The Pacific Coast Highway

So you want to ride the PCH?

Here are my best tips and a hand map for your adventure.

TIP #1 EXPECT ROAD CLOSURES

I started in San Diego with the intention of riding the whole thing, however, Big Sur was closed due to a landslide, and other huge sections of the route were closed due to flooding and abnormal rain storms.

Stay up to date on Road Closures by checking the Department of Transportation websites for California, Oregon and Washington.

San Diego, CA

TIP #2 BRING GOOD RAIN GEAR

Much of the California Coast is wrapped in a big bank of fog every morning, and storms roll in as they please. Oregon and Washington are equally subject to unexpected rain storms. It’s better to be prepared for unprecedented rain and not need it, than to be miserable and soaked.

The Fog is pretty reliable though. It normally breaks up around 10-11am. So take it easy if you want to catch all the sights.

TIP #3 STAY ALERT

Much of the Route that hugs the coast will be tight, narrow, and windy. Drivers with big rigs and RVs will often veer over the yellow lines when corners are tight. It is your responsibility to stay alert and stay safe while other drivers are gawking. If you feel tired STOP. On this tight winding roads, it is not worth it to ‘push’ the last two hours to your planned stop when the potential for an accident due to drowsiness or inattentiveness is so high.

TIP #4 MAKE TIME FOR UNEXPECTED ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS

The PCH has been a tourist attraction for a long time. There are lots of unexpected roadside attractions through the whole route that won’t show up on Google Maps. Give yourself extra time throughout your itinerary so you have the opportunity to stop and explore.

Morro Bay, CA

Go do the thing!

Remember to have fun and explore. Below is a little map to help you plan your trip. As always, do your own research, stay updated on current conditions, and use your best judgement.

GET READY FOR GET ON! ADV FEST 2024

Interested in Get On! ADV Fest but not sure what to expect? I’m here for you!

This year’s ADV Fest is July 18-21, 2024 at the Buffalo Chip, Sturgis SD

You will get some great routes included in your ticket for the weekend. So you don’t have to worry about researching cool places to ride before the event. However, here is a little map I’ve been working on over the last three Get On ADV Fests of some attractions, food and points of interest around the Black Hills for your trip to and from the event!

The end of the Utah Tour

Episode 5 and the Finale of the Utah Series was Filmed May 29, 30, 31 2023

Just a short ride north of Panguitch Utah is the Childhood Home of Butch Cassidy. It’s a great pit stop to stretch your legs.

In 1879 when Robert Leroy Parker also known as Butch Cassidy moved to this homestead with his family. There was already a two-room cabin on the property. As the family grew, Maxi added a kitchen on the east side and two bedrooms on the south side, expanding the house to its current size.

Butch started finding excuses not to go to church at a young age. Then he began to rub shoulders with outlaws like Mike Cassidy when he started working at Jim Marshall's ranch located twelve miles south of Circleville. Mike took Butch under his wing and taught him about handling horses and guns. When Butch turned eighteen, he decided he didn't want to scrap out a living in Circleville and wanted to go somewehre to get "hard, solid gold." He would leave the homestead in 1884. He sent money home often for the first few years and is considered one of the most well-liked and respected outlaws of the Old West.

I’ve hear awesome things about the Nebo Loop Scenic Byway, unfortunately it was closed due to a sinkhole when we went through. However, we were fortunate to find some lovely camping at the south entrance to the byway.

The town of Soda Springs is named for the hundreds of natural springs of carbonated water that are located in and around the city. The springs were known to Native Americans, and were a landmark along the Oregon Trail. Today the city is also known as a location of the Soda Springs Geyser, which was unleashed in 1937. The town was looking for hot water for a hot pool bathing attraction. They drilled into a chamber of highly pressurized gas and cold water, and the geyser was released. After it ran for weeks and flooded the downtown area, it was capped and manually released upon request as a tourist attraction. The geyser currently runs on a timed release valve which opens every hour.

