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Vancouver CND to L.A. in late December..... Vancouver CND to L.A. in late December.....
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Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 15 Dec 2010
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Vancouver CND to L.A. in late December.....
......on a KLR650 with large windscreen. With good winter gear:vest and heated gloves, etc.... is this possible to do without exposer concerns. i should be able to find 5 hours a day of weather between 1 and 8 Celsius. Is it better to ride in 6 Celsius rain or 0-3 Celsius no rain? Plan on leaving on Friday December 17th. Has anyone done this? I figure once i get to LA i will be alright for Brrrrrrrrrr....cold.

Regards,
Troy
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  #2  
Old 15 Dec 2010
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Hi "the wrong way", all I can say is, you're definitely going "the right way". Enjoy, nice challenge.
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  #3  
Old 15 Dec 2010
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I looked at the weather forcast and it is Rain every day all the way.
Except in northern California, that forcast is for Snow.

National Weather Service - NWS Sacramento
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  #4  
Old 16 Dec 2010
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thanx ta-all-the-way, yes, i think you are correct. I suppose if my name was "right way" i might be in trouble. and John thanx for the info. I will be using the national weather service site as a valuable resource. Hope i don't get snowed in.


Regards,
Troy
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  #5  
Old 16 Dec 2010
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There are a couple of very recent threads which address issues of winter travel between B.C. and California or Mexico. People ride bikes along this route at any time of year. You just need to be prepared for short daylight hours and the possibility you'll have to sit out the weather for a bit.

Oh, and chill. Damp, too. Don't forget the chill and damp.

Mark
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  #6  
Old 23 Dec 2010
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If anyone wants to know
Started on the dec 18th. I'm in Pismo beach california right now. 16 Celcius. sunny. nice.

Just went through a storm for 4 days - not one break more than a few minutes....once i got to Big Sur everything change - decided to camp in a covert place - slept like a baby and woke up to the sun and the smell of rosemary, sage, and ocean. However, Funny, a rock came off the slope i was sleeping beside and smashed the starter switch exposing the inner terminals on my KLR650: Nothing a little piece of copper wire couldn't bypass - might not get another switch. It startled me awake...... thought about moving my tent, but decided to chance it after a quick probability guess.

decided to deal with the wind and rain on the 101 rather than the sleet and snow on the highway 5. However, the wind gusts come from every direction - constantly compensating.

Doubt it could be done with out very good rain gear at the least. A very good visor with some silicon water repellent was nice for the visor - really worked well. Hope it didn't hurt the pastic. And the heated vest was so important.

I didn't wait any weather out....i would still be in settle if i did that.

regards all,

thanx Troy
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  #7  
Old 24 Dec 2010
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Glad you made it in good spirits.

You don't have to wait out rain (unless you wish to); you need to wait out any snow or daytime icing, which happens on the coast this time of year as well as inland. Couple of weeks ago there was snow and ice everywhere; now, nothing.

You're past the snow zone now, but watch out for flying rocks in campgrounds all the way to LA. Oh, and be careful of those inch-an-hour rainstorms I've been hearing about.

Mark
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