Get the TomTom app for your smart phone and let'er rip ....Maximum Winding roads feature is worth the cost of the app and it does not need a network signal to operate including turn by turn voice navall back roads if I can find them
Mike if you are heading to DFW I would like to try to meet up. Terrell is about 30 miles east of downtown Dallas. As Happytech said, weather that time of year can get interesting. That is thunderstorm and tornado time around here. However it is before the heat sets in.Buffalo -- I'm planning to enter west TX somewhere around hwy 82 then exit east TX on hwy 82 to take the Gulf coast into LA. I've planned the LA part of the trip (easy: Gulf coast, Tabasco factory, Atchafalaya River, Old River Control complex, Mississippi River).
I'm planning a stop in DFW because I have several good friends there. Other than that, I haven't planned the crossing of the Republic of TX yet. I'd like to hook up with you if timing and route works out. It'll be all riding on the 650 of course.
If going to Big Bend (the federal park and not the state park), it pays to make your reservations several months in advance. The best place to stay there is at Chisos Mountain Lodge(http://www.chisosmountainslodge.com/). Comfortable rooms, a place to eat, and a small store to buy snacks. Beautiful sunrises and sunsets via "the Window" looking into Mexico. A ride down river road from Study Butte to Presidio is a must-do. Over at Fort Davis is Davis Mountain State Park and a overnight stay at Indian Lodge is a great place to relax - again advance reservations are advised. Up the road is McDonald Observatory and on the weekend nights they have star parties hosted by astronomers that are fascinating. Hwy 90 back to Del Rio is more entertaining than IH10 and a stop at Langtry has some history about Judge Roy Bean and law west of the Pecos at the state travel stop area.I am planning a trip from east TN to TX (Big Bend), NM, AZ, CA, in late April or early May. I would appreciate any suggestions on places, roads, and late April vs early May.
I am going to move my trip into May. I will leave early May from east TN. My return trip from CA will depend on if I go up the east side of Ca and return south by the Pac Coast Hwy.We may pass each other, I'm planning to ride approximately the same route at the same time in the opposite direction, all back roads if I can find them.
I have not decided if I will ride to TX or trailer my bike. I am leaning toward trailering. I have been to TX a few times and trailering will faster and less tiring. If I trailer, I am planning on leaving my car and trailer at a storage facility along I-20 somewhere between Dallas and Abilene. Then riding south to the hill areas N and W of San Antonio and then to Big Bend using hwy 90. If I ride in I will enter TX along the coast and head west to San Antonio on the back roads.Do you know where you will be entering Tx yet. I might be able to make some suggestions based on your enter point. Also be nice to know if you will riding a bike or trailering.
That is one of the reasons I am thinking about trailering to TX and then heading south. For me, I do think having a strong side wind is worst than a head wind.Let me just say this: only once did I take a trip during spring break (late March). NEVER AGAIN will I try this going west.
I hit too much unpredictable weather (cold, rain, serious storm fronts, 55 mph cross winds, etc.).
I'm not saying it will happen to you, but it did to me. I've even had it happen in June traveling west through Wyoming, etc.
Personally, I HATE going west period from where I live (Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex). There's no way to avoid the wind coming out of the west, etc.
As I said, I'm not saying it will happen to you, but from my experience, I'd rather travel east, north or south.
I will not be going to any large cities, but I will be going thru Joshua Tree NP. Also as I mentioned above, I am considering riding the eastern side of CA then crossing over to the Pac Coast hwy. If I do that, I will take hwy 166 and maybe hwy 33 in southern CA, east toward AZ. Maybe we can meet and ride some. I will know more about the details of my trip later. I will post them.Let me know if you're gonna make it all the way to Los Angeles. I've lots of suggestions. Might even ride with ya if it works out.
I stayed in Big Bend NP and Ft Davis for awhile when I was RVing. They are both interesting places to visit and ride in. If I can not get a room at Chisos Mountain Lodge, I was thinking about staying in Terlingua. I will try to get to BB in the middle of the week, maybe that will help in getting a room. I plan on taking hwy 170 to hwy 67 and heading north after leaving BB. I read a couple of reviews about those roads and it sounded interesting. I will take hwy 90 to BB from the hill area around San Antonio.If going to Big Bend (the federal park and not the state park), it pays to make your reservations several months in advance. The best place to stay there is at Chisos Mountain Lodge(http://www.chisosmountainslodge.com/). Comfortable rooms, a place to eat, and a small store to buy snacks. Beautiful sunrises and sunsets via "the Window" looking into Mexico. A ride down river road from Study Butte to Presidio is a must-do. Over at Fort Davis is Davis Mountain State Park and a overnight stay at Indian Lodge is a great place to relax - again advance reservations are advised. Up the road is McDonald Observatory and on the weekend nights they have star parties hosted by astronomers that are fascinating. Hwy 90 back to Del Rio is more entertaining than IH10 and a stop at Langtry has some history about Judge Roy Bean and law west of the Pecos at the state travel stop area.
Enjoy your time in Texas!
On I-20 the only town of any size between Fort Worth and Abilene is Weatherford. Past that your choices are basically Ranger, Eastland and Cisco. All three are kind of small so don't know it you can find a decent storage place.I have not decided if I will ride to TX or trailer my bike. I am leaning toward trailering. I have been to TX a few times and trailering will faster and less tiring. If I trailer, I am planning on leaving my car and trailer at a storage facility along I-20 somewhere between Dallas and Abilene. Then riding south to the hill areas N and W of San Antonio and then to Big Bend using hwy 90. If I ride in I will enter TX along the coast and head west to San Antonio on the back roads.
Jeff, my main interest is to ride Pac coast hwy north to south. I rode it south to north a few years back in August from Morro Bay to Crescent City. I had a lot of fog, light rain, and cool temps. I was told that fog is more common late in the summer and I was hoping to ride it in May with less fog. Is there less fog/rain in the early summer? Also, if the weather and roads in northern CA are OK around the second week May, I would like to ride some in northern CA and maybe go back to the Redwood NP.Roy - I'd like to help you with your California segment. Are there specific places you want to see? Do you want to stay on the main highways or explore a bit off the beaten track? How many days are you devoting to CA.? How many miles (or hours) per day do you want to ride? Where are you entering CA, and how far north do you want to go?
I've toured CA every summer since 2006, and try to find roads I've never ridden before. So, except for the Southeastern desert quadrant, I've been all over this State. Let me know if I can help.
Mike, I will be coming into CA south of Joshua Tree by Yuma or Quartzsite. I have not worked up anything for southern AZ or NM yet so I am not sure.Roy....... Joshua Tree NP is almost in my backyard so I'm very knowledgeable of the roads in & around it. Like Jeff said where are you planning on entering California? If you want to go up the east side you can take US 395 up & than go in the back way (Tioga Pass just under 10,000') to Yosemite NP. Then follow 49 through the gold country north to 20 & cross over to the coast highway.![]()