisty road that meanders around til' it hits Ruidoso. It comes out on Rt 70. You can take 70 back down the mountain to 54 and then continue on north to 380 as mentioned above.

[PMonk]

From Delta you would head west on US 50 which joins IH70. Normally I avoid interstates as much as possible but this stretch is remarkably scenic with quite a few observation points along the way. It is very nice desert scenery.

I would make a suggestion here, I haven't done it yet but a biker I talked to recommended this road. In Nevada take 128 south to Moab. This road follows the Colorado river to Moab and skirts the east side of Arches Natl Park. Moab is a neat place and a good place to spend the night. Then you can take 191 north to I70 and continue your trip west.

Near Salina you will leave I 70 and continue on US 50. This is advertised as the loneliest road in the country, but in the last ON someone had a different opinion, but it is very sparse. Be sure you keep the tank filled. We found Austin to be a real neat old town. Looks like old west. Watch out for dust devils, they can shake up your ride!

You will join I 80 for a while until you reach Reno, then go north on US 395.
At Susanville take 36 then 89 to Lassen Volcanic park. Take time to walk to the mudpots and fumeroles. It is like a mini Yellowstone. I wish we had taken more time there but the bride was itching to get back to the cabin in New Mexico.

After leaving north out of Lassen, take 44 west to Redding then 299 west to Douglas city. This route is along the Trinity River and is beautiful. One caution, We found the biggest pine cone I ever saw before. We asked what kind of pine it was and a lady at a store said they were called digger pines. Because if one fell on your head they would just dig your grave. From the size of the thing I believe her, so be careful where you park your bike.

Leaving the Douglas City area you will take a left on Calif 3 which merges with Cal 36 and leads you to 101. From there you can turn north to the Redwoods or go south to California's highway 1 and go through Humbolt Redwoods state park and explore the coastline in California.