California and Las Vegas Motorcycle Tour

Nine days from San Francisco to Las Vegas, and almost nothing in common between the start and the finish. Eight nights, around 1,670 miles, and a route that takes in ancient redwoods, a volcanic national park, Lake Tahoe, Death Valley and a surviving stretch of Route 66.

The first half heads north, which is the unexpected part. The Golden Gate Bridge leads to Point Reyes and Mendocino, then Fort Bragg, before the route turns inland through the Avenue of the Giants, where the road runs between coast redwoods that were already old when Europeans reached California. Lassen Volcanic National Park follows, with its steaming ground and sulphur pools, then Truckee and South Lake Tahoe.

The second half heads south and gets hotter. Sonora Pass and Tioga Pass carry the route over the Sierra Nevada to Mammoth Lakes, then Bishop and Lone Pine lead down into Death Valley and Furnace Creek, the lowest point in North America. After that the Mojave National Preserve and Route 66 at Amboy, before Oatman, Kingman and the Hoover Dam bring the trip into Las Vegas.

EAGLERIDER supplies the bike and books every night, with Harley-Davidson touring models and Triumph and BMW sport machines available. Fuel, meals and insurance are arranged separately. Two of the days are long, 345 and 295 miles, and the route is planned so they fall where the roads are open and fast. Redwoods to desert in a week and a half, one way, with flights out of Las Vegas at the end.