ARRIVAL DAY IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

Non-motorcyclists also welcome to join us in our support vehicle OR how about a self-drive
automobile (Mustang, Camaro or something else) of your choice?

                             ARRIVAL DAY IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
13 October 2020. Day 1: (Tuesday)
Touchdown at San Francisco airport. Make your own way to the group hotel in San Francisco. Check in at
the hotel is between 3pm and 10pm and Mike and/or Angela will be there to greet you during those hours.
Depending on your arrival time you may like to do a bit of exploring in this vibrant city, or maybe you want
to just catch up on some sleep before your adventure starts.
Overnight in San Francisco.

                          24 HOURS IN SAN FRANCISCO                                                   (B,D)
14 October 2020. Day 2: (Wednesday)
After breakfast Mike and Angela will lead the group on a walk around the area near our hotel. Of course we
will have to take an obligatory ride on the famous San Francisco Cable Car. In the afternoon there will be
free time for you to do what you want – maybe take be a visit to the infamous Alcatraz Island the former
federal prison. Later in the evening we will celebrate (but not too much) the start of our By The Backroads
adventure with a meet and greet of our group members and a delicious dinner.
Overnight in San Francisco.

SAN FRANCISCO TO YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK                                     (B,D)
15 October 2020. Day 3: (Thursday)     300KM
First up we’ll collect our motorbikes, check them over, and fill out paperwork. After a Riders Briefing we’re
on our way. Our route from San Francisco to Yosemite includes parts of scenic Hwy 120 with views of the
Stanislaus National Forest. We will pass through regions with fruit and almond orchards, small agricultural
towns, fruit stands, and ranches. Then we will travel through Big Oak Flat and the old gold mining town of
Groveland.
Our destination today is Yosemite National Park in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. It’s famed for its
giant, ancient sequoia trees, and for Tunnel View, the iconic vista of towering Bridalveil Fall and the granite
cliffs of El Capitan and Half Dome. Our accommodation is set in its own small valley with a stream and has
highly regarded restaurant. Dinner is included tonight.
Overnight on the outskirts of Yosemite National Park

                              YOSEMITE TO SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK                                     (B)
16 October 2020. Day 4: (Friday)       285KM
We travel from the Yosemite region to Sequoia National Park nestled within the same Sierra Mountains as
Yosemite. Sequoia National Park is notable for its giant sequoia trees, including the General Sherman tree,
the largest tree on Earth. The park preserves a landscape that still resembles the southern Sierra Nevada
before Euro-American settlement. Sequoia's backcountry offers a vast expanse of high-alpine wonders.
Overnight near Sequoia National Park.

                             SEQUOIA TO DEATH VALLEY                                         (B)
17 October 2020. Day 5: (Saturday) 450KM
Our route today is dependent on the weather but we hope to be able to go over Sherman Pass which is a
high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.804m. Lots of twists and turns make this an interesting ride. Fingers
crossed that we get there before the snow.
Our destination is ‘Death Valley’ whose name originated from the 1849 emigrants bound for California’s gold
field. They strayed into the 120-mile long basin, enduring a two-month ordeal of “hunger and thirst and an
awful silence.” One of the last to leave looked down from the mountain and said, “Good-bye, Death Valley.
Known for extremes, Death valley is North America’s driest and hottest location with less than two inches of
rainfall annually and a record high of 56C. At 86 metres below sea level it has the lowest elevation on the
continent.
Overnight at Death Valley.

                              DEATH VALLEY TO JUNE LAKE                                   (B)
18 October 2020. Day 6: (Sunday)        395KM
Tucked away at the base of 10,909-ft Carson Peak, June Lake region is known for its scenic, winding road. For
roughly 24 kilometres, the road winds past a series of sparkling glacial lakes, all encircled by crooked peaks
that scrape the skies. The area has been attracting outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers dating back to
Hollywood's discovery of June Lake in the 1920's.
Overnight at June Lake.

JUNE LAKE TO SIERRA CITY                                    (B)
19 October 2020. Day 7: (Monday)              306KM
Today on route to Sierra City we pass Mono Lake - a unique place with fascinating geological features. We
will take a side trip to Bodie State Historic Park – a genuine California gold-mining ghost town where once a
population of almost 10,000 lived. A small segment of the town has survived and is preserved in a state of
‘arrested decay’ complete with interiors as they were left and stocked with goods. Our overnight destination
is Sierra City which with a population of only around 300 people (or less) is not a city at all! The main
industry here is tourism.
Overnight at Sierra City

                             SIERRA CITY TO MT. LASSEN VOLCANIC PARK                                   (B)
20 October 2020. Day 8: (Tuesday)         180KM
Heading to the Lassen region we will pass through some scenic countryside including working ranches, and
small towns like Graeagle and Quincy. We will ride alongside Indian Creek and the west shore of Lake
Almanor. Lassen is situated in the north-eastern corner of California and has been described as “The West’s
most beautiful, least visited wonderland.” The dominant feature of the park is Lassen Peak, the largest plug
dome volcano in the world and the southernmost volcano in the Cascade Range. Geology buffs may be
interested to know that Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of the few areas in the world where all four
types of volcano can be found—plug dome, shield, cinder cone, and stratovolcano.
Overnight at Childs Meadows ( near Lassen Volcanic Park)

