California 2018

In 2017, we went on a two week vacation exploring the north west/north central part of California, and loved it.  We decided we would explore much more of California the following year…..going as far south as the Big Sur, then head east to take in the Lake Tahoe area.  So in the last week of June 2018, we packed up our bikes and headed for California.

We started the trip by taking the Black Ball Ferry out of Victoria, B.C., arriving at Port Angeles, WA two hours later.  Big recommendation for the Black Ball Ferry – make reservations even if you are on a motorcycle.  They insist, and they will not let you on! 

For this trip, we chose to follow Hwy 101 and enjoy the coastal views of the Pacific Ocean.  We lucked out as most of the route had no fog.  The rugged, spectacular views all along the coast were breathtaking. After making our way through Washington and Oregon, our first night in California spent in Klamath. Continuing on, we turned off to check out Hwy 1 at Leggett…..and highly recommend it!  We rode right on the cliff and sandy beach edges, sometimes through the sand as the winds blew the sand onto the road in places.  At Hwy 128 we turned off Hwy 1 and headed inland towards Santa Rosa. 

We aimed to get to our campsite near Forestville, CA but the GPS had other ideas.  It took us on a “scenic route” putting us on Vine Hill Road.  What a pleasant mistake!  This quiet, twisty, country road took us by winery after winery, and grape fields as far as you could see.  Definitely check that one out if you are in the area.

After exploring the Forestville area for a few days, we headed south for San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge for the first time.  We were both full of nervous excitement.  Riding up to the Golden Gate Bridge was exhilarating.  I started thinking of all the times I saw the Golden Gate in TV shows and thought, “I am actually going to ride over this monument on my motorcycle.”  It was surreal, caught up in the traffic flow, looking up at the massive structure above us, and realizing how long the Golden Gate actually is.  That feeling stayed with me until we arrived at our next destination, Monterey.

From Monterey we rode down to explore the Big Sur area.  Not a very populated area, very rugged coastline, and the ocean a beautiful bright blue.  We followed Hwy 1 until a few kilometers north of Lucia.  There had been a landslide and Hwy 1 was closed.

After a couple of days of traveling, we made it north east across California arriving in South Lake Tahoe. We headed out early one morning to ride the Loop around Lake Tahoe.  Some areas were slow going due to the number of tourists and vehicles in the area.  The ride and the views were worth putting up with the slow areas. One upper viewpoint gave us the reality of how large and beautiful Lake Tahoe really is.  When riding the Loop we rode up to the turnoff to Reno.  It was within an hour’s ride, so off we went to Reno ……just to say we did.

We wrapped up this trip with a stay at our favorite campsite, Pine Near RV Park, in Winthrop, WA. It is meticulous, grassy campsite, that is only one block from main street.  We enjoy being able to park the bikes for the night, set up camp, and walk down to grab a meal and a beverage and relax after a fun day of riding.  Our favorite place to grab a meal, and one we highly recommend, is Old Schoolhouse Brewery.  The outdoor patio at the back of the brewery is set beside a creek, with trees hanging over giving shade from the hot sun.  And on most Friday nights, there is a live band performing on the outdoor patio.  What a great way to spend an evening!

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