Pacific Coast Route North to South???
11-19-15 | 12:16 PM
#1
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Pacific Coast Route North to South???
When is the best time of the year to start riding North to South on the Pacific Coast Route???
I am starting in Sacramento, CA or Portland, OR to the Pacific Ocean... then South to San Diego, CA in 6-3-2016 or 6-3-2017! my facebook group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Bicyc...ficCoastUS101/ and I am looking to ride slow and easy on the Pacific Coast Route from Sacramento, CA or Portland, OR to San Diego, CA... from
25 miles to 50 miles a days and taking layovers in some towns on the Route
I am starting in Sacramento, CA or Portland, OR to the Pacific Ocean... then South to San Diego, CA in 6-3-2016 or 6-3-2017! my facebook group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Bicyc...ficCoastUS101/ and I am looking to ride slow and easy on the Pacific Coast Route from Sacramento, CA or Portland, OR to San Diego, CA... from
25 miles to 50 miles a days and taking layovers in some towns on the Route
Last edited by Biketouringhobo; 03-02-16 at 11:36 PM. Reason: new words
11-19-15 | 12:40 PM
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June sounds like an OK time to me.
That said, right after Labor Day is really nice, maybe the very best. The crowds and traffic have died down and the weather is great.
That said, right after Labor Day is really nice, maybe the very best. The crowds and traffic have died down and the weather is great.
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Pete in Tallahassee
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11-19-15 | 01:04 PM
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I know where Portland, OR is! only place for Amtrak Train are...
Last edited by Biketouringhobo; 11-19-15 at 01:06 PM. Reason: fixed words
11-19-15 | 01:41 PM
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Traffic starts to pick up after Memorial Day, so usually May is good since it's after most of the rainy season but before the crowds arrive. The forecast this year is for an extended rainy season which could complicate things. If you can keep things flexible you might wait until the long-range forecasts give a better idea.
11-19-15 | 03:16 PM
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11-19-15 | 03:18 PM
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International Paper's trees are a good bit taller than the stumpage I saw in the 90's..
Just sayin' 6th month of the year renamed June-uary, here.. this aint like So or Nor Cal.
Just sayin' 6th month of the year renamed June-uary, here.. this aint like So or Nor Cal.
Last edited by fietsbob; 11-19-15 at 03:22 PM.
11-19-15 | 03:30 PM
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What is the best part of the ride to do? I have done the whole Oregon coast by car several times since my best friend lived in Gold Beach. I don't remember seeing all that much in Washington, though probably we were more inland, and I imagine a lot of California is good. But starting in the north to be on the ocean side, what section should one include and is there any way to get a good run for a few days before hitting the hills. Seem to remember hills pretty much everywhere. I have no interest in doing sections just so I can say I did the whole thing.
11-19-15 | 03:54 PM
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What is the best part of the ride to do? I have done the whole Oregon coast by car several times since my best friend lived in Gold Beach. I don't remember seeing all that much in Washington, though probably we were more inland, and I imagine a lot of California is good. But starting in the north to be on the ocean side, what section should one include and is there any way to get a good run for a few days before hitting the hills. Seem to remember hills pretty much everywhere. I have no interest in doing sections just so I can say I did the whole thing.
11-19-15 | 11:02 PM
#13
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From: Oregon
When is the best time of the year to start riding North to South on the Pacific Coast Route???
I am starting in Sacramento, CA or Portland, OR to the Pacific Ocean... then South to San Diego, CA in 6-3-2016 or 6-3-2017! my facebook group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Bicyc...ficCoastUS101/ and I am looking to ride slow and easy on the Pacific Coast Route from Sacramento, CA or Portland, OR to San Diego, CA... from
25 miles to 50 miles a days and taking layovers in some towns on the Route
in 5/2016 I also plan to go to NY, PA, NJ to do a loop bike touring trip then get on Amtrak train to Portland,OR or Sacramento, CA 10-3-2016 then bike to
San Diego, CA
I am starting in Sacramento, CA or Portland, OR to the Pacific Ocean... then South to San Diego, CA in 6-3-2016 or 6-3-2017! my facebook group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Bicyc...ficCoastUS101/ and I am looking to ride slow and easy on the Pacific Coast Route from Sacramento, CA or Portland, OR to San Diego, CA... from
25 miles to 50 miles a days and taking layovers in some towns on the Route
in 5/2016 I also plan to go to NY, PA, NJ to do a loop bike touring trip then get on Amtrak train to Portland,OR or Sacramento, CA 10-3-2016 then bike to
San Diego, CA
11-20-15 | 01:09 AM
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If you start in Sacramento, you'll miss the whole north coast of CA, which is pretty spectacular. OTOH, the Sacramento delta is very cool and most folks don't know about it. From Sac you would go southwest to SF, and down the coast from there. Portland is nearly in Washington, so you could see lots of Oregon also. It'd be much longer. I've toured up there and it's awesome.
