California cruising

[GrahamI]

I will be in LA between 11th and 13th August (Fri to Sun) with time to kill (girlie is visiting relatives) so thought I would hire a bike and cruise around some nice roads while I am there - thought I might get a Harley for a laugh (and to fit in a bit better)

Thing is, I don't know the area so am after some ideas where to go

Was advised to get a MadMap and try some of those routes - have you heard of MadMaps? Are they worth getting? It isn't hugely expensive (about $12/£9 including postage) but would like to know if it is worth while

Is it easy enough to get a place to stay on the day or am I best booking in advance? Still not sure if I should do day trips or stay somewhere different each day

Thanks for any advice, and if anyone is around that area and wants to talk TDM/show me some good roads that would be great too

This post was last modified: 29-05-2006, 07:22 PM by GrahamI.

[tdm850rider]

Sorry, I'n 3,000 miles away.

[Guest]

<!--quoteo(post=6534:date=Mon 29th May 2006, 11:23 PM:name=tdm850rider)-->QUOTE(tdm850rider @ Mon 29th May 2006, 11:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Sorry, I'n 3,000 miles away. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Is Darcym in california?

[Minty Hippo]

<!--quoteo(post=6535:date=Mon 29th May 2006, 09:24 PM:name=Emmett)-->QUOTE(Emmett @ Mon 29th May 2006, 09:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Is Darcym in california?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I think Darcym is in San Diego, so some ways south of LA I tink.

[darcym]

<!--quoteo(post=6569:date=Tue 30th May 2006, 05:27 AM:name=Minty Hippo)-->QUOTE(Minty Hippo @ Tue 30th May 2006, 05:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I think Darcym is in San Diego, so some ways south of LA I tink.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I am in San Diego, which is about 2 hours or so South of LA.

Sorry you'll be hiring a HARLDLEY, Graham ... maybe you want to fit in, just don't try to lean the bugger.

Anyway, I'd not worry about spending your dollars on maps. If your girls folks are members of AAA they can get tons of maps free. Also, wherever you rent your Hardley from will likely include some road maps with the bike.

If not, do this: head west to Santa Monica. Turn Right on Highway 1 (North). Keep going until you need to stop. Turn around and retrace your route. Great road and not much traffic once out of Malibu, winds around the coast with a couple of twisties in and about. Likely to be jam packed on the weekend but if you get to it on Friday should be clear sailing all the way to Oxnard. You get to ride past coastal hills and beaches packed with tanning bodies. Likely to be hot hot hot in the inland areas in August, but should be cool and mild along the coast.

Send me a PM and I'll do a look see around some of my maps if you'd like an alternate route. Also Yahoo Maps and Map Quest online are also usually very good for finding stuff and getting around (and free).

[ChrisG]

<!--quoteo(post=6588:date=Tue 30th May 2006, 05:41 PM:name=darcym)-->QUOTE(darcym @ Tue 30th May 2006, 05:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Sorry you'll be hiring a HARLDLEY, Graham ... maybe you want to fit in, just don't try to lean the bugger.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

When you get to a corner get off and find one that's pointing in the direction you want to go.

[tdm850rider]

<!--quoteo(post=6588:date=Tue 30th May 2006, 11:41 AM:name=darcym)-->QUOTE(darcym @ Tue 30th May 2006, 11:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I am in San Diego, which is about 2 hours or so South of LA.

<snip> but if you get to it on Friday should be clear sailing all the way to Oxnard. You get to ride past coastal hills and beaches packed with tanning bodies. Likely to be hot hot hot in the inland areas in August, but should be cool and mild along the coast.
<snip><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

All that and Oxnard too.... what more could you want?

[darcym]

Actually Graham may get to Malibu and stop ... unless his girl friend is on the back (although she might want to stop as well, lots of bronzed surfers hanging out there too).

However further north there's a cute little seafood spot on the inland side of HWY 1 right at the County Line (LA to Ventura county). Good place to stop for grub (casual ok, not cheap but not expensive either). Nice view of the coast and road.

[GrahamI]

<!--quoteo(post=6588:date=Tue 30th May 2006, 05:41 PM:name=darcym)-->QUOTE(darcym @ Tue 30th May 2006, 05:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I am in San Diego, which is about 2 hours or so South of LA.

Sorry you'll be hiring a HARLDLEY, Graham ... maybe you want to fit in, just don't try to lean the bugger.

Anyway, I'd not worry about spending your dollars on maps. If your girls folks are members of AAA they can get tons of maps free. Also, wherever you rent your Hardley from will likely include some road maps with the bike.

If not, do this: head west to Santa Monica. Turn Right on Highway 1 (North). Keep going until you need to stop. Turn around and retrace your route. Great road and not much traffic once out of Malibu, winds around the coast with a couple of twisties in and about. Likely to be jam packed on the weekend but if you get to it on Friday should be clear sailing all the way to Oxnard. You get to ride past coastal hills and beaches packed with tanning bodies. Likely to be hot hot hot in the inland areas in August, but should be cool and mild along the coast.

Send me a PM and I'll do a look see around some of my maps if you'd like an alternate route. Also Yahoo Maps and Map Quest online are also usually very good for finding stuff and getting around (and free).<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Thanks for that, will save some money on maps and follow your route as a starting point

<!--quoteo(post=6609:date=Tue 30th May 2006, 09:13 PM:name=tdm850rider)-->QUOTE(tdm850rider @ Tue 30th May 2006, 09:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->All that and Oxnard too.... what more could you want? <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

What is Oxnard?? Is it somewhere I should go to or avoid?

<!--quoteo(post=6647:date=Wed 31st May 2006, 01:49 AM:name=darcym)-->QUOTE(darcym @ Wed 31st May 2006, 01:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Actually Graham may get to Malibu and stop ... unless his girl friend is on the back (although she might want to stop as well, lots of bronzed surfers hanging out there too).<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I will be riding solo, me and my girlfriends family don't get on - well that is slightly unfair, we haven't met, and won't do for a while yet.....families are far roo complicated

[darcym]

Oxnard is ... hard to describe. It's an agricultural area dominated by lowriders and other <i>hombres</i> -- dangerous tribes (gangs) and old folks and other escapees from LA, mixed in with a few military types stationed at Port Hueneme ("<i>why-knee-me</i>").

Plus, it's a funny name ... Ox-Nard! heh heh heh heh heh heh ...

[nitram]

I'll go along with the coast road route, a few years back a couple of mates and I hired an RV and toured California for 3 weeks, we started in LA, then went up the coast road to San Fran, awesome road, awesome scenery and the beaches are well worth stopping at, loadsa beach babes.