Loops and Rides around Weaverville

[Andrew]

Ya might have company Squeezer  

Done that ride before  

[Sport-Touring]

[Explorer]

This is my planed route from the Bay area, to Weavervill. Once past the GGB it will be all two lane and fire roads all the way their. I'm leaving San Jose at 4AM, to avoid all the commute traffic in the city. All are wellcome to ride up in parts or the whole way.

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[squeezer]

Ya might have company Squeezer  

Done that ride before  

 

[MisterSmooth]

HWY 3 north of Weaverville is very nice. A good all day ride is 3 up to Yreka, slab maybe 10 miles up to 96 and follow the Klamath back down to Willow Creek and 299 and back to Weavervillle. Fuel is good in Yreka and Willow Creek but of dubious quality at various spots in between if you need premium.

If you want an extended seat-time day ride take 299 out to the coast, have something to eat in Eureka or Fortuna, then 36 back to Red Bluff, 30 miles of I-5 to Redding, then 299 back to Weaverville and dinner.

Notice that these are pretty much the main highways of the area. They're well maintained and regularly traveled, though not heavily. If you want to get off the beaten path and don't mind some bumps, Deliverance locales and unique discoveries (somebody up there has Alfa Spiders littering their front yard but you'll have to find it) break out a detailed map and have at it...

I dunno.  Jeff N once told me that 36/3/299 stuff gets old.  



Last weekend I came down from the north like a fat motorcycle-shaped steely from the world's largest slingshot.  Rode Highway 3 to Weaverville, stayed overnight and then the next day rode from Weaverville to Willow Creek on 299, hence north on 96 to Interstate 5.

It was only 2pm when I sat down to a sublime macchiato at Case Coffee in Ashland, Oregon.  I was still feeling pretty frisky so what the heck, I rode back to Seattle and arrived promptly at 10:20pm.


What did I learn?

On the way to Weaverville, I rode over County 17 from Weed to Highway 3.  Not knowing that the road was closed.  At the very top, it's about 7,500 feet or so and there's a big snowdrift that almost covers the road.  In a car, you're screwed.   But beside the giant snowdrift there is about an eighteen inch wide strip of bare shoulder on the south side, so I just rode around it.  Next to that eighteen inch wide strip of bare shoulder, there is about a 200 foot sheer drop.  Please don't tell my wife I just rode on through, OK?    

Highway 299 from Weaverville to Willow Creek was much better than expected.  Good pavement, big sweepers, Tuono!!  Saturday morning at 10am there wasn't much traffic, and in any case there are plenty of places to pass.   I didn't remember it like that.   And I didn't see one LEO, much to my surprise.

Highway 96 from Willow Creek to Happy Camp (Ever notice that the people in Happy Camp don't look all that happy?  Fact.) needs some love.  Bumpy, bumpy, bumpy and some ratchet pavement.

WEAVERVILLE TIP:  Order the taco platter at La Grange Cafe.  It's only ten bucks!  Ask for both the mango salsa and the pico de gallo.  Then raise a glass to your Good Tip Man, MisterSmooth.

WEAVERVILLE TIP NUMBER TWO:  Do yourself a favor and order the special breakfast bagel with ham and pesto at Mamma Llama's in the morning..


And I learned that in May in the Pacific Northwest, your best friend is not your dog at all.   It's your electric liner.  

[viffergyrl]

Tasty, tasty, tasty.... Explorer - I am considering your route back to SoCal.  

We were denied Forest Road 1 at WCRM 2011 - the gang o' six (Andrew, endo, M.Brane, Rob707, Cvergi01, and myself) ran into a large amount of snow just after Titlow Hill Road becomes Forest Road 1. Definitely on our list.

I am getting geeked.

[bluepoof]

We had that same problem with Forest Service Road 1 at the WCRM II in 2005!

[Andrew]

Tasty, tasty, tasty.... Explorer - I am considering your route back to SoCal.  

We were denied Forest Road 1 at WCRM 2011 - the gang o' six (Andrew, endo, M.Brane, Rob707, Cvergi01, and myself) ran into a large amount of snow just after Titlow Hill Road becomes Forest Road 1. Definitely on our list.

I am getting geeked.

Yep was a wet and cold WCRM that year, I think this year might be a bit warmer

Will let you know how Explorer's rout was when we get there

[melville]

As it's likely to be hot as heck, you guys may want to see the coast for some relief.  I rode this yesterday--take 299 over Oregon Mountain to Willow Creek (clickable map link):



There's some dirt, but not nearly as much as there used to be--just 8 miles of it now on top of Bald Hills, mostly looking like this:



Smooth and relatively speedy on my gooshy gooshy Airhead.  YMMV.

Here's the weather effect--looking West from the Redwood Creek Overlook:



That's the 58F and foggy that keeps me comfortable and pale out on the coast.  You'll feel a sweet cool change in the weather over the last ten miles.  If your ride is German and air-cooled, it will be happier as well.

Watch out for nasty pavement going down the hill after the Lady Bird Johnson Grove (after a pedestrian bridge over the road) and for RVs lumbering up that hill.  They generally come in no further than LBJG.

When you get to Orick, stop in for pie here:



Ask for Martha, and tell her that Mel sent you.

Google maps says nearly 4 hours, but it was closer to 3 for me including a gas and snack stop and a couple picture breaks.