Southern California - Reader Ride

Where else could one ride less than 200 miles and experience the Pacific Ocean, the mountains, and the desert, but in Southern California? Take into account that it's virtually always sunny, rains less than 45 days a year, and temperatures generally hover between 60F - 85F. Throw in some great pavement and challenging curves - some of which rival those in the French Alps - and you have a great day of riding in store.

Where else could one ride less than 200 miles and experience the Pacific Ocean, the mountains, and the desert, but in Southern California? Take into account that it's virtually always sunny, rains less than 45 days a year, and temperatures generally hover between 60F and 85F. Throw in some great pavement and challenging curves - some of which rival those in the French Alps - and you have a great day of riding in store.

Coastal Beginnings

Such were our intentions when my wife and I mounted our 2005 Suzuki V-Strom 650 and headed to Oceanside, CA, a coastal town that's approximately 40 miles north of downtown San Diego. Once in Oceanside, we ride directly to one of the longest wooden structures on the west coast; the Oceanside Municipal Pier spans 1,942 feet. You can walk the distance and literally be surrounded by ocean, listening to the roar of waves crashing, gulls calling out overhead, and watching surfers sway across the swells. Here, with the smell of salt heavy in the air, we begin our day trip across Southern California, eager for our next stop: Palomar Mountain.