Switchbacks

Episode 4: Capitol Reef, Burr Trail, Hwy 12 Filmed May 27-28 2023

The Reef refers to the nearly 100 mile long water pocket fold that defines the landscape in the park. The first paved road to cross the reef wasn't built until 1962.

We stayed at Sleepy Hollow Campground which is an excellent launching off point to visit the remote northern Section of Capitol Reef National Park. This area is known as Cathedral Valley. The park suggests you do the loop road counter clockwise because there's a water crossing at the beginning of the route. This is to deter visitors from getting almost to the end of the loop if they did it clockwise and not being able to cross the obstacle. While Gary and I did not tackle this route, you can see a little of what this route has to offer over on the Bound for Nowhere channel.

The Visitor Center is located in Fruita. We had the misfortune of experiencing part of Capitol Reef during Memorial Day Weekend, we knew it was going to be bad, but knowing it's going to be bad is always different than living it, so we got our info from the busy visitor center and hurried off to the less busy south section of the park with our eyes set on Burr Trail.

There was a few moments of sandy surprise but nothing terrible even for loaded bikes.

Once you finish the Switchbacks you're greeted soon with pavement which leads through the a beautiful canyon.

Burr Trail then ends in Boulder, UT which is also home to Hell's Backbone Grill and Farm. I tried to visit this place back in 2021 with Ride to Food, but unfortunatley they were closed. This time I made reservations a month before our arrival to make certain Gary and I would get an opportunity to eat here.

I had the Braised Beef and Gary had the Enchiladas, the food was incredible. Well worth the hefty price tag for some incredible Farm to Table food.

The ride back to Escalante in the dark was worth it.

We got the last room at the Cowboy Country Inn, in Escalante UT and it was also one of the most affordable options in the area.

The Hogback aka Hwy 12

Kova Koffee along hwy 12 was highly recommended to us, but I will say, if you’re there on a weekend, be prepared to wait, a good long while.

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No Water, No Gas, No Food along this Remote Stretch of Road in Utah

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My brother Gary and I have gone from Portland Oregon to the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. We spent two days exploring this beautiful area, but now we're going to ride the Bicentennial Highway. This stretch of road in South East Utah has No Gas, No Food, No Water. Sounds like a good time right?

After getting some chores done we made it to the beginning of the Bicentennial Highway or Utah Route 95 which stretches across the high red desert.

Between Hanksville and Blanding there are 121 Miles with no designated rest stops, no commercial facilities, no place to buy gas or pick up food or stop for repairs. This is a pack it in and pack it out situation.

Natural Bridges National Monument is an excellent pit stop for those going through the area. They also have a campground, but it was full when we went through.

This route also passes through Glen Canyon National Recreation Area which could be an excellent spot to camp if you have an RV, or just aren’t relying on a tent for shelter -it was very windy when we passed through.

There are a few more opportunities to dispersed camp between Glen Canyon and Hanksville, but be warned that the routes at the more well established spots are very sandy.

Hanksville, UT is the ultimate launching off point to a lot of other attractions in the area. We stayed the night at Duke's RV Park in their cabins that felt like luxury with their running water and private bathrooms. They also have Tent Camping, RV Parking, and Laundry and Showers.

The Duke's Grill is in the same lot so it's easy to park the bike for the night and walk to dinner, and breakfast the next morning.

Hanksville also has two gas stations, a grocery store, UTV rentals, a motel, and Carl's Critter Garden.

Goblin Valley State Park is a short distance from Hanksville, and is well worth a visit. They have a designated campground, and behind the Butte there is actually more dispersed camping -talk to the rangers about dispersed camping in Goblin Valley State Park.

We visited Swing Arm City OHV Area as well, but just appreciated the view. This area is a mecca for off-road enthusiasts, but since we didn’t take the time to get our Utah OHV stickers and take the online education -now required for the OHV Stickers- we just appreciated the view of Factory Butte.

We stayed at Sleepy Hollow Campground which is an excellent launching off point to visit the remote northern Section of Capitol Reef National Park. This area is known as Cathedral Valley. The park suggests you do the loop road counter clockwise because there's a water crossing at the beginning of the route. This is to deter visitors from getting almost to the end of the loop if they did it clockwise and not being able to cross the obstacle. While Gary and I did not tackle this route, you can see a little of what this route has to offer over on the Bound for Nowhere channel.

