Ride to Texas

cjames431 · Mar 13, 2017

I have an extended business trip that will be taking me down to San Angelo, Texas. I leave 11APR17 and have several routes I could take. The most direct is through SLC but I have done that route several times and would like a change of scenery. I am considering I-5 to Sacramento then cutting over the mountains to Las Vegas, I-40 to Holbrook and then Hi 60 across northern AZ. My only concern is the amount of time in the mountains and early spring snows or even left over winter snow. This being my first distance trip out of my normal riding area, what says the collective?

1. Tacoma-SLC-San Angelo
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/6234+S+Fife+St,+Tacoma,+WA+98409,+USA/San+Angelo,+TX/@39.141263,-120.4361499,5z/am=t/data=!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x54910016365f9913:0xb58e3e89819220fc!2m2!1d-122.471348!2d47.199814!1m5!1m1!1s0x8657e583a53b7191:0x827e3d0b3754c742!2m2!1d-100.4370375!2d31.4637723

2. Tacoma-LA-San Angelo
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/6234+S+Fife+St,+Tacoma,+WA+98409,+USA/San+Angelo,+TX/@37.3215221,-118.8026094,5z/data=!4m24!4m23!1m15!1m1!1s0x54910016365f9913:0xb58e3e89819220fc!2m2!1d-122.471348!2d47.199814!3m4!1m2!1d-119.9631522!2d35.9841392!3s0x80eb4d5ae92b98cd:0xc109f9cec5f53388!3m4!1m2!1d-112.867977!2d35.3152451!3s0x80cd46993bcd80d3:0x6a1a4e271eec423a!1m5!1m1!1s0x8657e583a53b7191:0x827e3d0b3754c742!2m2!1d-100.4370375!2d31.4637723!3e0

3. Tacoma-Sacramento-Las Vegas-N Arizona-San Angelo
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/6234+S+Fife+St,+Tacoma,+WA+98409,+USA/Placerville,+CA/Las+Vegas,+NV/Show+Low,+AZ/San+Angelo,+TX/@32.9857736,-106.041206,6.25z/data=!4m32!4m31!1m5!1m1!1s0x54910016365f9913:0xb58e3e89819220fc!2m2!1d-122.471348!2d47.199814!1m5!1m1!1s0x809a4f453ba558ed:0xb5032ced3367ea36!2m2!1d-120.798546!2d38.7296252!1m5!1m1!1s0x80beb782a4f57dd1:0x3accd5e6d5b379a3!2m2!1d-115.1398296!2d36.1699412!1m5!1m1!1s0x872f2905cd3521f7:0xc60fd8f7ee55d508!2m2!1d-110.0298327!2d34.2542084!1m5!1m1!1s0x8657e583a53b7191:0x827e3d0b3754c742!2m2!1d-100.4370375!2d31.4637723!3e0

paulcb · Mar 13, 2017

Sounds like a fun trip. Ignoring the potential weather, my order of preference is 1, 4, 3, 2. In any case, bypass the area around LA, unless it's between 12am and 5am.

If you have time, use the general route of #1, but with some detours off the interstate. Will be interested in how your trip goes.

ToddC · Mar 13, 2017

If you have the time......#4, but detour to the coast instead of I5. It will add a couple days though. I5 is so boring and lots of cars..

JMTC

ToddC

cjames431 · Mar 13, 2017

ToddC said:
If you have the time......#4, but detour to the coast instead of I5. It will add a couple days though. I5 is so boring and lots of cars..

JMTC

ToddC

The coast would be nice but I don't have enough vacation time to cover.

cjames431 · Mar 13, 2017

paulcb said:
Sounds like a fun trip. Ignoring the potential weather, my order of preference is 1, 4, 3, 2. In any case, bypass the area around LA, unless it's between 12am and 5am.

If you have time, use the general route of #1, but with some detours off the interstate. Will be interested in how your trip goes.

I would like to avoid LA at all costs. The only reason to take that route is it is almost all interstate. I just check the weather map and temps for that far south are already creeping towards 100 so no interest in sweating my self to death.

Reginald · Mar 13, 2017

I have but one comment to consider. On route 1, between Vaughn, NM and Roswell, NM there is nothing. Been through there with in auto with bad gas (water in it), took most of the day to get resolved. Be sure to use popular gas stations in that area, even then not all that many use premium gas in that part of the country.