                                 MT LASSEN TO FERNDALE                                                (B,D)
21 October 2020. Day 9: (Wednesday)          330KM
Travelling west toward the Pacific Coast we will spend most of the day on Highway 36 which is generally
considered to be the best motorcycle road in California and possibly the West Coast. There are nearly 2000
corners in 225 kilometres (yes someone counted!). We will overnight in Ferndale which is known for its
well-preserved Victorian architecture -often used as a movie set. Dinner tonight is at the private Ingomar
Club in nearby Eureka. The club is based in the Carson Mansion, one of the most notable examples of
Victorian architecture in the United States. Access is by invitation only (they famously declined a request
from an American President but won’t tell us which one). We are fortunate that the innkeeper at our
Ferndale accommodation is a member and has arranged for us all to dine there so some fancier threads are
required for this dinner!
Overnight in Ferndale

FERNDALE TO MENDOCINO                                                    (B)
22 October 2020. Day 10: (Thursday)      250KM
Our route from Ferndale to Mendocino takes in The Lost Coast a mostly natural and undeveloped area of
the California North Coast in Humboldt and Mendocino Counties. It was named the "Lost Coast" after the
area experienced depopulation in the 1930s. The King Range mountains which dramatically plunge into the
sea were what deterred road-builders from continuing State Route 1 along the ocean. The Lost Coast is
California's only coastal wilderness, where no development or major roads come near the ocean.
With its dramatic ocean-bluff setting overlooking a steel-blue sea, the coastal hamlet of Mendocino is an
obvious magnet for artists, romantics, and lovers of anything wild and untamed.
This tucked-away seaside village wasn’t always so charmingly peaceful: during the height of the logging
boom in the mid- to late-1800s, Mendocino was a thriving port filled with raucous hotels and saloons. When
the timber industry declined in the 1930s, artisans and craftspeople moved in, and soon tourism became the
main source of commerce.
Overnight in Mendocino.

                           MENDOCINO TO RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY                                              (B)
23 October 2020. Day 11: (Friday) 160KM
Heading south following the Pacific Ocean, then inland on to the Russian River region and its famed
wineries. We expect to arrive at our accommodation with time to visit a couple of wineries. There are 40
famed Russian River/Sonoma wineries within a 30-minute drive. We will organise transport so we can
sample the wines without having to worry about riding or driving.
Overnight at Guerneville/Russian River

                             RUSSIAN RIVER TO SAN FRANCISCO                                             (B,D)
24 October 2020. Day 12: (Saturday)   285KM
Our last day on the motorbikes as we head back via the coastal road and may be fortunate enough to see
migrating whales. Approaching San Francisco we will cross the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. It is time to return
the motorbikes and check into our hotel rooms. Tonight it is time to celebrate our tour with a farewell dinner.
Overnight in San Francisco.

                             SAN FRANCISCO - Final Day                                                   (B)
25 October 2020. Day 13: (Sunday)
Our tour finishes this morning. Breakfast is included. It’s time to pack your bags and make your way to the
airport in preparation for your onward flights. Have as safe journey home and THANK YOU for joining us in
Northern California.

What is included*

   ●   12 nights accommodation based on sharing Twin/Double.
   ●   Breakfast each morning
   ●   Welcome and Farewell dinner and other meals as per the tour itinerary
   ●   Motorbike rental. See the available models below.
   ●   Accompanying tour vehicle for non-riders and luggage
   ●   Personally guided by Angela and Mike

Excluded Services:

   ●   International and domestic flights
   ●   Petrol for Motorbike
   ●   Road Tolls
   ●   Airport transfers
   ●   USA Entry Visa
   ●   Other meals and snacks not included in itinerary

COST

Rider – NZ$10995*
Non Rider or Van passenger – NZ$8995

Motorcycles included in Rider price* as above:
Suzuki V-Strom 650, Kawasaki Versy 650, Honda Shadow 750, Harley Sportster 1200,
Triumph Truxton 868, Yamaha MT07.

Level # 1 Upgrades available to these motorcycles; BMW700GS, Ducati Monster 696,
BMW850GS, Yamaha Tracer900, Triumph Tiger 800, Honda Africa Twin 1000, Harley Street
Bob. *Plus NZ$799

Level # 2 Upgrades available to these motorcycles; BMW1200GS, BMW1250GS,
BMWS1000XR, KTM1090R Adventure. *Plus NZ$999

Top Box: additional NZ$150 for the duration of the tour. Top Box option is not available on
some models – please ask us.

NB There are limited numbers of most models. Motorcycles will be distributed on a first
come basis and we suggest you have a second and third choice.

Self-drive: Mustang, Camaro …or ? Contact us for a price.
Mike 021 2849047. Email adventure@bythebackroads.com