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One of the least visited National Park Units in Moab

My Brother Gary and I explore The Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. Thanks to Revzilla for sponsoring this Series.

Canyonlands National Park is carved into three districts: Island in the Sky, The Maze, and the Needles. It is over three hundred thousand acres which means it could swallow the city of Chicago. The Maze District is the most difficult, and desolate part of the park to visit, requiring a high-clearance vehicle and is more like a multiday expedition. Island in the Sky is the most visited district of the park and the most friendly for a drive by visit. But we chose to explore the Needles District, tucked away 70 miles south of Moab. The Needles' key features is a network of hiking and backpacking trails.

We set up basecamp at the Needles Outpost and spent two days exploring the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. We highly recommend staying at Needles Outpost, it was a wonderful experience and the perfect basecamp to explore the park with access to showers and running water. We booked our first night through Hipcamp and extended on site. Here’s $10 Hipcamp credit.

There’s quite the drive to the nearest town, so make sure you stock up on groceries, and anything you need before you head to the park.

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We're headed to Utah

My Brother Gary and I head out on our annual May Trip. This year I'm riding the Honda Africa Twin from Oregon to Utah! But first we have to get there. Thanks to Revzilla for sponsoring this Series.

In the first episode we left Portland, OR and headed to the “start” of our official Utah Trip. Including a tasty stop at the Liberty Theatre Cafe in La Grande, OR, fixing up our picnic table in the overflow camping at Bruneau Dunes State Park, and searching for a dry campsite in Logan Canyon before settling for a lack luster KOA in Garden City. We then have a chill travel day down to the National 9 Inn in Wellington Utah where we close out this episode.

We made a few gear upgrades for this trip.

I made myself a CUSTOM Hat Harness to keep my new Stetson Safe.

I also got the new Scorpion EXO AT960 Modular Helmet to test out.

Last but not least I also upgraded the Africa Twin with some SW-Motech Engine Guards and Saddlebag Racks that means I can now carry all my favorite Wolfman Luggage again! YAY!

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My Top Motorcycle Camping Picks of 2022

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Exped DURA 8R Sleeping Mat

With an R Value 7.8, it helped keep me nice and insulated from the ground even on some particularly chilly nights in New Mexico in March.

If you're not familiar with what an R Value is is a value scale based on the amount of insulation, it's often used to rate the insulation of homes, but also sleeping mats. The higher the R Value the colder temperatures you can sleep in and still be insulated from the heat sapping temperature of the ground underneath you.

This pad features Exped's Downmat Technology

with 700 cubic inches of actual down insulation so you can use this mat in all seasons, and ensures maximum warmth in any weather or for the coldest sleeper - like me.

It is 9 cm or 3.5 inches thick when inflated fully. I'm personally a side sleeper and am about 175 lbs and my hip does not touch the ground.

It is made with recycled ripstop face fabric and all exped mats are certified carbon neutral by myclimate.

It comes with Exped's Schnozzel Pumpbag, but my favorite way to inflate this mat is the next thing on our list:

Exped Widget Pump

Which is an electric, rechargeable pump, lamp and power bank in one.

It comes with Exped's Universal Valve Adapter so it can be used to inflate virtually any mat.

The built in camp light has three modes, and I use a carabiner to hook it to the top of my tent.

It's also a 3600 mAh power bank.

Using an electric air pump instead of using your breath to blow up your sleeping pad or air pillow, extends the life of your gear by preventing moisture buildup inside that could cause mold overtime.

Exped MegaPillow

While I still love my Nemo Fillo Pillow which was nice and soft, and I still love that pillow, but my biggest nitpick was that it was not tall enough for me, so I had to stuff a jacket under the pillow to make it tall enough for me personally.

That is not a problem with the Exped Mega Pillow which definitely met my needs and is so big I've never experienced it slipping out or off my matt in the middle of the night.

