Enough snow, Canadians headed South then West this time

On Feb 15, 4 of us our trailering to Georgia, hopping on the bikes and riding to San Diego and back. Plan on 4 days to get to San Diego and taking 8 days to come back stopping at Las Vegas for a night and hoping to see the Grand Canyon.

Looking for any suggestions along the way.

- 1st question, Route 10 or Route 20. One any more scenic than the other? Is Route 20 going to be more of an issue for weather?

- Not booking hotels, shouldn't be an issue this time of year and going to leave options open so that we can check weather and choose the best route for each following day.

- Following are some of the places we are planning on seeing. Basic list so far, we'll build on it and hopefully get suggestions from people here.

Barber Motorcycle Museum
New Orleans (Been there once, others never)
San Antonio
Las Cruces
San Diaego
Las Vegas (Been there 5-6 times myself, others never)
Death Valley
Grand Canyon (Been 3-4 times myself, others never)
White Sands
Galveston Coastal Ride up to New Orleans (Been to Galveston a few times, picked it just because I know it)

- One of the questions I have is going from San Diego to Las Vegas that time of year. Any suggestions on routes? I'm guessing we need to avoid any mountain roads.

San Diego -> Lost Wages is easy. I-15.

Cajon Pass only has snow a few times a year and rarely lasts more than a day. The CalTrans website can advise you. If a storm blows through, just spend an extra day or two Insane Diego.

Enjoy. I hope we can hook up for a ride next summer.

Canadian FJR

Grand Canyon in Feb at elevation on a motorcycle?

Hmmmmm.

wheatonFJR said:

Grand Canyon in Feb at elevation on a motorcycle?
Hmmmmm.

Click to expand...

Here is my info if you need anything: [email protected] 480-440-4666. North Rim of Grand Canyon is closed until April due to Snow, but ADOT keeps the South Rim Road constantly plowed. https://www.az511.com/adot/files/traffic/ Always up to date road info!

You are welcome to sleep on the carpeted floor of my living room, one of you can have the Guest Bed. I just have one favor to ask, please don't swim naked in my swimming pool like FJRob1300 and Moosehead Mike did. I am still catching Hell from my Neighbors!

A few years ago myself and two friends did sort of the same trip except reverse! We trailered to Phoenix and rode 10 all the way to Daytona, for bike week! Bin there done that, now it's off the list! We got very lucky with the weather, Leaving Vernon, B.C. we drove non stop to Phoenix, hot seat the driver and made a foam bed in the rear seat of extended cab pick up. We encountered snow going south but nothing too bad! Arrived in Phoenix warm and very pleasant! Rode four quite long days to get to Florida and experienced no rain, in fact Texas was having a heat wave (sort of) temps in the low to mid 80's not usual at that time of year? Rode into Pensacola Fla. late in the day it was a nice 72 F. Woke up the next day 32 F. Two of us had electric vests and grips, but our fearless leader (on a cruiser) didn't nor did he have a windshield or fairing! We pulled over for coffee when he said so! After the sun was up for a couple of hours it gradually warmed up. Coming back to Phoenix we only experienced one night of rain and that came at the very end of the day, we hardly got wet! We were going to go to New Orleans but decided because of time if we pushed hard to get back to Phoenix we could get a round of golf in Sedona? After picking up the truck and loading the trailer in Phoenix we drove to Sedona and played our round of golf had a bite then jumped back into the truck and hot seated it back to Vernon. Ten days total! Next time, and there won't be a next time I would want more time. Oh yea, on that trip I had my litre VStrom.

beemerdons said:

wheatonFJR said:

Grand Canyon in Feb at elevation on a motorcycle?
Hmmmmm.

Click to expand...

Here is my info if you need anything: [email protected] 480-440-4666. North Rim of Grand Canyon is closed until April due to Snow, but ADOT keeps the South Rim Road constantly plowed. https://www.az511.com/adot/files/traffic/ Always up to date road info!

You are welcome to sleep on the carpeted floor of my living room, one of you can have the Guest Bed. I just have one favor to ask, please don't swim naked in my swimming pool like FJRob1300 and Moosehead Mike did. I am still catching Hell from my Neighbors!

