March Road Trip - Dallas to Los Angeles to Canada

wantxx · 02-19-2007, 1:04 AM

Hi
Looking to travel first week of March.
Planning on riding from Dallas to Los Angeles following close to interstate 20 and 10 IE souther most part of states, then heading north to Canada on the 101. Looking for any must do rides keeping in mind that I eventually have to make it to Canada (so any fun rides I would have to make up for on the interstate). Also are there any areas that have passes that would have snow and if so how to bypass those areas? What temperatures would be expected in early March. I look forward to hearing some ideas.

Looking forward to a road trip.

Thanks Gord

flitemdic · 02-19-2007, 1:41 AM

It's going to be cold. Count on it. We get spoiled in south and central Texas, but leaving and going west is going to be problematic, even if you swing way south and follow IH-10 across. You go up in elevation going west, and that is going to make it cold. Travelling up into Canada, no matter where you go, in March is probably not going to be wise. Even up into Vancouver, you are going to have to go over the mountains to get there, and when you get there, you are only going to be able to stay right around Vancouver, as going east, or north from there is up in elevation, and or prarie, which will be cold. Ski season ends about the first week of April, I'd hold off until at least then. I'm not even leaving the south Texas area myself until April, and maybe not even then. Even if you have cold weather gear, the roads will probably still be questionable. Good luck in planning it out and riding, though. Your stated destinations have alot of great scenery and riding around them.

EDIT: I didn't see you were from Kamloops,

, so you already know what it's going to be like up there. Why not pick it up and ride around San Antonio for a couple of days, store it and come back down and ride to Hookers with me in July. Much warmer, less rain and snow.

ccriderXX · 02-19-2007, 6:43 PM

Bring Chains! I have take springtime rides in Death Valley in Cali and the weather is great that time of year. But to get there we trailered to Reno from the Pacific Northwest. The pickup and trailer were sliding around a bit on the snow on a pass in Oregon. I think once you get west of the mountains in Cali you will be OK, but it will probably be raining all the way up the coast north of it.

A couple of places I would recommend adding to your route are Death Valley and Mt St Helens in Washington. Death Valley has some elevation changes and interesting features to ride through. Mt St Helens has beautiful twisty roads on the east side. But it may be frosty and snowy in March.

I rode over a pass in Utah in April and tasted salt from the snow plow ahead of me.

Jason-1999-XX · 02-19-2007, 7:11 PM

Watch the weather very closely. If it looks bad, wait. Just my opinion, but I'd wait a few more weeks, unless the forecast shows mild daytime temps.

Islandbird · 02-19-2007, 7:28 PM

You are from Kamloops, so you already know you are one month too early. Valleys will be good and mountain passes require your electric vest. you must be looking to buy a blackbird in Texas and ride north. Good plan, have a good trip.

chaserkeywest · 02-19-2007, 8:46 PM

Yes ride to LA and park for a month, your from Kamloops, you know it is still tuff in BC in March?!

onefootdown · 02-20-2007, 1:50 AM

Hey Gord, are you getting your Bird down there? I guess Jack never contacted you about his XX for sale. Guess he's shy.
Looks likes the brotherhood is getting you sorted with route and weather details. Take pics of your ride so all of us back home can crowd around the monitor and moan "look at dat, fargin' iceholes' roidin' in sunshoin by"

Take care down there.
Glen.

dunedain · 02-20-2007, 3:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wantxx

Looking for any must do rides keeping in mind that I eventually have to make it to Canada (so any fun rides I would have to make up for on the interstate). Also are there any areas that have passes that would have snow and if so how to bypass those areas? What temperatures would be expected in early March. I look forward to hearing some ideas.

Gord,
I'll Play.
1. Hill country Kerrville and to the west.
1a. Big Bend - long detour but worth it.
2. Guadalupe Area East of El Paso on 180 (I think) asnd 506 into Alamogordo
3. on west on 60 to NMAZ state line and take 666/191 south to 70
4. Tempe is a college town Babe Alert!
5. JTP to I-40 (cool cacti on this route plus Hoover Dam if you opt for Vegas)
6. Big Bear lake area will probably be snowed in as will Angels Crest (hwy 2) if not closed completely.
7. The hills between Thousand Oaks and Malibu have tons of fun roads but stya out of LA proper.
8. Hwy 1! 101 at times but Hwy 1 is it up passed Montery to Santa Cruz SLO is a college town, take 9. 9. North to 35 & Alices Restaraunt and it drops you into SanFran 280/101 over the Golden gate. The North end has a good trun out.
10. 1 splits off the 101 again and this is a good road. Get gas at Manzinta. And often after that as it can get scarce. not OMG scarce but a little scarce.
11. The 1 comes back over to the 101 at the redwoods and the section of the PCH that come off the coast to the 101 is my favorite! Fun fun fun.
12. up the 101 to Eureka but you are going to start having cool climes if not already. I'd say your best bet is stay on the coast all the way up even though there are some killer inland routes in Oregon, and N. Cali.
13. up on the Olympic Pennensula there is a place called the Hoh Rain forest. They got 15 diameter blue spruce trees there and some kickin hot springs. Port Angelels has the best blue crab in the world when you catch them in season.
14. You got options getting to Vancover but I'd avoid Seattle unless you just want to duck the flyiong fish and all that. Ferry over from Port Angeles to Victoria and then Vancover. The best strip clubs I ever been to where there. "Bow, chicka, bow, bow!"

Avoid big cities, and mountain passes unless you just gotta get crazy! Upgrade your rain gear. I think the southern part of this trip is perfectly suited for this time of year. But the Northern part is going to be wet and cold. On the other hand in August it will be hella warm for the south and awesome in the north. You gotta ask yourself. Is wet and cold or hot so hot the extreme I want to endure.

My 2cents and I bet there are gusy who have two hundred dollars moe info but tht just mine. There ya go.

lois · 02-20-2007, 3:58 PM

Gord....+1 on the month to early.....

CanadianBird · 02-23-2007, 7:29 PM

You'll be cold and chilly, slipping and sliding, it's too early. + one on all the above. I don't even ride to Kamloops to visit friends at that time.

CanadianBird · 03-01-2007, 8:54 PM

Well, still thinking of a road trip?

Woke up to snow this morning, must be some up your way. Do you have studded tires?

wantxx · 03-02-2007, 12:10 AM

Going in April now. Amazing how a few warm sunny days get the urge in overdrive to ride. Thanks for all your ideas and comments. Got some ides for some places to check out. Weather can be a B**** some days. I have seen mountain passes around here closed due to snow July long weekend. Getting excited about the ride the warmer it gets.

CanadianBird · 03-02-2007, 10:50 AM

Closed in July??????????? Never. For the last 7 years I've ridden to Edmonton in July and never have I seen snow. Sometimes up the Canyon and on to #5 to the Yellowhead, and sometimes on #3 through Crow's Nest Pass. April can be chilly still and I can't remember when I begin riding to Whistler, May and later I think. The later you begin your road trip the better the weather will be. You could still get snow in higher areas in Oregon and Northern California.
Safe riding.

wantxx · 03-02-2007, 12:17 PM

A group of us were in Kelowna on our way to the Island to Hike the West Coast Trail on July 1 and we were delayed because the Coquihala Connector had been closed due to snow. That after noon it was nice and warm on top but still evidence of snow. We drove through at plus 8 but 4-6" of slush/snow on the shoulders. Glad we were not on the hill late at night or early in the AM.