AFA weather, yeah, El Nino year, you will get rained on unless you wait till next late spring or later.
AFA weather, yeah, El Nino year, you will get rained on unless you wait till next late spring or later.
11-20-15 | 01:32 AM
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Think like a cyclist, not a motorist. Direct routes aren't necessarily the best routes, unless you have a taste for exhaust fumes, traffic and stress.
11-20-15 | 01:34 AM
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From: Eugene, Oregon
11-20-15 | 09:14 AM
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First day out on a ride to SF and waking up in the middle of the night with a skunk in my face didn't help and not having a low enough gear had me leaving everyone in my wake on every hill (for going downriver there's a lot climbing on that route). Although, I do admit it got my mind right.. within a week I was flying through the hilly ups downs along the coast north of SF like a kite in the wind.
11-20-15 | 08:01 PM
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I am also curious about the Sacramento starting point, since if you don't transfer to an Amtrak bus in Stockton to go there off the northbound San Joaquin train, it ends up in Martinez, in the Bay Area. Heading west to the coast from Sacramento in the late spring will 99% of the time involve riding into a strong headwind across a flatland that has very little there to block it. I hope you are also ready for lots of hills on some parts of the coast route.
Are you planning to stay in any of the many fine hike 'n' bike sites available, or do you plan to free camp? You may wish to try out a hike 'n' site on an overnighter someplace near you in SD County, or take the Metrolink to Riverside to check out Lake Perris, or take the Surfliner to Santa Barbara and end up in LA, in order to check a few of them out.
Are you planning to stay in any of the many fine hike 'n' bike sites available, or do you plan to free camp? You may wish to try out a hike 'n' site on an overnighter someplace near you in SD County, or take the Metrolink to Riverside to check out Lake Perris, or take the Surfliner to Santa Barbara and end up in LA, in order to check a few of them out.
Last edited by stevepusser; 11-20-15 at 08:11 PM.
11-20-15 | 10:23 PM
#19
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I am also curious about the Sacramento starting point, since if you don't transfer to an Amtrak bus in Stockton to go there off the northbound San Joaquin train, it ends up in Martinez, in the Bay Area. Heading west to the coast from Sacramento in the late spring will 99% of the time involve riding into a strong headwind across a flatland that has very little there to block it. I hope you are also ready for lots of hills on some parts of the coast route.
Alternatively, you could leave Sacramento going south and follow the river to Rio Vista on the 160, then head west on country roads and frontage roads, making your way through Fairfield and to Vallejo. (don't forget a map!!!) From Vallejo get on a ferry with bike and enjoy the pretty ride to SF. This also saves you from getting mugged in the east bay. Get off in SF and continue.
11-21-15 | 10:21 AM
#21
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I am also curious about the Sacramento starting point, since if you don't transfer to an Amtrak bus in Stockton to go there off the northbound San Joaquin train, it ends up in Martinez, in the Bay Area. Heading west to the coast from Sacramento in the late spring will 99% of the time involve riding into a strong headwind across a flatland that has very little there to block it. I hope you are also ready for lots of hills on some parts of the coast route.
Are you planning to stay in any of the many fine hike 'n' bike sites available, or do you plan to free camp? You may wish to try out a hike 'n' site on an overnighter someplace near you in SD County, or take the Metrolink to Riverside to check out Lake Perris, or take the Surfliner to Santa Barbara and end up in LA, in order to check a few of them out.
Are you planning to stay in any of the many fine hike 'n' bike sites available, or do you plan to free camp? You may wish to try out a hike 'n' site on an overnighter someplace near you in SD County, or take the Metrolink to Riverside to check out Lake Perris, or take the Surfliner to Santa Barbara and end up in LA, in order to check a few of them out.
11-22-15 | 04:12 PM
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11-23-15 | 10:30 AM
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Portland's Union Station is your only choice, then. Kelso is Empty a lot of the time.
Eugene to Seattle has another set of trains,for local commuters, but you won't be on those, coming from Cal.
'Coast Starlight' is the Amtrak route I used from Emeryville-Oakland, to Eugene, OR .. that section takes 24 hours
from one late afternoon to the next, like: Lv 5pm Ar 4pm the next day.
