Hey there fellow bikers..Love riding and traveling to see new places..Well so this year I decided to try a fly'n ride deal..The winter blues really got me down here in PA..Fly'n to Phoenix and got a Bike to see the GREAT COUNTRY Of OURS...Any helpiful hints on things to ride though or visist while I'm in AZ and Southern CA>??????

Head north to Zion and Brice canyons, monument valley , canyon lands, the entire place and I guess the Grand Canyon. Then you could slide through Vegas to Death Valley, big bear and Joshua tree. Just a little ride. DEERSLAYER
If you come to Mass look me up I will give you a tour of New England

I live a few miles from Disney Land -
From Phoenix to Ca is all desert - make sure you plan accordingly to cross it. Plenty of water. and don't be in a hurry there is plenty of good stuff to see.
I'd go to the Grand Canyon, see the crater, see the petrified forest - all in AZ

In CA - where do you start - the list is long and detailed - There are literally thousands of places to see. I don't know what your interests are but they have it covered here. Best thing to do is google your interests in CA and see what you come up with. Each city has it's own flavor and tempo. San Diego has - Sea World, the SD wild animal zoo, beaches, etc... and San Fran has the Golden Gate. There is about 450 miles in between and that's only the Southern half of the state.
I'd say visit the Sequoias - but there under snow right now. Best to buy a 10 dollar road atlas and look through it.
Safe trip.

Thanks..From what I've seen so far heading north out of Phoenix I might hit some foul weather in Feb...As for the CA part I'm thinking the Palm Springs area...Should be fairly good weather...But I was hoping to hit some of the mountain roads...

Now I can be more help.

Right now Feb. 1, is sunny and warm at the Beaches and Deserts... Our Mountains are ABOVE the snowline and are winter/snow/sleet/ice conditions until late March/Early April.

IF you really want to experience the CA that one see's on TV - Ride Pacific Coast Highway from any point south to any point north. Be Careful that you DON"T plan any high elevation roads - even the desert has snow and ice this time of year.

You'll be out by Borrego Springs - Check out the Giant Steel Sculptures in the Desert
Borrego Springs - Galleta Meadows - Sculptures

Thanks...so far the plans are to fly into Phoenix in the 14th..Heading west via Yuma..stopping by the Salton Sea and Joshua Tree. Spend a day in Palm Springs to ride the Tram..Thought I might try route 79,but sounds like it might be unpassable this time of year on a bike..Then shoot back to Tucson and Tombstone.About then my time will end and have to fly back to Pittsburgh and this snowy weather...

79 is a beautiful ride - mostly low desert - warm - you should be fine. I take the group on that road often. You can see parts of it on Weljo's ride videos.

Sounds like a nice trip you have planned out - Salton sea isn't /might not be what you expect - The area is a beautiful desert scape but the town and houses are mostly abandoned from what I remember and have been told since. A lot of Meth Labs and mule runners in some areas.

You might be better to explore more towards the ocean - west of Salton Sea. Lake Henshaw has a biker friendly Cafe we've gone to with great service and pretty gals for waitresses.

A technical and challenging ride / also a hell of a lot of fun is the corkscrew on Mt. Palomar - use caution - We've had problems with sport riders crossing over the double yellow and colliding with riders coming in the opposite direction. This is usually earlier in the day - but you've been warned.

79 to the 74 to the ocean is our ride - we do it as often as possible - if you get a chance do it - I guarantee you'll enjoy Ortega Hwy. This will take you to Dana Point Harbor - and some really nice eateries and sight seeing. North on PCH, takes you to Surf City USA - Huntington Beach and beyond...

You get that close keep us posted I'll meet you out on the road and show you around.
RK - you can PM me for contact info
Ride Safe

Yea the Salton Sea was a big disappointment. Went by it to visit my brother when he was out working that way..

You can start to see the Salton Sea off to the left at the 5minute 25 second mark of the video..

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjsKXyzMaDU[/youtube]

Hey Weljo2001..Thanks..Another question for you..Great video..What cam are you using?..I just bought a GoPro Hero3 yesturday..Working on how to use it yet..Hope my footage comes out as well as yours..

Weljo uses the Drift Ghost - he has a helmet mount on the side.

You should check out his youtube channel - he's got all our rides.


By the way - you'll be very close to Borrego Springs and those steel sculptures - that's me with the old GF