The “Northern” edition of the TGPCHPCMY2KMR starts in Fort Bragg, California and proceeds northward on CA1 and continues through northern California, Oregon and Washington on US101 which, historically, has also been considered part of the Pacific Coast Highway. This edition has historically alternated on even numbered years with the Sierra edition: 2006, 2010.
We will fine tune the itinerary as the ride gets closer. Please check back in late 2020 for a link to register for the ride so that I can keep you updated on the latest. And please sign the waiver.
Ride Bulletins:
- People must make their own reservations for motels and campgrounds. We suggest you do it two or three months prior to the ride, or sooner, to insure that accommodations are available. Links to each city we will be stopping in along the way and to a list of accommodations available in those cities can be found below.
- We will have get-together dinners every night of the ride and one luncheon; see the dinner signup sheet on this web site for details – please signup so we can tell the restaurants what to expect.
- We will try to get a group photograph of as many of the riders and their bikes as possible at Mac Kerricher Park north of Fort Bragg on Monday morning before we start out. Please try to be there about 9:00AM.
- TBD
- TBD
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Itinerary:
September [TBD] (Saturday and Sunday): Gather in Fort Bragg
- Most popular motel for riders in the past: ** Best Western Vista Manor Lodge, 1100 N. Main St., 800 821-9498
- Gather for dinner Saturday at Cliff House of Fort Bragg , 1011 South Main Street, (707) 961-0255
- Gather for dinner Sunday at The Wharf Restaurant ,32260 North Harbor Drive, (707) 964-4283
- Featured side ride: Leave 10AM Sunday; CA20E to Willits; US101S past Ukiah; CA253W to Boonville; CA, stop for lunch at the Redwood Drive-In in Boonville, continue on 128W to CA1; CA1N through Mendocino to Fort Bragg – 128 miles
- Fort Bragg lodging, restaurants and attractions
September [TBD] (Monday): Leave Fort Bragg, CA 9:00 AM
- Gather at MacKerricher Park north of Fort Bragg for group and bike photos at 9:00AM
- Head north on CA1
- At Leggett, CA turn right through town and head for the drive thru tree. When finished, go back thru Leggett, turn right and then turn left (north) on US101.
- Exit at Garberville
- Gas stop at Garberville – the first and last one for a while.
- Lunch at Garberville; we will stop at House of Burgess, on the left.
- After lunch, proceed north on US101 until you see the signs for Avenue of the Giants (CA254) near Phillipsville.
- (This is the FIRST exit for the Avenue of the Giants)
- Exit onto the Avenue of the Giants (CA254) and stay on it until the junction with CA211 about 2 miles past Weott.
- At the junction with CA211 turn left toward Honeydew, CA; this is the Lost Coast route.
- Proceed west and north through the redwoods along the Lost Coast route through Honeydew and Petrolia; rest stop at Honeydew
- Proceed through Ferndale, CA and back onto US101 north.
- Arrive Eureka, CA between 4 and 5PM.
- Distance: 180 miles (6-8 hours*)
- Most popular motel for riders in the past: ** Motel 6, Broadway between Del Norte & Hawthorne, 800 466-8356
- Time for side trips, etc.
- Suggested side ride #1: US101N to CA299; CA299E to Burnt Ranch and back – 122 miles
- Gather for dinner, Woodley Island, Cafe Marina (select Eureka),601 Startare Drive, (707) 443-2233
- Eureka lodging, restaurants and attractions
September [TBD] (Tuesday): Leave Eureka, CA 9:00 AM
- Head north on US101
- Enjoy the scenery
- Stop for lunch at Beachcomber Restaurant, 800 Chetco Ave., Brookings, OR
- Side trip to Cape Blanco lighthouse
- Proceed to Coos Bay, OR
- Arrive in Coos Bay between 4 and 5 PM
- Suggested motel: Motel 6; 1445 Bayshore Drive, (541) 267-7171.
- Distance: 230 miles (7-9 hours*)
- Time for side trips, exploring, etc.
- Gather for dinner at Benetti’s Italian Restaurant, 260 S. Broadway, Coos Bay, OR, 541 267-6066
- Coos Bay lodging, restaurants and attractions
September [TBD] (Wednesday): Leave Coos Bay, OR 9:00 AM
- Head north on US101
- Enjoy the scenery
- Stop for lunch in Newport, OR at Mo’s Restaurant, 657 SW Bay Blvd.; 541 265-7512
- Side route to Cape Kiwanda, Cape Lookout and Cape Meares on the way to Tillamook
- Stop at Tillamook County Creamery Association, 2 miles north of Tillamook on US101 to tour the cheese factory OR
- Proceed south from Tillamook on US101 and stop at the Tillamook Air Museum; admission $10.50 ($9.50 for us old farts)
- Proceed to Seaside, OR; arrive between 5 and 6PM
- Suggested motel: Motel 6, 2369 S. Roosevelt Drive, (503) 738-6269
- Distance: 237 miles (7-9 hours*)
- Time for side trips, sightseeing, etc.
- Gather for dinner at Bigfoot’s Pub n’ Grub, 2427 S. Roosevelt, Seaside, OR; 503 738-7009 (next door to Motel 6)
- Suggested side ride #1: ?
