Thanks to everyone for their suggestions! I couldn't decide, so I did some of everything.

I'm not so good with writing a descriptive story, so I'll just tell you where I've been... Kind of like Johnny Cash (but not as good)

I started out Friday afternoon with Napa & Sonoma wine country, popped over to Cotati and visited Michaels HD (always a nice shop to visit). BTW, they will have demo bikes by mid-September.
Left Michaels for more hill country through Sepastapol then out to Bodega Bay. Took the coast up to Avenue of the Giants for a detour through the forest. Back to the beach and up to Eureka to Redwood HD (another nice shop). Grabbed a t-shirt there because I needed one anyhow. It was obvious I wasn't making it back in the 2 days I had planned.

Back on the road, up the coast into Crescent City. More great forest as I followed the Redwood highway into Oregon. Note here... Oregon roads are in MUCH better condition than CA roads.

I ended up at a wild blackberry festival in some little town. Continued on through the mountains/forest through Grants Pass, on to some town I cant remember the name.

Took a little freeway at this point as I needed to get back on some sort of schedule. 5s through Medford, Ashford, and into Yreka.

Took secondary roads down past Mt Shasta, then 89 towards Mt Lassen Park. 89 is in a very bad state of repair right now, I don't recommend it north of Lassen.

Through Lassen park (if you live in NorCal and haven't been to Lassen, I highly suggest it), back on 89, then 32 to Chico. 32 is unbelievable. Perfect corners non-stop and no traffic. I spent most of the time in 3rd gear from 30-55 blasting the corners.

99 from Chico (boring, but making time again) into some small town where I ran into a lot of riders at a Black Bear diner. Had to stop for breakfast anyhow.

Stayed on the 99 until the deltas south of Sacramento (hwy 160). Stopped for a beer at the Del Rio Casino/Bar in Isleton. Hey, they now have live bands on Saturday night and Sunday around noon time! Great band called Almost Famous was playing today. Ended up having an extra one, cause my butt still hurt.

Flew the rest of 160 an on home by 2:30 today!

1000 miles in 3 days. I got beach, forest, mountains, country roads, lakes, everything. I was going to do Lake Tahoe, but ran out of time. I met a lot of great people along the way, had a lot of fun, and did the whole thing without any maps. I just let the bike tell me where to go. Well, except when I had to rein her in so I could go to work tomorrow. Otherwise I think I'd be on the AlCan right now

Here's a few photo's. Not too many taken, because somehow I forgot to charge the batteries in my camera [:@]





This is a lake near the summet on Lassen. Notice the snow/ice in the water still, it's August!

 

looks like you had a great weekend! (next time charge those batteries!)

 

Looks like you had a great time. Thanks for the pictures.

 

I just got an extra charger to keep in my bag! I might be without pictures the first day, but after that there will be charged batteries!

It was a great time and a much needed but short vacation. Of course, 1 day back at work and it's "what vacation?"[:@]

 

Looks like a good time..Gee it's gonna take me 8 days to do 1000 miles! I'm a lazy butt

Did you go up Mattole rd. to Ferndale???? (Through Humbolt redwoods out to the coast)

 

Without a map, I couldnt say. I did the coast up and turned off to take Ave of The Giants. That was the only detour from the coast that I took until Crescent City.

It was dark by the time I was in Humbolt Redwoods... Now that was interesting. It gets really dark there and I think the deer were mocking me. Not to mention whatever beasties that have the glowing eyes. I'm thinking racoons maybe? Pretty strange to be the only person out there.

I'll have to find Mattole Rd. and Ferndale next time I'm up there. I also want to go find that elusive 'Lost Coast' that is referenced a lot on Pashnit.com.

I don't think its lazy to do it over 8 days, it just means more stopping. For me its about the trip and the road travelled. It helps to clear my head. Stopping a lot actually stresses me out because I am 'losing time'

 

What a great ride. Next time your coming through Sacramento area let me know and maybe we can meet up for lunch, dinner or breakfast and maybe get a little riding in schedules permitting. The Del Rio is a popular place on the weekends, always bikes of all varieties in and out all day.

 

Mattole is a turn off after you cross the bridge on the freeway in the Humbolt redwoods. You would go through some trees then up around a mountian down to a single lane metal bridge...you would know it if you did that

Look it up...I did it in the car from Ferndale down...it was a really great very scenic drive/ride. When we were there they were doing some road work over a creek that might have been a bit hairy on a bike but that was over a year ago so I'm hoping that would be repaired.

Since we are on "Vacation" I plan on taking the rides easy and doing some sightseeing. I have a full day to go the 75 miles form Lee Vining, up Tioga Pass, through the meadows, and down into Yosemite Valley. Gonna be interesting to see how the butt feels after Yosemite and Sequioa....any point form those two places on we can decide to just to head home....Believe it or not hubby complains more then me

 

Nice Rhubarb.

I'm envious.

Gonna hit Reno for Street Vibrations?

 

I'm going to try!

I should be able to do 1 day, but I don't know if I can swing the weekend yet.

I guess I better figure it out soon