Day 1
San Francisco to Fort Bragg
177 miles
Our first day is the shortest. It is designed to get everyone warmed up to each other and their bikes and to allow for plenty of time for pictures of the dramatic Pacific Coast.We meet at our staging area just across the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County. After a short safety chat and some time to get acquainted, we head directly for the coast on Highway 1. We quickly leave the urban setting as the road twists into groves of eucalyptus trees. Many tight corners await us as we wind our way to the ocean, and then… there it is, the beautiful blue Pacific. We carve our way north to Stinson Beach for our first break of the day in this quaint surfing town.
View Twisted Tours, Day One on a larger map
For the next 120 miles we will be riding along the San Andreas fault line. Tomales Bay, created by the fault, offers locally caught, fresh seafood to dine on at dockside restaurants.
As we continue up the coast, we will be down at sea level and up to 600 feet above the waves. After a lunch and fuel stop, we continue north through constantly changing shoreline environments: windswept beaches, river mouths, haystack rocks and wetland estuaries.
Past the town of Gualala, the road straightens out a bit and passes through dairy pastures right on the ocean (happy cows). Point Arena, with its historic lighthouse, is a picturesque stopping point for the tour.
Riders may wish to see the famous village of Mendocino with its art galleries, and funky 1960s charm. Others may wish to continue the eight miles up the road to Fort Bragg and get settled in their rooms.
Fort Bragg offers many different cuisines to choose from for dinner. We may all go out together or guests may choose to do their own thing. In either case, you will eat well and make new friends in my hometown.
Day 2
Fort Bragg to Etna
277 miles
View Twisted Tours, Day 2 on a larger map
Fort Bragg is one of the true epicenters of great motorcycling with nothing but twisties leading out of town.
After a hearty breakfast, we continue north up the Pacific Coast Highway. Today we add 120 miles to our day, as Day 2 is serious twisty day. After a few more river mouths and tiny villages, we say goodbye to the coast and head inland. Immediately the fun begins. The next 30 miles are packed with hundreds of tight left and right corners, as we climb up into the Coast Range. Everyone will travel at his or her own pace, battling smile cramps as they swing their bikes through delicious turns on beautifully smooth pavement.
Highway 1 tees into Highway 101, a billiard-smooth ribbon of asphalt that cuts through a huge section of redwood and Douglas fir forest. Hwy 101 gives us time for a rest; its big, easy sweepers give us a chance to look at the trees. We soon exit the highway for the Avenue of the Giants, a two-laner through some of the oldest and tallest trees on the planet. At up to 30 feet in diameter and 375 feet tall, this is a spiritual motorcycle road. We stop and hike a bit in Humbolt Redwoods State Park to pay homage to these living wonders.
Next up is one of my favorite roads in the western U.S., Highway 36. One hundred and 54 miles of twisties that vary from broad sweepers to super tight technical corners. All in an extraordinarily remote area. We will ride this road in two sections on different days.
Highway 36 starts out mellow through the broad Van Duzen River Valley, which soon narrows and the road tightens up. Beautiful sweepers through a redwood forest open up to more sweepers through ranchland. The road climbs up into the Coast Range and the turns get twistier. We stop at tiny Mad River for lunch at the Burger Bar.
The next section of roadway is truly twisty heaven. Countless tight sweepers where advanced and novices alike can really get lost in linking turn after turn. (I pulled over the first time I rode this section and pinched myself, as I thought I had died and gone to twisty heaven!)
At the Highway 3 junction we head north; more of the same as we now descend into a pocket valley. After a brief stop in Hayfork we climb up out of the valley on more stellar pavement as we head for Weaverville. Views of massive Mt. Shasta now loom to our right. From Weaverville we continue north, skirting the Trinity Alps and then the Marble Mountains.
Arriving in Etna, we get settled in our rooms then go out to explore this historic western town and its great little brewpub.
Day 3
Etna to Weaverville
245 miles
View Twisted Tours, Day 3 on a larger map
Pure Northern California, with untouched river valleys and canyons dotted with rugged little hamlets, populated by people living off the land.
Day 3 consists of following various rivers down through their canyons in stunningly remote and beautiful country. We begin by traveling north briefly along the Scott River to Highway 96 and the Klamath River. We head west following the Klamath as it carves its way through rugged terrain to the ocean. Light traffic for the next 150 miles makes for some great canyon carving. Many swimming holes beckon along the road making for tempting diversions if the weather is warm.
After playing along the Klamath most of the day, we head east by mid-afternoon on Highway 299 which follows the Trinity River. This road is more heavily traveled, but even more scenic. We continue to Weaverville where we spend the night.
Day 4
Weaverville to Chico
289 miles
View Twisted Tours, Day 4 on a larger map
Today we get to finish the rest of twisty heaven, on Highway 36. We head out and retrace our path briefly on Highway 3 through Hayfork to the junction with 36. I find it more delicious to go back over a road in the opposite direction, as it is familiar but with all new corners. At the junction with Highway 36 we pull over and have a little chat.
The remaining portion of Highway 36 gets progressively more technical as you head east. It begins as we left it on Day 2, tight sweepers one after another, but as we approach the Central Valley, sharply crested hills appear and the road takes no notice of them. The corner apexes are sometimes at the tops of these hills and in their troughs. It takes all your concentration to keep the shiny side up, but what fun! Everyone, again, is encouraged to only go as fast as they feel comfortable. This is a great spot for photos.
After safely negotiating the hills, we are in for a rest as we have lunch in Red Bluff before traversing the Central Valley on our way to Lassen Volcanic National Park. There are nice corners in Lassen Park but the traffic and reduced speed limit means this is a purely scenic part of the tour. We hike around some of the thermal features before setting out for Chico.
We follow Deer Creek as it twists its way toward Chico along narrow and challenging Highway 32. Once in Chico, we get settled in our rooms then head for the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company for great food and drink. Brewery tours are available if the group wants to plan ahead. This a very large brewery that is now off the grid, using natural gas to power fuel cells that run the plant entirely. A very cool green business.
Day 5
Chico back to San Francisco
225 miles
View Twisted Tours, Day 5 on a larger map
Our last day finds us doing what I call "Huntin' and Peckin'" our way home. There are so many options from Chico back to our starting point that, depending on what the group wants to see and ride, we make it up as we go. Fast down the Interstate to get to as many twisties as possible? Through the Central Valley farmland? Around a couple of nice lakes? A leisurely lunch in Napa Valley? A stop at Infineon Raceway to see what's going fast?
In any case, we find ourselves back where we started, having made new friends and with fond memories of literally thousands of corners ridden.