- Seaside lodging, restaurants and attractions
September [TBD] (Thursday): Leave Seaside, OR 9:00AM
- Head north on US101
- Turn left on WA105 just north of Raymond, WA. Continue on WA105 to the turnoff for Tokeland, WA. Follow Tokeland Road to the signs for the Tokeland Hotel and Restaurant.
- Stop for lunch at the Tokeland Hotel and Restaurant, Tokeland, WA,
- After lunch, head north on Tokeland Road and onto WA105 and follow WA105 until it reconnects with US101 just south of Aberdeen, WA
- Proceed to Forks, WA; arrive between 5 and 6 PM
- Suggested motel: Pacific Inn Motel, 352 S. Forks Ave., 800-235-7344
- Distance: 207 miles (6-8 hours*)
- Time for sightseeing, side trips, etc.
- Gather for dinner at the Forks Coffee Shop, 241 S. Forks Ave., Forks, WA; 360 374-6769; about 2 blocks north of the motel
- Suggested side ride #1: Go north from Forks and turn left on WA110 to La Push, WA on the coast; 32 miles
- Forks lodging, restaurants and attractions
September [TBD] (Friday): Leave Forks, WA 9:00AM
- Head north on US101
- Ride past lovely Crescent Lake, to Port Angeles
- In Port Angeles, turn right on Race Street. Continue on Race Street and veer right on Hurricane Ridge Road. Ride up to Hurricane Ridge.
- At Discovery Bay, pull off into Fat Smitty’s for lunch.
- Proceed to Olympia/Tumwater, WA; arrive between 3 and 4 PM
- Suggested motel: Motel 6, 400 West Lee St., Tumwater, (360) 754-7320
- Distance: 213 miles (5-7 hours*)
- Time for sightseeing, side trips etc.
- Gather for dinner at El Sarape Mexican Restaurant, 5409 Capitol Blvd. S, Tumwater, WA; 360 956-9506.
- Suggested side ride #1: Turn right on Capitol Blvd and ride to Centralia, WA via Tenino, WA on old Hwy 99 and WA 507; 49 miles
- Olympia lodging, restaurants and attractions
September [TBD] (Saturday and Sunday):
- Gather for dinner at the Tides Tavern, 2925 Harborview Drive, Gig Harbor, WA; 253 858-3982
- Suggested side ride #1: Museum of Flight Trip; 128 miles
- Return home…
- Suggested side ride #2: Mt. Saint Helens trip; 244 miles
* – depending on how fast or how slow you take the curves.
** – these motels will take reservations through the web
What to expect on the ride…
In addition to a week of great motorcycling, wonderful camaraderie, a lot of nice people having a good time, lots of good food, lots of beautiful scenery, you can most likely expect the following during the ride:
Weather:
The weather will be cooler than the southern route. We may run into rain, possibly heavy at times. You must be prepared to dress for wet weather and for cool temperatures. The temperature range varied from about 90 degrees F inland to as low as 45-50 degrees F along the coast. A layered approach for clothing is strongly suggested.
Traffic:
The traffic on the northern route is somewhat heavier than on the southern route. It should be lighter than during the summer because it is after Labor day.
Road Conditions:
There was little construction encountered on the 2004 ride.
The Lost Coast section of the road between Eureka and Fort Bragg is a little rough and has some spots of packed gravel (the longest was not more than a few hundred feet).
The roads are very twisty and winding (yesssssss!!! – great for motorcycles!!) as far as Eureka. You need to bring your cornering skills with you and to take it easy if you think the road is getting to be too much for you. There is plenty of time to make our destinations at even a relatively slow pace. Don’t hurry! Take your time and enjoy! Above all, RIDE YOUR OWN RIDE AT YOUR OWN PACE. I can’t emphasize this strongly enough!
After Eureka, the road straightens considerably.
Motorcycle Dealers along the way:
- Ft. Bragg:
- Nearest Honda dealers: Ukiah and Lakeport (both are a considerable distance away)
- Motorsports of Ukiah, 724 S. State. St., Ukiah, 707 462-8653
- Hillside Honda, 460 S. Main St., Lakeport, 707 263-9000
- North Bay Honda, 28975 Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa, 707 542-5355
- Nearest Honda dealers: Ukiah and Lakeport (both are a considerable distance away)
- Eureka: Richard Miller Motorcycles, 1725 Tomlinson, Eureka, 707 443-8031; 1 block south of Bayshore Mall
- Redding:
Lee’s Honda, 2230 Larkspur Lane, Redding, 530 221-6788 - Coos Bay:
- Honda World, 1350 Ocean Way, Coos Bay, Oregon, 541 888-5588
- The Sportsman, 249 N Coast Hwy, Florence, Oregon, 541 997-3336
- Honda of Tillamook, 1000 N Main, #13, Tillamook, Oregon, 503 842-5593
- Seaside: (currently none)
- Forks: (currently none)
- Olympia:
- Port Angeles Power Equipment, 2624 E Hwy 101, Port Angeles, Washington, 360 452-4652
- South Sound Honda, 2115 Carriage Dr SW, Olympia, Wash, 360 357-9633
Questions:
If the preceding raises any questions, or if you have questions on anything else, please email me: Douglas Van Bossuyt