ESB · Mar 13, 2017

I would run the #1 route ANYTIME I had the choice. No question. Wouldn't even consider any of the others.
Ride a good pace, and as said before, plan for good quality fuel stops.

dwalby · Mar 13, 2017

Yeah, you could get snowed on. But I wouldn't worry about residual snow, unless it snowed a day or two before you got there. The main roads get cleared out pretty fast from the plows and traffic. You will probably encounter some fairly cold temps too, going over the Sierras east of Sacto, and at Flagstaff (revised route #3). The diagonal run between Reno and LV doesn't get much rain/snow, but its at 5-7k ft most of the way, so it will be chilly too. Since you're close to 8k feet at Flagstaff, if the weather seems OK there and its not getting too late in the day, consider taking AZ191 south just east of Show Low. It climbs to about 9k feet, and doesn't get much traffic, so you'll get cold and could encounter some residual snow if it had snowed recently because of the lack of traffic. If the weather is good, then its worth taking that route because its a great road.

cjames431 · Mar 14, 2017

Reginald said:
I have but one comment to consider. On route 1, between Vaughn, NM and Roswell, NM there is nothing. Been through there with in auto with bad gas (water in it), took most of the day to get resolved. Be sure to use popular gas stations in that area, even then not all that many use premium gas in that part of the country.

Thanks for the heads up. I will be sure to plan my gas stops carefully so as to avoid small town prices and stale gas issues.

cjames431 · Mar 14, 2017

dwalby said:
Yeah, you could get snowed on. But I wouldn't worry about residual snow, unless it snowed a day or two before you got there. The main roads get cleared out pretty fast from the plows and traffic. You will probably encounter some fairly cold temps too, going over the Sierras east of Sacto, and at Flagstaff (revised route #3). The diagonal run between Reno and LV doesn't get much rain/snow, but its at 5-7k ft most of the way, so it will be chilly too. Since you're close to 8k feet at Flagstaff, if the weather seems OK there and its not getting too late in the day, consider taking AZ191 south just east of Show Low. It climbs to about 9k feet, and doesn't get much traffic, so you'll get cold and could encounter some residual snow if it had snowed recently because of the lack of traffic. If the weather is good, then its worth taking that route because its a great road.

I grew up in the Show Low area, 191 would be a great ride but I think it will keep it in mind. Part of my interest in the #3 route is the altitude and the cooler weather associated.

woodybelle · Mar 14, 2017

Take 395 south instead of Interstate 5. Scenic, 2 lane, fast and not boring. IMHO.

cjames431 · Mar 15, 2017

Here is the revised route:
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Tacoma,+WA/Riley,+OR+97758/Reno,+NV/Las+Vegas,+NV/Show+Low,+AZ/Springerville,+AZ/Deming,+New+Mexico/San+Angelo,+TX/@33.2203956,-109.466804,8z/data=!4m55!4m54!1m5!1m1!1s0x549054ee2b659567:0x62219c07ebb09e82!2m2!1d-122.4442906!2d47.2528768!1m5!1m1!1s0x54b9e36f75125d53:0x161bb5c995af95db!2m2!1d-119.5038422!2d43.541538!1m5!1m1!1s0x809940ae9292a09d:0x40c5c5ce7438f787!2m2!1d-119.8138027!2d39.5296329!1m5!1m1!1s0x80beb782a4f57dd1:0x3accd5e6d5b379a3!2m2!1d-115.1398296!2d36.1699412!1m5!1m1!1s0x872f2905cd3521f7:0xc60fd8f7ee55d508!2m2!1d-110.0298327!2d34.2542084!1m10!1m1!1s0x8726115f98e5f5c5:0x26af3257bf990197!2m2!1d-109.2859196!2d34.1333799!3m4!1m2!1d-109.3504837!2d33.3095847!3s0x8727c293beb726b7:0xf965658375409e7c!1m5!1m1!1s0x86dec3e11b3f3e77:0x84cdb12207b10b2e!2m2!1d-107.7586404!2d32.2686981!1m5!1m1!1s0x8657e583a53b7191:0x827e3d0b3754c742!2m2!1d-100.4370375!2d31.4637723!3e0 :06biker:

W0QNX · Mar 15, 2017

First, you know you won't see anything of the Hoover dam on the new flyover bridge as the walls are to tall to see over. If you want to do the bridge overlook you have to exit on the old Hoover dam acess rode to ride to the overlook. The traffic there is BAD anytime past 9 in the am. You can back track and take the road over the new bridge or continue (slowly) across the dam.

Second, AZ260 from Camp Verde to Show low is way more scenic if you have an extra hour for that route. If you take 89A south from Falgstaff it's a nice curvy road and you'll see the pretty Sedona (but will eat more time for sure).

