First trip to California

[JMister]

My wife and I are taking a trip to see my new grandson in Salinas Ca and my problem is I have never rode to or in Ca. before. I am looking for any help in matters of finding decent places to stop for fuel and hotels. See my problem is we are from Oklahoma and well all we have here in western Okla. is nothing. Well what I mean is no 8 lane highways no drive by shootings no road rage ending up with someone being shot. With my experiences traveling across the USA going to rallies I have found myself in very unplesant situations just by stopping to look at my map in the wrong gas station. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

JMister

[widebmw]

Come through Arizona or Utah to Northern Nevada.
Carson City or Reno. We know where the unmaned border crossings are. You can slip in on some of the back roads and spend some time in Salinas then come back into the US on any of the larger roads. They only check you coming in you can leave on any road at any time.

[fish]

Salinas...it's a paradox. The heart of Steinbeck country and gangland capital of central california.

Should be a nice ride, tho. Give a shout when you get close...I'm only about 50 miles north, so I could meet you down there for some chowder or something.

[KBasa]

Originally posted by fish
Salinas...it's a paradox. The heart of Steinbeck country and gangland capital of central california.

Should be a nice ride, tho. Give a shout when you get close...I'm only about 50 miles north, so I could meet you down there for some chowder or something.

Likewise. If you get out here, drop fish a line and maybe MrsK and I can get down there to see you.

California is beautiful and we'd love to show you some of what is has to offer. Northern California is not what you expect as most people's perceptions of the state are formed by what they see on TV, which is primarily LA. If you want to see some roads to explore look here. (http://www.pashnit.com)

When MrsK and I head east, we like to ride through southern Utah, which has the best scenery, mile for mile, of any state in the country. Zion, Bryce and Canyon de Chelly are all right there. Durango is over in southern Colorado and has Mesa Verde and the cliff dwellings of the Anasazi to see. Nevada offers up Rt. 50, which is amazingly desolate, but hauntingly beautiful. Take advantage of gas stops, it might be 100 miles to the next one! You can cross the Sierras at any of the passes, though in the summer I'd avoid 120 which comes through Yosemite and is traffic clogged all summer. 89 or 4 will take your breath away. Across the Central Valley, you Oklahomans should feel right at home, except that you'll see mile after mile of almond trees and other types of farming. California provides huge quantities of produce for the country. Despite our reputation elsewhere, California is a hugely agricultural state and you'll see folks driving around in old pickup trucks with cowboy hats.

Salinas is a cool place and has the Steinbeck Museum. I haven't been, but intend to get there. John was a genius. Monterey and Carmel are a short ride away down the Pacific Coast highway and are amazingly beautiful.

If you're looking for inspiring road reading, I'd strongly suggest you pick up a copy of The Grapes of Wrath and read it on the way. Imagine crossing the country not on your BMW, but with a crappy truck you bought by selling all your worldly posessions back on the farm in the dust bowl of the 30s.



You should have a blast and I hope we can hook up when you get here.

:thumbFrom Sunset Magazine (http://www.sunset.com)

Salinas's Steinbeck centennial

This month marks the centennial of the birth of Nobel Prize–winning author John Steinbeck, and there's no better place to celebrate than in Salinas: It's his hometown and site of the National Steinbeck Center. Steinbeck's books come to life with dioramas of Monterey's Cannery Row, his Hooverville (the tent city in The Grapes of Wrath), and more, while clips from films based on The Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden, and other books illustrate the author's ability to captivate the mass audiences. Special events include guided bus trips to sites from Steinbeck's life and books, as well as lectures, performances, and a dinner at the author's boyhood home. Related programs and exhibits will continue beyond February. Through April 7, the photo exhibit Dorothea Lange: Human Documents (shown below) presents 44 powerful images that parallel themes in Steinbeck's writing.

10–5 daily; $7.95 general admission, more for special events. 1 Main St.; (831) 796-3833 or www.steinbeck.org. — Lora J. Finnegan

Some of the more specialized exhibits may not be happening now, but it still bears a look to see what makes Salinas special.

[JMister]

Wow, thanks for all the help here.

I don't know if we will have time to have chowder or not. Our trip has been planned out by my daughter and son-in law. They want to take us up highway 101 and have all sorts of things planed out for us including going to the World Superbike Races in Laguna Seca. See, my son-in law used to race profectionaly untill learning he was becomming a Father and decided to give it up and become a sponcer instead. But would be happy to catch up with you west coast riders and have a cup of coffee.

Everything described fits our trip plans on the way home from Salinas. One of my questions was which road would offer a better trip across Navada, US-50 or I-80? I really don't like the four lane but it was suggested to me by someone else. When we attened the national rally in Flagstaff yrs ago and came back through southern Utah yes, it offered some of the best sites and roads I get to travel. We are planning to spend a day around Lake Tahoe to be able to see the area and not just say "Yes I have been and traveled through Lake Tahoe". State highway 88 or 4 looks good on the map to catch outside of Stockton to make it up to South Lake Tahoe.

My problem is comming in Califorina, due to only getting so little time off work I have to take I-40 out to Barstow and then SH 58 up to Bakersfield. No offence to anybody in the area but I would really like to stay away from LA as much as possiable. Is there a better way besides through Vegas? I had to prommise no Vegas this trip due to well she's right Vegas isn't a vacation since you still hear bells and dingers in your head for a couple of days after leaving.

All your help is appreciated,

The Flatlander

JMister

[AceRph]

If you're riding & gonna take Hwy 58 thru BKFD, take an extra hour and ride Hwy 58 to Hwy 101 or maybe to 229 (one of my favorite local roads :D ). After about 30 or so flat boring miles from BKFD, the road goes over the Temblor Mountains. It is an absolutely fabulous road. The pavement is pretty new; it winds and weaves; there are great views to the east. It is very fun. :) If the Central Valley is clear enough, the view of the Sierra Nevadas is pretty cool. After the mountain pass, you cross the Carrizo Plains area. There are some really fast straight sections with rolling hills. (Be careful though, you can get launched if you're going too fast.:eek ) The road gets nice and curvey after that.

There is very little traffic on Hwy 58 after you get past I-5. I think you would be glad you took the extra time.

If you take 229 off of Hwy 58, it's easy to find your way to Paso Robles and Hwy 101. Then it's
just 1-1/2 to 2 hours to Salinas.

Have a safe trip. :thumb

[widebmw]

Going through Nevada US 50 is the best.
For more info go to
www.roadtripusa.com