California road trip advice please!

[Rolls_imp]

Randy is right, and he sourced the pic I would've to make the point. Many of our go-to roads here have suffered damage in the rains. Still, we are spoiled. There are so many life-changingly beautiful roads remaining you cannot go wrong with a visit. Weather in May is lovely. If you have the opportunity, do not be put off by a few lengths of road temporarily closed. Happy to help any way I can. Enjoy!

[Retsel_imp]

There is also a bridge out near Big Sur. It will still be our in May.

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Here is the link to the news feed.

[url=http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Bridge-failure-severs-Big-Sur-s-ties-to-outside-10958200.php]http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Bridge-failure-severs-Big-Sur-s-ties-to-outside-10958200.php

[the Ferret]

Wow...I've ridden across that bridge.

[kvdv_imp]

Wow...I've ridden across that bridge.

Wow is right!! I just rode that bridge back in September. I'm glad I got through there before the damage occurred.

And Randy...that picture of Hwy 35 damage...amazing.

Either way, I'm excited for the May trip and I guess I'll just improvise my way back north from Death Valley as needed. I'll try to report in with pics and stories as well. - K

[flynrider]

Wow...I've ridden across that bridge.

Wow is right!! I just rode that bridge back in September. I'm glad I got through there before the damage occurred.

And Randy...that picture of Hwy 35 damage...amazing.

Either way, I'm excited for the May trip and I guess I'll just improvise my way back north from Death Valley as needed. I'll try to report in with pics and stories as well. - K

Looking forward to it! Better take some sunblock. It's already in the mid 90s this week. I suspect it'll be in the 100s by May.

[iamheero_imp]

Hey Flyn, I just did a 700 mile LA-DV-LA road trip in a day recently and I can't speak to the northern reaches you're going to be traversing but I should warn you the high desert (and the passes and mountains leading to it) will be really, REALLY cold at night. I went maybe a month ago and I should add that it's already so much warmer down here in LA but I was literally hypothermic on my ride- Pack more sweaters than you think you may need!

[LongRanger_imp]

Yep, the high desert gets cold once the sun goes down, but it shouldn't be too bad come May. That said, the winds can be brutal out there.

I used to lead a one-day San Diego to DV and back ride each Thanksgiving Saturday, about 800 miles round trip. It'd be in the 70's in DV but we'd freeze our you-know-whats off coming home over Cajon Pass at 10:00 PM. Low 30's on a motorcycle is cold when you're not used to it. Come to think of it, it's cold even if you are used to it.

[the Ferret]

800 miles in one day? Wow. That's 16 hours of saddle time. There was no place to stop and stay? ( I've done 942 in one day and it was pretty brutal.)

[kvdv_imp]

Holy smokes you guys are hard core! I'd be whining if I had to spend more than 5 or 6 hours total in the saddle in a day. I love riding, but I also love to stop, stretch, look around, meet people, take pictures, have a lunch or ice cream somewhere... 800 miles at a 70 mph average is just shy of 12 HOURS saddle time. Maybe that's someone else's idea of fun, but not this guy!

[Django]

800 miles in one day? Wow. That's 16 hours of saddle time. There was no place to stop and stay? ( I've done 942 in one day and it was pretty brutal.)

That's pretty close to a SaddleSore (1,000 miles/24 hours).