Hi everyone,

Just some advice when going through the USA that many locals dont know. On most, but not all of the public land that is managed by either the US Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management you can camp for free anywhere on the land. They also have designated campgrounds that may or may not be free. Also you may have to get a fire permit (free) to build a campfire or use a stove. Dont get these agencies mixed up with the National Park Service that have a completly diffrent set of rules. These are three diffrent agencies. These agencies have local offices everywhere and can be found in the phone book. I have found that unlike many government officals the people at these agencies are very friendly and bend over backwards to help you. Also if you are passing through northern california drop me a line, I can give you directions to many recources and great rides.

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John

Hi ekekaphoto,

Thanks for the handy tip, I was told about this by Sam and Brigit at the HU meet in the UK this weekend.

I'm in NY this August and travelling to Vancouver, then all the way down to Chile. Can you give me a shout on all that great info you have re: good rides and resources. Only 8 weeks to go and I cant wait!!!!

Cheers

Brian Coles

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http://www.trailsunexpected.com

Brian, I'm headed to Vancouver from Kansas City in August. I you are coming this way, and want some company on the trip with someone that has made the trip before, email me.
John

I sent Brian an e-mail but to let everyone know we do have lots to see here. There are several diffrent areas managed by diffrent agencies/districts. One area is the six rivers national forest that runs about 140 miles north to south and has 957,590 acres. Also a side note the fire permits usually require you have a shovel with you for a camp fire. A small camping shovel like they issue to the military is fine. It folds up and is light. Below is the link to the six rivers national forest. Anyone have any specific questions feel free to ask.


http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sixrivers/

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John

"The older I get the better I was"

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John

I forgot one to mention one thing. The three national forest districts in the area are Six Rivers, Shasta-Trinity, and Siskiyou. each has its own web sites connected to the national one, as well as local weather info, fire conditions (a big deal in this area) and you can even get a fire permit on line. They also have contact numbers for anyone looking for more specific info.

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John

"The older I get the better I was"

[This message has been edited by ekaphoto (edited 01 July 2003).]

[This message has been edited by ekaphoto (edited 01 July 2003).]

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John

John et al,

You planning on coming to the Second Can/USA West HU Meeting in Revelstoke in September?

Hope to see you there!

Just finished the UK HU Meeting - fantastic - we had 190 people - almost double last year. Eight round the worlders including Ted Simon, Sam Manicomm, Andy Miller, Glynn Roberts and more.

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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
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One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

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Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
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Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Brian,

I forgot to mention a couple of very slow but beautiful back routs if you are coming down Interstate 5 and want to get to the coast. Just after getting into California from Oregon you come to a town called Yreka, not to get confused with Eureka on the coast it is two diffrent towns. Get gas here. Fill up because you may need every drop you have. There are a couple of towns you go through but they may not have a gas station, or if they do you pay alot more for it. (I'm cheap)

Option one is to take hwy 96 through happy camp to Hoopa. This is a curvy but good two lane road that is very twisty suitable for sport bikes. 96 takes you through the Hoopa Indian reservation and past the site where the famious film of bigfoot was taken in 1967. At Willow creek you intersect with hwy 299. Turn west (right) and you will hit hwy 101 that travels all the way down the length of California. Travel time to the coast is about 4-5 hours.

Option 2 is in my opinion more beautiful than 96. From Yreka take hwy 3 through Scotts valley to the town of weaverville where you hit 299. Again turn right, and head to the coast. This road is paved all the way but is not as wide or fast as hwy 96. The curves are tighter, but oh so much more beautiful. If it is winter this road is not kept open due to snow.

Option 3 is the most adventurious route. I have not been on this road since I was a kid, but I don't think it has changed much. Hmm I need to take my bike on this one. At Yreka get on hwy 3 again. You have two options again, but the road intersects at forks of the Salmon. At Etna have lots of gas, fill up if you can and take Sawyers Bar road. At Callahan, fill up with gas and take cecilville road. These roads are twisty gravel roads. If my memory served me at one point it is a one lane gravel road with a 100 foot drop off into the Salmon river. If you miss a curve here no need to worry about medical bills. BTW you will share this road with logging trucks. Good luck and let me know when you are around. At forkes of the Salmon these roads intersect. Keep going and you will find yourself on hwy 96. Take a left and you will go twords Hoopa and Willow Creek. Start this one early in the morning or plan on camping along the way. Figure yreka is the last chance for supplies of any type. I would not advise riding this road at night since you could hit a dee, bear or even Big Foot on the road.

Grant,
As much as I would like to make it this year I probably will not. Too bad I would like to go.




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John

"The older I get the better I was"

[This message has been edited by ekaphoto (edited 02 July 2003).]

[This message has been edited by ekaphoto (edited 03 July 2003).]

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John

Brian ....

Please be damn careful going through Columbia. A friend of mine went down doing sort of the same trip you have planned. He was traveling alone riding a new Harley Ultra Classic. He was kidnapped by bandits and held for ransom. It cost his family and friends $100,000 US to get him home ... minus the Harley. This happened in a small village ... broad day light about a month ago.

Safe Journey



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Murphy

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Murphy

Reading your advice brought back some great memories. I remember when the road 25 miles west of Happy Camp on into Orleans was gravel, prone to mud slides, and was not a good place to ride. Very narrow. I worked in Orleans and at the time rode either a cushman scooter or later, a Honda 150cc Dream. We went into Eureka once a month shopping. The sturgeon and salmon fishing up at Sommes Bar was fantastic, and if you hiked into Red Cap lake, you could catch fish as fast as you could release them. I haven't been back to visit there since '66. That is some wonderful conutry there and I really miss it. Thanks for writing about it.

joe