The compromise being that when packed it's a bit bigger than the Nemo Fillo, but it means that I don't have to put clothes under my pillow to make it a comfortable height for me personally.

Camp Booties

I've talked about down booties before on the channel, this year Exped send me these Camp Booties before I went on the Flight South.

They're lightweight, collapsible, and very cozy. These have a quick-dry synthetic insulation so the insulation is less susceptible to moisture.

There's a 4 mm thick sole made of recycled material. Just enough there to allow you to walk around camp in them, but not enough that'd you'd want to go very far. The elastic around the top means it traps the warm around your feet, so when the temperature drops I will wear these in my sleeping bag to prevent the cold feet dilemma.

Collapsible Tea Infuser

This little collapsible tea infuser has let me take some of my favorite loose leaf teas on the road this year, and produce less trash at camp. I still carry tea bags for those mornings I just don't have time to stick around camp, but this has been a game changer for me. With a filter it could also easily be a pour over situation for coffee as well.

Enlightened Equipment | Revelation Down Quilt

Quilts are essentially just a large blanket. The idea is very similar to the Diamond Park bag, the majority of the insulation is meant to be on top like a comforter, while your sleeping pad insulates you from beneath.

This quilt has a footbox with a 20" zipper and shock cord combination for adjustability.

It has an 850 fill down. Ethically sourced from an RDS certified supplier.

The Outer fabric is 10 Denier with a DWR finish.

It comes with a pad attachment system using elastic straps and clips built into the quilt so you can secure the bag to your sleeping pad.

They're also stuffed, finished and inspected in Minnesota.

It has many of the features I love about my Diamond Park bag, with a awesome pack size.

1000 Miles in one Day on a 2022 Africa Twin Adventure Sports DCT

The Iron Butt Association has over 79,000 members who are all dedicated to long-distance endurance riding. Their website hosts a list of different Ride Certifications you can do from the Saddlesore 1000 to the Ultimate Coast to Coast Ride from Prudhoe Bay Alaska to Key West Florida

In 2018 I read the Man Who Would Stop at Nothing by Melissa Holbrook Pierson

It's a compelling book about not only Melissa's first foray into long distance riding but also tells the story of one of the famous names in the Iron Butt Association, John Ryan, who complete multiple IBA feats, including the Ultimate Coast to Coast in less than 30 days.

The book was inspiring and really dived into the dedication and determination of the people who take on these long distance challenges.

I've tried before to beat my own personal best, but could never quite get passed the 600-700 mile mark.

Back in 2019 is when I got the closest, following Kerri Miller back from an event in California. I stopped at 900 miles because I was home and I was exhausted. But missing that milestone by so little has been at the back of mind since then. So it seemed natural to ask Kerri if she would help me meet this goal.

To successfully document a Saddle-sore 1000 to receive your certificate from the IBA these are the instructions listed;

  • You must choose a Safe Route and use a mapping program to check your ride really is 1,000 real miles.

  • Collect, photograph and track fuel receipts. This one is very important, and is the part of the process most people find difficult. The receipts need to include the time, date and address. You need one to mark the start, end and about every 200 miles.* Photographs should be of your receipt next to your odometer to keep log of each stop.

  • Lastly, Send in your documentation for verification by the IBA.

If you’re interested in documenting your own Saddlesore 1000 to receive the certificate from the Iron Butt Association please see the official page listing the instructions

The IBA Website emphasizes the risk involved with endurance riding.

" It is imperative you understand the risk you are taking and minimize the possibility of an accident by practicing safe motorcycle habits. No one, not even the most experienced long distance rider, can safely fight off fatigue. If you are tired, the only option is to stop and rest. Ignoring the symptoms of fatigue can be fatal."

Fatigue is no joke. Many riders experience hitting a wall. The point at which you feel like you can not continue.

It felt SO GOOD to get to the finish line.

But the mission wasn't over, we still had a bit to go to get to our hotel, watching the sun come up again was magical and felt like a personal award from the universe.

A couple months later my certificate arrived and I had a fresh wave of pride that I set out a challenge for myself and I finished -with a little support from a friend.