Thanks Jimmy!

Is that your planned route? I'm a new, but fairly decent rider, on a Honda CB500X, and I would appreciate riding with some other folks for company and to be as conspicuous as possible.

Hey Jimmy, yer' pullin his pud, right mate?

That's a very complex route for a NOOB rider to follow. You wanna get him killed? (not to mention some of the UGLIEST parts of California) We always AVOID the central valley, but to get to Mariposa, you have to ride across. Best to minimize your pain. Cross it quick and easy.

I'd keep it much simpler and straight forward. Fewer turns, fewer course changes.

Here's my idea:
Head South out of the City on 280, take Pacifica turn off over to Highway One. Head South! Riders Pay to ride this route! Ride to Santa Cruz.
Easy peasy.

Gas up and get a bite in Santa Cruz, maybe take a ride past Steamer's Lane?

Continue on Highway One South to Watsonville. Take highway 152 EAST. Follow 152 all the way to Chowchilla (another crap hole)

Jump on Highway 99 at Chowchilla for a few miles, go NORTH to Merced. Exit and go EAST on highway 140 to Mariposa. Done.

It ain't pretty but it's simple. Actually, the first part is beautiful as you pass through the Salinas Valley after Santa Cruz, the most fertile valley in the entire USA. It's quite beautiful in harvest season. Once further East it becomes corporate Agri, quite bleak, hot, dusty and polluted.
Mariposa is slightly better.

Safe riding! and remember, if you're too conspicuous ... bleary, tired or drunk drivers ... MAY HEAD STRAIGHT AT YOU. It's called Target Fixation. A very real issue.

Ask any CHP motor cop about this. Things like flashing headlights, super bright lights, bright colors ... all can be a source that triggers Target fixation. Use caution.

Just wanted to say thanks to Flip, Nicole, Grant, Susan and all the Volunteers for a Brilliant weekend. Hope to see many of you on the road to Tierra Del Fuego.

Www.mudandknobblies.co.uk

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http://mudandknobblies.co.uk
http://www.justgiving.com/FMFox

Thanks, great to hear you enjoyed it! Best of luck on your trip, and keep us posted!

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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

California 2014 is over but it was a fantastic event, great turnout, and even good weather - a very little bit of rain, but no one complained, the Californians were delighted to see it! Everyone loved the amazing new venue - flat ground, grass, loads of room and several excellent presentation rooms and facilities!

We had travellers from all over the USA, Canada, Malaysia, Iran, Switzerland, Belgium, England, Ireland, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, South Africa, Netherlands, Sweden, and the Canary Islands!

There was an incredible roster of presenters, running 5 presentations at once all day Saturday! So tons of great stuff to choose from, everything from the history of motorcycle design all the way through to modern streamlining and electric bikes to riding tips and tricks by Jimmy Lewis, riding Mongolia, South America, installing auxiliary lighting, electrics basics, tire changing, ergonomics, travel photography, how to hit the road, Alex Chacon's awesome The Modern Motorcycle Diaries, and waaay too many others to list here! If you weren't there you really missed out!

Many thanks to the awesome Presenters, Alex Chacon, Ted Simon, Jimmy Lewis, Jeremy Kroeker (Canada), Carla King, Richard Battles, Billy Benedict, Wynne Benti, Jack, Sandy and Terry Borden, Roel Bremmers (Netherlands) and Azure O'Neill, Lori and Mark Ciszek (Canada), Peter Dean, Alison Delapp, Jonathan Ehly, Bill Ellison, Kurt Forget, Karen Fritz, Gaila Gutierrez, Tad Haas, Mike Kauffman, Steven Kirk (Australia), Kim and Seb Leeson (Canary Islands), Jason Len, Danell Lynn, Claudia and Mirko Nagler (Germany), Pete Nesbitt, Michelle Nilles, Carla Oliva, Ben Slavin, Erik Stephens, Anders and Petra Stridfeldt (Sweden), Ramey 'coach' Stroud, Robert Thode, Craig Vetter, and David and Heidi Winters.

And of course a huge thanks to the Volunteers who made the event possible, Flip Morton, Craig Haggart, Bill Miner, Nicole Espinosa, Allen Barnes, and all the volunteers that helped out throughout the event.

Put it on your calendar for next year, same location, and even more inspiration, information, and connection with travellers from all over the world!
September 24-27 2015

See you there!

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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

Had a wonderful time at my first HU event.

I put together this short video...

Just wanted to let you guys all know that we had a GREAT weekend at Mariposa!

We just keep on running into our other friends on the road and the venue was terrific.
Presentation rooms were really good and cozy, the arena is nice, camping good, nothing bad to say of this WE at all!

We had great fun, met nice people and made some new friends, what more does one want?!

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Find us on Facebook or have a look at our website on wanderingsouls.be.

Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park


Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park

Until next year, HU CA friends!

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Giant Loop Moto

There two Aussie there as well. I can only speak on behalf. But I had a ball. Networked, learnt and had fun.

Great meeting other travelers and seeing how other do things and what they carry. Picture from on the way home.

And apparently not bringing a rain suite broke the drought, as it rained on the way there and on the way home.