Forums > US Touring > Merced, Ca to Washington State and Back July 19 - 25th

As a matter of fact, the GF and I are planning a similar trip next week.
We're starting further south than you are, so we aren't going as far north.

In a nutshell, we'll overnight in Merced, then ride through Yosemite to Mono Lake. From there we'll head north and overnight in Lake Tahoe. The next day sees us ride north through Lassen Park, then west to Redding. Our fourth day puts on hwy 36 all the way to the coast highway. From there it's south to Ukiah via Avenue of the Giants. Our fifth day we ride over the Golden Gate bridge, stop at Alice's Restaurant, ride through Big Basin and the Santa Cruz mountains, eventually reaching Monterey. Our sixth and final day we'll ride either through Big Sur or Interlake and Paso Robles on our way home.

I'm a bit concerned about all the wildfires currently burning in northern California. I'm hoping our planned routes won't be affected. Worst case would be for our intened roads to be closed. But it would be almost as bad if the roads were open, but we had to ride through smoke and ash.

I guess I can advise you of any road closures after we get back. In the mean time, if you know of good places to stay in or near Redding or Ukiah, I'd love to hear your suggestions.

Steven

----- Edit: added maps

Day 1: 315 miles

Day 2: 260 miles

Day 3: 260 miles

Day 4: 270 miles

Day 5: 235 miles

Day 6: 300 miles

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Good luck guys!

I've just cancelled my "Plan B" trip too!

http://www.fire.ca.gov/downloads/incidents/Statewide_Fires_062608_0800.pdf

100's of thousands of acres burning and another "dry lightning storm" on the way for the weekend!

I'm not even going to try to drive straight to OR through it.

The cabin I had reserved for next week was being used as a firefighter's base camp yesterday. Now they've evacuated.

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If you meet the Buddha, kill him

You should be fine going into Yosemite.  I am actually headding to Twain Heart tomorrow with the family.

Sounds like fun.

Too bad about the fires.

I left Orange County last year because of the fires, now they followed me North. :(

Yeah, I've been checking lots of fire and road links on the net, and I've called a few fire info lines, and it looks like all of our intended roads are open, except Hwy36 west of Red Bluff.

I think Mac and I are going to just go for it. Hopefully we won't have to change our plans mid route.

The one type of info I haven't been able to find is air quality. Even if the roads are open, I hope the air is not full of ash. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Oh boy, this will be an adventure.

Steven

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It's been pretty smokey here in Fresno for the past 3 days, with today being the worst. It looked like a light-medium fog this morning. Not much better now.

I had reservations in Junction City ~ 20 mi west of Redding. today's weather report calls for thunderstorms to day, tonite and tomorrow.

A friend of mine from the rafting club, who is a police officer in Suisin City (north bay) said it's starting to look like the Yellowstone fire along the north coast. And 37 square miles have burned just south of Big Sur. That fire is 3% contained so watch for closure of hwy 1

Edit; Officer Bishop also reports that I5 is being reduced to 1 lane north of Shasta and numerous county roads have been closed. If you're gonna go, call first! Daily. Some of these fires will no doubt last for weeks, and they're predicting more today and tomorrow. I'd plan an alternate return route through Nevada.

Updated fire map; http://www.fire.ca.gov/downloads/incidents/Statewide_Fires_062708_AM.pdf

And here's the air quality map for tomorrow and Sunday; http://cfpub.epa.gov/airnow/index.cfm?action=airnow.national

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If you meet the Buddha, kill him

Looks like a fun trip. I just went on a Blue Ridge Parkway trip where the road was closed. Because of that, I discovered a really cool new road! So don't let that get you down.

Well, I've been looking at lots of on-line sources, including Kip's maps, and I've called a couple of road advisory hotlines, and...

I thought Mac and I would ride on, but I've finally found reports about smoky and ash-filled skies. And forecasts for more thunderstorms this weekend. And I talked to the front desk at one of the hotels we had booked. Their advice was to stay home.

That's what we're going to do. Oh well, fortunately there is plenty of good riding here in SoCal. As a matter of fact we're going to ride to dinner right now.

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

Steven

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That's right; Rub salt, or ashes, into the wound! You have no soul.

Actually, I'm thinking heading south is going to be my only escape from this yellowish-grey air this week

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If you meet the Buddha, kill him

Smoke is pretty much gone now in N CA. I took off Wed last week, rode about 7 mountain passes in CA & NV and came back Sat night. Smoke was prevalent everywhere except over 8,000 ft., but it's all clear now!!!  Come on up, the weather's clear and warm with fresh air.

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Adults are just kids who owe money