Ride Around California
--Lance Henrichsen
This Ride Around California was
an epic adventure! Unlike many past IBA rides, this
ride includes many two lane and secondary roads. The pace is also significantly
slower with many small town encounters that have low
speed limits. The scenery is beyond amazing with miles of twisty roads along
the California coastline. Endless two lane mountain
roads, long open desert highways and the experience of crossing of the Golden
Gate Bridge as an added bonus. This ride is challenging with long stretches of
road that have minimal services and limited service
hours at some remote locations. Making a plan for fuel
stops is one key to success. Additionally, as with all rides, being aware of
the weather is another key to success. With Lake Tahoe at over 6,000’ and Death
Valley below sea level anything is possible. Navigation is an additional
challenge as many “preferred” and “shorter” routes along the Northern and
Eastern boarders cross over the state line. This often means longer routes on
secondary roads to stay within the California borders. This included the
surprise encounter of a very well maintained dirt road
for 1 mile on Bald Hills Road in the North East part of the state on this ride.
This Ride Around California provides a unique prospective of this amazing
state. Awesome roads with stunning views! Who could ask for anything more!
Below is the route plan used on a
Ride Around California. This ride started and ended in Long Beach, CA. and went
Clockwise. Because Spotwalla is required, receipts at
each location may not be mandatory. Many of the stops listed were not a
“Required Jurisdiction” and were fuel stops or waypoints that were not
required. Mileage and time listed are based on Google Map results. PLEASE NOTE:
Times vary based on time of day. The difference can be dramatic when
encountering Los Angles and San Francisco areas.
Times listed are only travel time and do not include rest or fuel stops. Additionally,
in some cases, where the mountain roads have slower speed limits, a motorcycle
can “gain” time simply due to the advantage of a motorcycle and without
exceeding the posted speed limit. Hopefully this document can provide some
additional insight into the Ride Around California!
Long Beach - REQUIRED
JURISDICTION
Start - FUEL @ Union 76 Gas Station,
3396 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, CA 90807 (Open 24 Hours)
Los Angles Freeway - be aware of time of day travel as traffic can dramatically affect time
43 Miles = 0:56 Hrs. - 43 Miles
Total
Malibu- REQUIRED JURISDICTION
Stop 1 - FUEL @ 76 Gas Station,
26101 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265 (Open 24 Hours)
Gas Station (@ Stop 1) advertises
24/7 - Pumps working 24/7 although no attendant and store is closed at night
Easy road with both two lane
(CA-1) and Highway (US-101)
149 Miles = 2:30 Hrs. - 192 Miles
Total
Pismo Beach - REQUIRED
JURISDICTION
Stop 2 - FUEL @ 76 Gas Station - 542 5
Cities Dr, Pismo Beach, CA 93449 (Open 24 Hours)
Exceptional two
lane road with twisty roads running along the ocean
120 Miles = 2:32 Hrs. - 312 Miles
Total
Big Sur - REQUIRED
JURISDICTION
Stop 3 - FUEL @ River Inn Valero -
46800 Highway 1, Big Sur, CA 93920 (Open 24 Hours)
Exceptional two
lane road with twisty roads running along the ocean
67 Miles = 1:16 Hours - 379 Miles
Total
Santa Cruz - REQUIRED
JURISDICTION
Stop 4 - WAYPOINT @ 76 Gas Station,
1500 Soquel Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95065 (Open 24 Hours)
Entering
into San Francisco
on Freeways and busy San Francisco city traffic with steep city streets
75 Miles = 1:21 Hrs. - 454 Miles
Total
San Francisco - REQUIRED
JURISDICTION
Stop 5 - FUEL @ Chevron Gas - 1501 Van
Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94109 (Open 24 Hours)
Leaving San
Francisco the busy city freeways open to Highway (US-101) and return to
2 lane coastline Highway