Click to expand...

Mike and Rob, good to see you two. Hope to see you again this summer.

Jer

Jer said:

beemerdons said:

wheatonFJR said:

Grand Canyon in Feb at elevation on a motorcycle?
Hmmmmm.

Click to expand...

Here is my info if you need anything: [email protected] 480-440-4666. North Rim of Grand Canyon is closed until April due to Snow, but ADOT keeps the South Rim Road constantly plowed. https://www.az511.com/adot/files/traffic/ Always up to date road info!

You are welcome to sleep on the carpeted floor of my living room, one of you can have the Guest Bed. I just have one favor to ask, please don't swim naked in my swimming pool like FJRob1300 and Moosehead Mike did. I am still catching Hell from my Neighbors!

Click to expand...

Mike and Rob, good to see you two. Hope to see you again this summer.

Jer

Click to expand...

Jer, just make sure they have their swim suits. Of course for MEM - MaryEllen, swim suit optional is OK with Papa Chuy Viejo! jes' sayin' and nuff said!

bgross said:

San Diego -> Lost Wages is easy. I-15.Cajon Pass only has snow a few times a year and rarely lasts more than a day. The CalTrans website can advise you. If a storm blows through, just spend an extra day or two Insane Diego.

Click to expand...

https://www.motorcycleroads.com/Routes/New-Mexico_107.html maddad are you and your Canuckistan Compadres aware of Motorcycle Roads.com Great scenic roads here!

Example happens to be for New Mexico, they cover all the states. There are a lot of nice two lanes paralleling the Interstates you've listed, more fun!

beemerdons said:

bgross said:

San Diego -> Lost Wages is easy. I-15.Cajon Pass only has snow a few times a year and rarely lasts more than a day. The CalTrans website can advise you. If a storm blows through, just spend an extra day or two Insane Diego.

Click to expand...

https://www.motorcycleroads.com/Routes/New-Mexico_107.html maddad are you and your Canuckistan Compadres aware of Motorcycle Roads.com Great scenic roads here!

Example happens to be for New Mexico, they cover all the states. There are a lot of nice two lanes paralleling the Interstates you've listed, more fun!

Click to expand...

Yes aware of the site and picking up all of those we can along the way.

https://www.longstreetcasino.com If you are going to spend a night at Death Valley, the California/Southwest FJR Forum highly recommends the Longstreet Inn in Amargosa Valley Nevada. This was our base hotel for a decade of FJR Death Valley Daze Events and they always treated us really great, mention FJR Forum or Richard Hall or Don Stanley and they may extend a discount room rate to you. Don't mention you know johnny80s!

beemerdons said:

Jer said:

beemerdons said:

wheatonFJR said:

Grand Canyon in Feb at elevation on a motorcycle?
Hmmmmm.

Click to expand...

Here is my info if you need anything: [email protected] 480-440-4666. North Rim of Grand Canyon is closed until April due to Snow, but ADOT keeps the South Rim Road constantly plowed. https://www.az511.com/adot/files/traffic/ Always up to date road info!

You are welcome to sleep on the carpeted floor of my living room, one of you can have the Guest Bed. I just have one favor to ask, please don't swim naked in my swimming pool like FJRob1300 and Moosehead Mike did. I am still catching Hell from my Neighbors!

Click to expand...

Mike and Rob, good to see you two. Hope to see you again this summer.

Jer

Click to expand...

Jer, just make sure they have their swim suits. Of course for MEM - MaryEllen, swim suit optional is OK with Papa Chuy Viejo! jes' sayin' and nuff said!

Click to expand...

man oh man .... swim naked just ONE time and you're labelled for life.

Rob

Heading west this time of year I'd recommend I-10 over I-20. Both are boring as hell untill you get to where they join in West Texas. From there if you like desert scenery and stoney mountains, like I do, its a better ride. Then tie in to I-8 to San Diego. However in winter that pass could be trecherous. Your return trip further north wouldn't be on my plan, but I'm not from Canada. Was in Flagstaff last June, morning temps around 32 F. Look at the elevation in that area. Geeze its cold and snowy at those high altitudes. Good luck in any case. Hoping to read a trip report.

Bill