i have an idea
Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 1:03 am
Awesome write-up indeed! Given that Mendocino county just declared a drought emergency, with virtually no rain of note for almost a year, and temperatures in the high 60s and 70s under cloudless skies in recent weeks and in the forecast for the foreseeable future, I too wondered whether this seasonal road closure might be more flexible this year than most. Hopefully this drought is an aberration, not the new normal, which would make it all the more memorable to do Usal in the dead of (a very summerlike) winter. Generally this area is lashed by winter storm after winter storm during January and February, which would make conditions there extremely challenging and dangerous.
Not that it matters much to me as I'm still in China, until late April or so.
Let's circle the wagons again in spring! Hope the triple homicide suspect is neutralized by then.
Oh, and when I described this road as "vertiginous" I meant only that, like many expanses of California Route 1 along the entire coast north of Santa Barbara, some stretches of Usal are carved tenuously out of high mountainsides with not much to save you from certain calamity if you were to lose your line or traction and go off the edge. Anyone would feel pangs of vertigo riding those conditions, not just me!
cheersJeff/Shanghai
On Jan 12, 2014, at 7:42 AM, tomatocity wrote:
Very good write up. Hopefully will ride Usal twice this year. Once to camp with a group and the other as as a ride through. Tim On Sat, Jan 11, 2014 at 9:33 AM, wrote: Have ridden Usal for many years. It's a wonderful dual sport loop easily navigated by any KLR with the exception of wet weather. The mud back there is sticky clay with some extended holes. Posted signs do say the road can be closed at any time. Entering from the north out of White Thorn the sign always says road closed to keep passenger vehicles out. Last year two friends from FL and MO came out to ride in CA. When we hit the trail head there were postings all over that a suspected murder suspect was held up in the area as he was a grower familiar with the area. Shane Franklin Miller had killed his family the week prior. That was an interesting ride but without any mishaps. Still don't know if he was ever caught? Gave the out of town'ers something to remember. Have negotiated this route on a fully loaded GSA - two up, a R100GS in the mud and the KLR (most fun). Only thing that can make it tricky is mud. Otherwise, I'd highly suggest taking this memorable ride. Nothing quite like redwoods on the beach while riding your bike. Highway 1 up from the Usal outlet is maybe some of the best tarmac in CA. The 25 miles or so up to hwy 101 could be called "motard heaven!" Anyone riding from the central valley can take the dirt route over the Medocino mts into Covelo. Easy ride but very beautiful. There's also an historic Inn on 101 called the Benbow which is my wife's favorite. A bit pricy but the food, bar and atmosphere is outstanding. Plenty of camping options or cheep rooms in Garberville just another couple miles up the highway.