Suggestions for a 2-3 day tour in SD?

[supersport]

We (wife and I) have been fixing up a couple touring bikes and would like to start doing some credit-card tours in the San Diego area. No camping, 50-70 miles per day. We're familiar with most the coastal north country day rides. Any suggestions for routes and where to stay on a 2-3 day (one or two night) ride?

We were also considering taking the train to Fullerton, visiting relatives in Bellflower, riding to Dana Point/San Clemente for the night and home. Possible? Advisable?

Thanks. Jim.

[Nachoman]

I suggest staying at one hotel located in a convenient area, like Mission Bay, and using that location as a home base for 50-70 mile day trips.

http://efgh.com/bike/routes.htm

[supersport]

I suggest staying at one hotel located in a convenient area, like Mission Bay, and using that location as a home base for 50-70 mile day trips.

http://efgh.com/bike/routes.htm

My fault for not saying we live in San Diego. :)

Actually, we live very close to Mission Bay. I'm thinking of something like a ride up through Escondido to "somewhere", stay overnight, ride out to the coast, and then home. Any suggestions for "somewhere"?

j

[big john]

If you don't mind some climbing, Julian is a great overnight stop. When I did it we went up from the south, which was fine, but descended to the north, Hwy 78, I think, which was full of gravel trucks. There used to be side roads to avoid the trucks, though. Living in SD you could go up and down the same way. Think fresh apple pie.

[dddave]

go to fallbrook.

[Grumpy Pig]

go to fallbrook.If you go to Escondido, you can go to Old Hwy 395 to Fallbrook. Or turn east on Old Castle Rd or Lilac and go through Valley Center to Hwy 76. Then you can go on 76 to Lake henshaw and turn on Hwy 78 to Julian. Lots of possibilities out there.

[Nachoman]

My fault for not saying we live in San Diego. :)

Actually, we live very close to Mission Bay. I'm thinking of something like a ride up through Escondido to "somewhere", stay overnight, ride out to the coast, and then home. Any suggestions for "somewhere"?

j

That's such a great idea to do a local little trip like that! Make sure to post picks!

[dddave]

If you go to Escondido, you can go to Old Hwy 395 to Fallbrook. Or turn east on Old Castle Rd or Lilac and go through Valley Center to Hwy 76. Then you can go on 76 to Lake henshaw and turn on Hwy 78 to Julian. Lots of possibilities out there.

going through west lilac and couser canyon is a doozy.

[Chaco]

Have you already done the ride up Hwy 1 through OSide and Camp Pendleton and on to San Clemente? That's a very nice ride.

[supersport]

Have you already done the ride up Hwy 1 through OSide and Camp Pendleton and on to San Clemente? That's a very nice ride.

No, we haven't. We've gone up the coast to OSide and back quite a few times, but never continued on. We were planning to do that route going south sometime after visiting the relatives in LA. Are there any reasonable places to stay north of Pendleton -- say Dana Pt to San Clemente?

Fallbrook sounds like a good idea. Looks to be a 55 mile ride from the apt. Seems to be several motels. We still haven't decided when we're going, several weeks at least. We had also toyed with the idea of visiting the wineries in Temecula. Are they any fun?

I do like the sound of apple pie, though!

[Chaco]

I've been to some of the Temecula wineries (by car), and they're great.

I've never stayed in San Clemente, but if you can make it all the way to San Juan Capistrano in one day, that would be a very nice place to stop. The route through Pendleton is one of the best around, IMO - nice wide bike lanes, and once you get to Las Pulgas Rd., the abandoned Hwy. 101 is a super treat.

However, the road getting into Pendleton is a nightmare. The right lane on Harbor Drive(no bike lane) leads into the center of another busy road, with traffic coming off 405, traffic merging into 405, and traffic coming into Pendleton. Kind of like playing Russian roulette.