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Home  /  Blog  /  Bakersfield to Portland, April 26, 2015
california highway 1
27 April 2015

Bakersfield to Portland, April 26, 2015

Written by Steve Johnson
Blog 1 Comment

Sash and I left Bakersfield, CA on April 13, embarking on the longest stretch of Road Pickle 2015, riding north along the Pacific Coast for 8 days with the ultimate destination of Portland, OR.

We spent nights in Santa Cruz, CA, Ukiah, CA, Klamath, CA, Coos Bay, OR, and Corvallis, OR, before finally reaching our hotel here in the City of Roses.

The entire distance ran nearly a 1,000 miles.

What you notice along the way is the change in topography and weather as you ride from the farm fields of the San Joaquin Valley to the Redwoods of Northern California, and the rocky coastline of Oregon. Industry changes from oil wells of Kettleman City, CA to grapevines of San Juan Valley, fishing along Eureka, CA, and coastal tourism along the Oregon coast.

We got stop at the place where James Dean made his final stop before crashing to his death.

Cultural changes is a big component too. Sash and I feasted on some really good tacos in Coalinga. But we also got some great “Fries with Eyes” in Pescadero, and some killer clam chowder in Gold Beach, OR.

There was some really great riding along Airline Highway (CA-25) through Central California, and Alsea Highway (OR-34) through Siuslaw National Forest.

Along the way, Sash got to reconnect with her old high school friend Cindy Cruz, and we also got to have dinner with fellow motorcycle bloggers Trobairitz and Troubador.

Sash was rather cold along the entire route, though she put on layers of clothes. It got really windy along the Oregon Coast, and then suddenly heated up when we headed inland to Corvallis.

We spent 7 days already here in Portland, tomorrow we’re headed further north to Seattle for a couple of weeks.

springhill suites bakersfield
The morning we left our hotel in Bakersfield, CA
sash walker
Sash took this selflie of her riding down Highway 33 through California
motorcycle highway 33 california
Riding north along Highway 33 outside Lost Hills, CA
motorcycle california highway
Riding down Highway 58 west of Bakersfield, CA
blackwells corner ca
Blackwells Corner is where James Dean made his last stop before dying minutes later.
airline highway 25
Riding down the Airline Highway (CA-25) through Central California
mp3 player helmet
Sash has her MP3 player velcroed to the back of her helmet
mexican food
We stopped for lunch at El Michoacano Restaurant in Coalinga, CA
sash and cindy
Sash’s friends Cindy & Wanda let us stay overnight at their home in Santa Cruz.
lighthouse california
Parked at Pigeon Point Lighthouse along the Cabrillo Highway 1 in California
lighthouse sash
Sash poses at Pigeon Point Lighthouse along the Cabrillo Highway
fries with eyes
Fries with Eyes are deep fried smelt, at Duarte’s Tavern in Pescadero, CA
california highway 1
California Highway 1 offers a great view of the Calfornia Coast near Half Moon Bay
motorcycle golden gate bridge
Sash rides her motorcycle across Golden Gate Bridge for the first time.
eel river cafe
We had lunch at Eel River Cafe in Garberville, CA
garberville ca
Our bikes parked in downtown Garberville, CA
chandelier tree
Sash rides her bike throuhe Chandelier Tree in Northern California.
nimbus motorcycle
We found this old Nimbus Motorcycle parked next to our bikes in Klamath, CA
casino restaurant klamath ca
Sash and I had dinner at the casino in Klamath, CA
california coast
Sash look out across the Pacific Ocean at High Bluff Overlook near Klamath, CA
country club bar and grill klamath ca
Having a beer at Country Club Bar & Grill in Klamath, CA
coastal drive klamath ca
Riding along Coastal Drive near Klamath, CA
grizzly bear statue klamath ca
This grizzly bear statue greets visitors to Redwood National Forest near Klamath, CA
paul bunyan statue at trees of mystery
Sash wanted her photo with Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox.
california highway 101
Riding along Highway 101 through Northern California
del norte redwoods
Riding Highway 101 through the Del Norte Redwoods
california oregon border
Sash rides her motorcycle into Oregon for the first time.
chowder house gold beach
The Chowder House in Gold Beach, OR offers great clam chowder on a cold day.
sash bikers
Sash spoke with a couple of bikers at Chowder House in Gold Beach, OR
super 8 coos bay oregon
Leaving our motel room at Super 8 in Coos Bay, OR
coos bay bridge
RIding across the Coos Bay Bridge
heceta head lighthouse motorcycles
Sash and I pose with our motorcycles near Heceta Head Lighthouse
heceta head lighthouse
Heceta Head Lighthouse north of Florence, OR
ixtapa mexican restaurant florence oregon
Had lunch at Ixtapa Mexican Restaurant in Florence, OR
motorcycle coastline
Parked along a picnic spot along the Oregon Coast.
asphalt annie
Asphalt Annie loves the view of the ocean.
sash on the beach
Sash takes her last walk along the beach before riding inland.
dripping water beach
A small waterfall drips water off a cliff along the Oregon Coast
alsea highwaqy
The Alsea Highway (OR-34) offers alternate route between Waldsport and Corvallis
motorcycle bloggers
We met with Troubador and Trobairitz in Corvallis, OR
nolan motorcycle helmet
Sash takes a selfie while riding through Oregon
99W Highway Oregon
Highway 99W through Oregon provides an alternate route towards Portland
tinas cafe dundee
Sash had to get her photo at Tina’s Cafe in Dundee, OR
dobbes winery dundee
We visited the tasting room at Dobbes Winery in Dundee, OR
driver flipping finger
This guy hated the way we were riding so he flipped the bird at us.
residence inn portland
Finally arrived at our hotel in Portland.

Steve Johnson
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Having first started riding in 1985 on a Kawasaki KZ400, Steve has ridden all across the United States and Canada. He currently travels full time on his Honda ST1300, living wherever he can find a friendly roof. Follow him on, "Motorcycle Philosophy".

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1 Comment

  1. George F Reply
    April 27, 2015 at 8:18 pm

    Great photos and I’m jealous I’m not riding those roads again. I loved the northern California coast, the Chandelier tree, the Redwoods, Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. I love the photo of Sash at High Bluff Overlook near Klamath. I wish I had know about Troubador and Trobairitz when I did my cross country trip. Hope to meet them one day.

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I'm a "Man in Black", one of those guys who goes around dressed in black suits, looking for people who were abducted by UFOs so that we can keep them quiet. Sash and I travel around in this trailer awaiting orders from headquarters for my next assignment. I can't show you the details of my work, but I can show you how I live.

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