It aint the TGV.
Eugene to Seattle has another set of trains,for local commuters, but you won't be on those, coming from Cal.
'Coast Starlight' is the Amtrak route I used from Emeryville-Oakland, to Eugene, OR .. that section takes 24 hours
from one late afternoon to the next, like: Lv 5pm Ar 4pm the next day.
It aint the TGV.
Last edited by fietsbob; 11-23-15 at 10:37 AM.
11-23-15 | 12:07 PM
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A bit confusing as to Kelso --e.g., maybe you can make a reservation for your bike (from the Amtrak site):
BICYCLES
Make a reservation for both you and your bike aboard Amtrak Cascades. There are two options for bringing your bike – you can use one of our onboard bike racks, or box your bicycle and check it as baggage.
Ten bike racks are available on each Amtrak Cascades train. Bike racks are very popular and reservations are required. The cost for reserving space in the bike rack is $5. Bicycle racks will not accommodate tandem, recumbent or other unusual bikes. Such bikes must be transported as checked baggage in a box.
Boxed bicycles do not require a reservation and can be checked as baggage. There is a $10 handling fee for checking a boxed bike. (This is subject to change without notice.) Not all stations have checked baggage service, and baggage service may not be available every day. Don't have a bicycle box? Bicycle boxes are available for purchase for $15 at staffed Amtrak stations with checked baggage service. Bicycles usually must be partially disassembled. For details regarding boxing your bicycle, on general information bringing bicycles onboard, please visit Amtrak.com
Amtrak Cascades - Baggage
Make a reservation for both you and your bike aboard Amtrak Cascades. There are two options for bringing your bike – you can use one of our onboard bike racks, or box your bicycle and check it as baggage.
Ten bike racks are available on each Amtrak Cascades train. Bike racks are very popular and reservations are required. The cost for reserving space in the bike rack is $5. Bicycle racks will not accommodate tandem, recumbent or other unusual bikes. Such bikes must be transported as checked baggage in a box.
Boxed bicycles do not require a reservation and can be checked as baggage. There is a $10 handling fee for checking a boxed bike. (This is subject to change without notice.) Not all stations have checked baggage service, and baggage service may not be available every day. Don't have a bicycle box? Bicycle boxes are available for purchase for $15 at staffed Amtrak stations with checked baggage service. Bicycles usually must be partially disassembled. For details regarding boxing your bicycle, on general information bringing bicycles onboard, please visit Amtrak.com
11-23-15 | 01:15 PM
#25
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A bit confusing as to Kelso --e.g., maybe you can make a reservation for your bike (from the Amtrak site):
BICYCLES
Make a reservation for both you and your bike aboard Amtrak Cascades. There are two options for bringing your bike – you can use one of our onboard bike racks, or box your bicycle and check it as baggage.
Ten bike racks are available on each Amtrak Cascades train. Bike racks are very popular and reservations are required. The cost for reserving space in the bike rack is $5. Bicycle racks will not accommodate tandem, recumbent or other unusual bikes. Such bikes must be transported as checked baggage in a box.
Boxed bicycles do not require a reservation and can be checked as baggage. There is a $10 handling fee for checking a boxed bike. (This is subject to change without notice.) Not all stations have checked baggage service, and baggage service may not be available every day. Don't have a bicycle box? Bicycle boxes are available for purchase for $15 at staffed Amtrak stations with checked baggage service. Bicycles usually must be partially disassembled. For details regarding boxing your bicycle, on general information bringing bicycles onboard, please visit Amtrak.com
Amtrak Cascades - BaggageMake a reservation for both you and your bike aboard Amtrak Cascades. There are two options for bringing your bike – you can use one of our onboard bike racks, or box your bicycle and check it as baggage.
Ten bike racks are available on each Amtrak Cascades train. Bike racks are very popular and reservations are required. The cost for reserving space in the bike rack is $5. Bicycle racks will not accommodate tandem, recumbent or other unusual bikes. Such bikes must be transported as checked baggage in a box.
Boxed bicycles do not require a reservation and can be checked as baggage. There is a $10 handling fee for checking a boxed bike. (This is subject to change without notice.) Not all stations have checked baggage service, and baggage service may not be available every day. Don't have a bicycle box? Bicycle boxes are available for purchase for $15 at staffed Amtrak stations with checked baggage service. Bicycles usually must be partially disassembled. For details regarding boxing your bicycle, on general information bringing bicycles onboard, please visit Amtrak.com
and I am taken LA Metrolink train from Oceanside, CA to LA, CA