Hi Folks,

I'm currently in Vladivostok on my RTW trip. I will be in Vancouver from 26th to 31st August and hope to be at the California meeting at the end of September.

My original plan was to go down the Pan-American but my budget isn't going to last for that. Instead, I'd like to explore Canada and USA for a few weeks.

Because I didn't really plan for this, I'd like to ask for your recommendations.

I have 3 and a half weeks between Vancouver and California, a completely open mind, and adventurous spirit, and an XT600!

Where should I go? I've only ever been to Arizona and Washington DC. After California I'll be heading to New York to fly home.

I'd really love to hear your suggestions. What are the epic rides, the best roads, the best sights?

Thanks all!

Al

Is this a trick question? I would suggest to search through past posts asking the same--there is alot to be done in that amount of time; probably just in California alone!! You have been to my state, Arizona, but if you haven't done the northern bit besides the Grand Canyon, I would suggest a few days going through the Navajo Indian Reservation--for instance, Canyon de Chelly is a smaller, more intimate, and (IMO) a more scenic canyon than that big one nearby---and it doesn't cost $20 to enter! From Flagstaff eastward in the north, you could see most of the points of interest in 3 days, maybe 4, but as you stated you have been here before; if you have seen the scenic north, forget what I wrote, and the southern part if you have not been this way is not very interesting unless you are into deserts and heat--the sand is too difficult to ride through efficiently as it is the consistency of a beach, so even off-road is crappy unless you are on a quad.

Back to northern AZ, and going into southern Utah, there are some fantastic sites to see, such as the national parks up that way; I forgot to mention Monument Valley--very worth the visit, and about a 2 hour drive from Canyon de Chelly.

Since you mentioned starting in California, there will be others pointing you to good sites to see in Calif--there are many, many sites to see there.

If you wanted to see the northern parts of Arizona, let me know when you could come through and I can see if I can get off that way to ride with you--it would be a good excuse to take some time away from work.

Pretty much any direction from Vancouver offers great options....you could spend three weeks on the Island alone....but here a few suggestions you might consider

From Vancouver....go north through Whistler to Lillooet and on to Kamloops then south into the Okanagan (for heat and wine and Kettle Valley Railway route).....back to Vernon and to Nakusp (for the Hot Springs - Nakusp, Halcyon, Ainsworth) then either...

north to Revelstoke and into the Rockies (Field-Takkakaw Falls, Lake Louise and Banff-Jasper) and then south through Kananaskis Country-Highwood Pass in Alberta back toward the US (Waterton Lakes and the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier Park in Montana are spectacular) or...

south from Nakusp into the US through Twisp and Winthrop heading back out to the coast on Wash #2 (North Cascades) At the coast you could go out to the San Juans, Whidby Islands and other Puegot Sound areas....before heading southward to California along the Washington and Oregon Coasts. You can also go further south in Washington (Pendleton) to the Columbia River and follow the gorge out to Astoria and then on southward to be in Cali for Sept 24.

If you are wanting to put on lots of miles, you could head south into Utah (Moab, White Rim Trail, Escalante etc. and then head across Nevada to Californa....the Moab area offers incredible experiences....and crossing the great basin in Nevada remains lonely.....

Backroad Mapbooks for southern BC show, not surprisingly, lots of backroads for travelling....if you want a slower pace....and the Delorne Gazetteers for each state in the US have similar 'backroad' info.

Hope this helps your thinking a little...

Stephen

Stephen,

When you get to Vancouver give me a call (778-809-0809) and we can sit down and look at maps. If you would like a place to stay and meals let me know and you are more than welcome.

Steve

__________________
Character is what you are into the dark.

Steve....you probably meant to direct your offer to Al who's arriving from Russia!
Stephen

You could hardly have picked a better area in which to spend a few weeks. Washington state, Oregon, and California are fantastic. I am not from the area so dont' know it very well, but spent a few weeks up there a couple years ago:
--San Juan Islands
--Seattle
--Northern Cascade Mountains (a national park is there)
--Mount St Helens
--Columbia River Valley
--McKenzie Pass
--Southern Oregon Coast
--area around Mt Shasta in California
--Highway 1 from NorCal to San Francisco

I've just scratched the surface and did no research when I went, just stumbled across the places listed above. It is an awesome area!

Thanks Stephen. Al, the offer was meant for yourself. But if you ever come this way Stephen, what the hell, stop on in...

Cheers...

Steve

__________________
Character is what you are into the dark.

Steve...kind offer.....it's the sort of thing the HU community is famous for.
My son's girlfriends' family lives in Abbotsford, so you never know.

Cheers
Stephen