65 Miles = 1:20 Hours - 519 Miles
Total
Bodega Bay - REQUIRED
JURISDICTION
Stop 6 - WAYPOINT @ UNION 76 Gas
Station - 900 CA-1, Bodega Bay, CA. 94923 (6:30am - 10:00pm)(PH-707-875-9868)
Exceptional two
lane twisty road running along the ocean
63 Miles = 1:41 Hours - 582 Miles
Total
Point Arena - REQUIRED
JURISDICTION
Stop 7 - WAYPOINT @ United States Postal
Service, 264 Main St, Point Arena, CA 95468
Exceptional two
lane twisty road along the ocean. This road has some extreemly
tight turns
42 Miles = 1:00 Hrs. - 624 Miles
Total
Fort Bragg - REQUIRED
JURISDICTION
Stop 8 - FUEL @ Norcal
Gasoline, 18770 CA-1, Fort Bragg, CA 95437 (Open 24 Hours)
Two lane twisty road
133 Miles = 2:46 Hrs. - 757 Miles
Total
Eureka - REQUIRED JURISDICTION
Stop 9 - FUEL @ Shell, 3505 Broadway
St, Eureka, CA 95503 (Open 24 Hours)
Two lane twisty road
(Construction was challenging during this ride)
87 Miles = 1:45 Hrs. - 844 Miles Total
Stop 10 - WAYPOINT @ Pacific Pride, 1089
US-101, Crescent City, CA 95531 (Open 24 Hours)
Short ride on Highway (US-101) to
reach farthest NorthWest point of ride
16 Miles = :18 Hrs. - 860 Miles
Total
Smith River - REQUIRED
JURISDICTION
Stop 11 - REST @ Lucky 7 Casino &
Hotel, 350 N Indian Rd, Smith River, CA 95567 (Open 24 hours)
Short ride on Highway
(US101)
16 Miles = :19 Hrs. - 876 Miles
Total
Stop 12 - FUEL @ Pacific Pride, 1089
US-101, Crescent City, CA 95531 (Open 24 Hours)
Google will route you into
Oregon. Travel to / from Hornbrook (Required
Jurisdiction) requires route planning.
Twisty mountain roads NOTE: This
included the surprise encounter of a very well maintained
dirt road for 1 mile on Bald Hills Road.
136 Miles = 3:28 Hrs. - 1,012
Miles Total
Stop 13 - FUEL @ Connor Cardlock - 63708
CA-96, Happy Camp, CA. 96039 (24 Hour Automated pumps)
Twisty mountain roads - following
the Klamath River - awesome road with river / canyon
views!
68 Miles = 1:23 Hrs. - 1,080
Miles Total
Hornbrook - REQUIRED JURISDICTION
Stop 14 - WAYPOINT @ Chevron, 114 Copco
Rd, Hornbrook, CA 96044 (6:00am - 11:00pm)
Open two lane
roads with farmland
53 Miles = 1:39 Hrs. - 1,133
Miles Total
Dorris - REQUIRED JURISDICTION
Stop 15 - FUEL @ Black Butte Mini Mart
& Deli, 239 S Main St, Dorris, CA 96023 (7:00 am
- 6:00 pm weekends (till 8:00 pm weekdays))
Travel on State Route
161 (SR 161), this state highway is in California and runs along the
California–Oregon state line.
Be aware of the risk of Google
Maps routing you into Oregon.
26 Miles = :28 Hrs. - 1,159
Miles Total
Tulelake - REQUIRED JURISDICTION
Stop 16 - WAYPOINT @ United States Postal
Service, 541 Modoc Ave, Tulelake, CA 96134
Open two lane
roads. NOTE: New Pine Creek is primarily in Oregon, no active business on CA
side. State Line Rd. is stopping point.
109 Miles = 1:49 Hrs. - 1,268
Miles Total
New Pine Creek - REQUIRED
JURISDICTION
Stop 17 - WAYPOINT @ New Pine Creek
General Store, 60955 US-395, New Pine Creek, CA 97635 (6:00 am - 5:30 pm closed
Sunday)
Open two lane
roads. Fun country road on way to Fort Bidwell overlooking Upper Alkali Lake
76 Miles = 1:17 Hrs - 1,344 Miles Total
Fort Bidwell - REQUIRED
JURISDICTION
Stop 18 - WAYPOINT @ Fort Bidwell Hotel,
55015 Main St, Fort Bidwell, CA 96112 (open 10:00 am to 9:00 pm Thursday thru
Monday)
Return on same route - open two lane road. Country farms and the Upper Alkali Lake again
only on your left :)
39 Miles = :38 Hrs. - 1,307 Miles
Total
Stop 19 - FUEL @ Chevron, 1080 N Main
St, Alturas, CA 96101 (Open 24 Hours)
Easy ride on US-395 NOTE: stay on
US-395 and avoid Google Maps diversion onto Wendel Rd. (It does not connect
back to US-395)
146 Miles = 2:26 Hrs. - 1,453
Miles Total
Hallelujah Junction - REQUIRED
JURISDICTION
Stop 20 - FUEL @ Chevron Gas Station,
753-755 CA-70, Chilcoot, CA 96105 [Hallelujah
Junction](Open 24 Hours)
Scenic ride. NOTE: Google Map
preferred route will take you into Nevada. Please be aware of your route.
