Southwestern US tour

[SilverST]

Looking for advice on a long slow tour starting in Houston. I probably will head for Big Bend and then into Arizona, New Mexico and possibly southern Cal, Las Vegas and where ever its warm enough to camp. I am OK with riding and camping in temps down to 40F but havent done much below that.
I need travel tips (good to go places) and weather advice,etc. I plan to leave Houston late November and need to be back home in WV by the end of February. :D Thanks, Joe

[Mellow]

Joshua Tree NP is pretty cool... work your way up through the Sequoia and Kings Canyon parks if you can.

[SilverST]

Thanks, Joe, I'll put them on the "list".

[fredric]

Be sure to see Carlsbad Caverns, they are right on your way. Do the walk-in entrance. Also, ride via Cloudcroft to White Sands.

[SilverST]

Thanks for the suggestions. I made it to Carlsbad a couple of years ago but wimped out and used the elevator entrance. I may go back and walk in. I also saw White Sands, beautiful. I tried to get on the Air Force base but was denied entrance. My feelings were hurt because even though I'm not a veteran, I do support the military, continuously, with my tax dollars.......and my Dad fought in the S Pacific (Marines).

[fredric]

Don't feel bad. I also was refused entrance at Holloman AFB, and I am retired military. My problem was I wasn't wearing an orange reflective vest.

[SilverST]

Yes, I will get over that rejection. I'm starting to suspect that my trip may be a cold one for the time of year that I am leaving. I guess I will take my e-vest and e-gloves. I really like to ride in the mountains the most but that will be where the cooler temps are. I have heard that winter is a good time to visit Big Bend and I look forward to that park.

[bigTom]

How much time will you spend in SoAZ/SoCal? You really can ride big chunks of AZ all year round, but you will need to check local conditions north of I-10. That said:

The mountain roads in SoCal are great and open year round. I have ridden in the cold, but a couple days later it was wonderful. I am thinking 94, 78, 79, S2 (San Diego County) and others that are interconnected. You can no doubt schedule a trip up Mt Palomar, one of the best technical MC roads on earth. I have parked in the parking lot for the observatory when it was full of snow, and the road and weather were beautiful.

Arizona can be less forgiving. A lot of days in the winter we have the high and the low temps for the contiguous states. Salt River Canyon, Highway 60. 89A and 89 into and out of Prescott should be do able, both great roads. I don't guess 191 or the Grand Canyon are in your winter purview.

I hope you will be 'wired' so you can stay in touch with us 'locals' and we can perhaps guide you along. Maybe even ride with a bit. There is tons of good camping, from State and Private parks to National Forrest free and low cost campgrounds, to BLM stealth and NFS stealth. Lots and lots of places to see and do that are probable much of the time frame that you have...

[SilverST]

How much time will you spend in SoAZ/SoCal? I'm pretty flexible and don't have a fixed schedule. I would say I can spend two weeks in each location (SoCal, AZ, NM, TX)The mountain roads in SoCal are great and open year round. I have ridden in the cold, but a couple days later it was wonderful. I am thinking 94, 78, 79, S2 (San Diego County) and others that are interconnected. You can no doubt schedule a trip up Mt Palomar, one of the best technical MC roads on earth. I have parked in the parking lot for the observatory when it was full of snow, and the road and weather were beautiful. This is the kind of info and advice I'm looking for and will try to do this area.
Arizona can be less forgiving. A lot of days in the winter we have the high and the low temps for the contiguous states. Salt River Canyon, Highway 60. 89A and 89 into and out of Prescott should be do able, both great roads. I don't guess 191 or the Grand Canyon are in your winter purview.

I hope you will be 'wired' so you can stay in touch with us 'locals' and we can perhaps guide you along. Maybe even ride with a bit. I would like this too, I will probably be lightly wired (phone and email only at this point)There is tons of good camping, from State and Private parks to National Forrest free and low cost campgrounds, to BLM stealth and NFS stealth. Lots and lots of places to see and do that are probable much of the time frame that you have...
Thanks Big Tom