Date: Thu, 13 Mar 97 06:10:08 UT From: "Bruce Dimon" To: "Kelly Cash" Subject: RE: Need CA Info Thanks for offering me some great suggestions for my April-May trip from Idaho to Los Angeles. I'm sorry I took so long to reply but I was overwhelmed with help and making a living. Thanks for helping me plan a successful trip. Thirty wonderful netizens wrote long and detailed replies. Perhaps you would like to hear about what I decided to do. Weather: I'm leaving on April 28 so hopefully Spring will be well established. Of course, the altitude determines the season. Getting out of Idaho should be easy because I will start out at 2100 Feet in Post Falls, ID; quickly rise to 2700 feet west of Spokane, WA; and then go steadily downhill to Portland along the Columbia River. My biggest worry will be Interstate Five's Siskyou Pass at 4310 feet. For the return trip I had toyed with the idea of visiting Yosemite but decided against it. The flood clean up will cause problems into May and I will not be able to cross the Sierras over Tioga Pass or many other passes because of the snow. I am used to long distances and long days. The GL1500 Gold Wing is as comfortable as an easy chair. My itinerary assumes an average of 55 mph on Interstates, 45 mph on US highways, and 30 mph on other roads. These speeds have proven accurate on previous trips. Here is my Proposed Itinerary: Post Falls, ID to Yreka, CA: 705 miles, 12 hours; Short stops at Mulnomah and Bridal Veil Falls on the Columbia River. Stay at a Motel. Yreka to New Brighton State Beach, CA: 400 miles, 11 hours. Stop for lunch in Chinatown (2 hours). Ride a little of Skyline. Camp at the park. New Brighton to Culver City (LA): 425 miles, 12 hours. Ride the Pacific Coast Highway to Santa Maria. Detour to I-5 via 166 adn 33. *** 5 days at my training seminar *** After work, if the traffic is not bad, I'll try to ride Mulholland and Angeles Crest Highways. Early on a Saturday morning, I'll leave LA for Zion National Park: 445 miles, 10 hours. Camp at Zion, get a small taste of the Park. Zion to Massacre Rocks State Park, ID: 515 miles 12 hours. Ride through Cedar Breaks Natl Monument IF the weather is dry at 10,000 feet. Otherwise wimp out back to the interstate and head north. Camp at Massacre Rocks. Massacre Rocks to Post Falls, ID: 650 miles, 14 hours. Ride through the Snake River Valley. See Shosone Falls & Thousand Springs. Arrive home late, around 9:00PM. Somehow get up the next day for work. Well that's the goal. Since you helped me out, I'll send you a report of the trip after I get back. It's six weeks away but I'm psyched! Winter has been too long and I need to get on the road again. Bruce_Dimon@msn.com GL1500 Wing for Go, Not for Show! Coeur d'Alene, Idaho (It's Core-duh-lane, Eye-duh-hoe) Northern Idaho, The Land of Lakes and Lattes! -------------------------------------- there is a really beautiful sight and some fantastic roads out of mexican hat. going north out of mexican hat follow the signs to gooseneck canyon state park. or ask one of the motel owners how to get there. it is like a small grand canyon and no people . the sight when you get to the edge is breathtaking. we have stayed at the mexican hat lodge twice and made this loop past gooseneck then out of gooseneck north toward the cliffs where the road seems to disappear into the cliffs but actualy switchbacks up to the top. this is a remote fantastic road that will take you toward the direction of zion park. i will try to find my map and tell you the road numbers so you can locate them yourself. --------------------------------------