71 Miles = 1:20 Hrs. - 1,524
Miles Total
Tahoe City - REQUIRED
JURISDICTION
Stop - 21 - WAYPOINT @ Shell Gas, 300 W
River Rd, Tahoe City, CA 96145 (Open 24 Hours)
Much of this leg is through
resort area with slower overall speeds through town and following the Lake
Tahoe shoreline.
28 Miles = :41 Hrs. - 1,552 Miles
Total
Stop 22 - FUEL @ Mobil, 1140 Emerald Bay
Rd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 (Open 24 Hours)
Navigation required to maintain
route inside California Note: Google Maps recommends route through Nevada.
180 Miles = 3:16 Hrs. - 1,732
Miles Total
Stop 23 - FUEL @ Shell, 1290 N Main St,
Bishop, CA 93514 (Open 24 Hours)
Amazing, open twisty and remote
desert highway from US-395 to Furnace Creek.
163 Miles = 2:45 Hrs. - 1,895
Miles Total
Stop 24 - FUEL @ Furnace Creek Gas
Station, CA-190, Death Valley, CA 92328 (Open 24 Hours)
Open Highway to iconic Required
Jurisdiction locaton of Death Valley Junction
30 Miles = :30 Hrs. - 1.925 Miles
Total
Death Valley Junction - REQUIRED
JURISDICTION
Stop 25 - WAYPOINT @ Death Valley
Junction, Amargosa Opera House, 608 Death Valley Jct,
Death Valley, CA 92328
Open two lane
desert highway.
Note: These desert highways are
prone to flash floods. Caution: Sand can form on highway after flash floods.
83 Miles = 1:24 Hrs. - 2,008
Miles Total
Baker - REQUIRED JURISDICTION
Stop 26 - FUEL @ Union 76. 72137
Baker Blvd, Baker, CA 92309 (Open 24 Hours)
Open two lane
desert highway. This is a SECONDARY road with minimal traffic and low quality road conditions.
Note: These desert highways are
prone to flash floods. Caution: Sand can form on highway after flash floods.
1/2 of route on I-40 and easy high speed travel
123 Miles = 1:58 Hrs. - 2,131
Miles Total
Needles - REQUIRED
JURISDICTION
Stop 27 - FUEL @ Mobil Gas, 1005 E
Broadway St, Needles, CA 92363 (Open 24 Hours)
Open two lane
desert highway. This is a SECONDARY road with minimal traffic and low quality road conditions.
Note: These desert highways are
prone to flash floods. Caution: Sand can form on highway after flash floods.
96 Miles = 1:34 Hrs. - 2,226
Miles Total
Blythe - REQUIRED JURISDICTION
Stop 28 - FUEL @ Mobil, 220 S Lovekin Blvd, Blythe, CA 92225 (Open 24 Hours)
Navigation required to maintain
route inside California. Note: Google Maps recommends route through Arizona.
Open two lane
desert highway. This is a SECONDARY road with minimal traffic and low quality road conditions.
Note: These desert highways are
prone to flash floods. Caution: Sand can form on highway after flash floods.
80 Miles = 1:20 Hrs. - 2,385
Miles Total
Winterhaven - REQUIRED JURISDICTION
Stop 29 - WAYPOINT @ Quechan Casino, 525 Algodones Rd, Winterhaven, CA
92283 (Open 24 Hours)
Open easy multi-lane highway
(I-8)
93 Miles = 1:26 Hrs. - 2,478
Miles Total
Stop 30 - FUEL @ Shell, 1494 Carrizo
Gorge Rd, Jacumba Hot Springs, CA 91934 (Open 24
Hours)
Open easy multi-lane highway
(I-8) and transitioning to two lane twisty road (CA-94)
45 Miles = 1:00 Hrs. - 2,547
Miles Total
Dulzura - REQUIRED JURISDICTION
Stop 31 - WAYPOINT @ United States Postal
Service, 17015 CA-94, Dulzura, CA 91917
Two lane road entering
into San Diego Freeway system. Note: High traffic volume at key times of
day.
24 Miles = :33 Hrs. - 2,571
Miles Total
San Ysidro - REQUIRED
JURISDICTION
Stop 32 - FUEL @ Shell, 314 E San Ysidro
Blvd, San Ysidro, CA 92173 (24 Hour)
Freeway route (I-5) Note: High
traffic volume at key times of day.
121 Miles = 1:41 Hrs. - 2,692
TOTAL
Long Beach - REQUIRED
JURISDICTION
Stop FINISH - FUEL @ Union 76 Gas Station,
3396 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, CA 90807 (Open 24 Hours)