And you'll be full up on curves after riding AZ 191!! It's a good curve road but takes way more time than you would think.

That last 60 miles before you arrive in SA is deer city (around Mertzon), be careful in that area. Enjoy the trip.

Edit, just reread some of the thread. You probably know all about the AZ roads.

cjames431 · Mar 15, 2017

ZIAMON said:
First, you know you won't see anything of the Hoover dam on the new flyover bridge as the walls are to tall to see over. If you want to do the bridge overlook you have to exit on the old Hoover dam acess rode to ride to the overlook. The traffic there is BAD anytime past 9 in the am. You can back track and take the road over the new bridge or continue (slowly) across the dam.

Second, AZ260 from Camp Verde to Show low is way more scenic if you have an extra hour for that route. If you take 89A south from Falgstaff it's a nice curvy road and you'll see the pretty Sedona (but will eat more time for sure).

And you'll be full up on curves after riding AZ 191!! It's a good curve road but takes way more time than you would think.

That last 60 miles before you arrive in SA is deer city (around Mertzon), be careful in that area. Enjoy the trip.

Edit, just reread some of the thread. You probably know all about the AZ roads.

And I want to do the Grand Canyon and the Salt River Canyon and ...to little time and to much to see. Thanks for the heads up about time and deer.

dwalby · Mar 15, 2017

I see you switched to 395 through Oregon, was that anything to do with the recommendation on 395 by woodybelle ?? I think they were referring to the part south of Lake Tahoe, but maybe it had nothing to do with that.

Also, perhaps some Oregonians can comment, but I've been on Oregon hwy 58 a few times and its a beautiful ride between I-5 and US97 in Oregon, and you can easily work your way back to 395 north of Reno from there. Not sure how it compares with your current route east of Portland to 395, but I suspect it might be more scenic. My experience with 395 is its mostly high desert from where it starts at I-15 all the way up to Canada, the scenery doesn't change much at all. The part from Lake Tahoe south to Lone Pine is probably the best scenery section.

VFR · Mar 15, 2017

Might want to pass on 191 and do 180 instead to Silver City NM and across 152 to Hatch NM. Both of those are scenic roads and less time than 191. From Hatch you can decide to go up or down, depending....

dwalby · Mar 15, 2017

VFR said:
Might want to pass on 191 and do 180 instead to Silver City NM and across 152 to Hatch NM. Both of those are scenic roads and less time than 191. From Hatch you can decide to go up or down, depending....

how does 180/152 compare to 191 ?? I've ridden 191 (back when it was 666 in the late 80s) but not 180/152. Saw that on the map and was wondering about that route.

VFR · Mar 15, 2017

191 has WAY more curves than 180 but the OP has limited time. 180 is a very nice road, scenic and enough curves to make it worthwhile. Old downtown Silver City is worth the visit. Nicely restored. Big copper mine below town, not quite as big as Morenci.

cjames431 · Mar 16, 2017

dwalby said:
I see you switched to 395 through Oregon, was that anything to do with the recommendation on 395 by woodybelle ?? I think they were referring to the part south of Lake Tahoe, but maybe it had nothing to do with that.

Also, perhaps some Oregonians can comment, but I've been on Oregon hwy 58 a few times and its a beautiful ride between I-5 and US97 in Oregon, and you can easily work your way back to 395 north of Reno from there. Not sure how it compares with your current route east of Portland to 395, but I suspect it might be more scenic. My experience with 395 is its mostly high desert from where it starts at I-15 all the way up to Canada, the scenery doesn't change much at all. The part from Lake Tahoe south to Lone Pine is probably the best scenery section.

Yes, I did alter the route based on that recommendation. I'm ok with high desert. The idea is to see as many new roads as feasible and still arrive in time for Monday morning even if a little sore from the ride.

cjames431 · Mar 16, 2017

VFR said:
191 has WAY more curves than 180 but the OP has limited time. 180 is a very nice road, scenic and enough curves to make it worthwhile. Old downtown Silver City is worth the visit. Nicely restored. Big copper mine below town, not quite as big as Morenci.

I will look at 180. My skill level is not up to the double plus 10 so the google maps estimate of 3 hours is rather doubtful for me.

fnmag said:
And don't forget, if you follow Larry's route you'll wind up in Hatch which has some of the finest chilis there are.:chef2:.:hotpepper

I like Mexican food. Any particular restaurant you recommend?

Ride to Texas

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