Traveling Woodpecker

United States / 2022

March 12–19, 2022 · Motorcycle ride

Las Vegas to Napa Valley

From Las Vegas through Death Valley and down US-395 under the Sierra, to the coast at Santa Barbara, up through Paso Robles and Monterey to wine country at Sonoma, and a last day by Calistoga, Bodega Bay and Sausalito into San Francisco.

miles planned
1,060
riding days
7
states
2
Route map of the ride
Las Vegas through Death Valley and down US-395, then up the coast to wine country and San Francisco.

States

Nevada, California

Day 1 · Sat, Mar 12

Las Vegas, NV Olancha, CA

West from Las Vegas through Death Valley to US-395 under the Sierra, and a night in a teepee at Olancha.

By way of

  • Death Valley National Park
Las Vegas before the ride
Las Vegas before the ride
Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park
The teepees at Olancha
The teepees at Olancha
Inside the teepee
Inside the teepee
A Mammoth Brewing 395 IPA
A Mammoth Brewing 395 IPA
The cafe at Olancha
The cafe at Olancha
Olancha Cafe at dusk
Olancha Cafe at dusk

Day 2 · Sun, Mar 13

Olancha, CA Santa Barbara, CA

South down US-395 and over to the coast at Santa Barbara.

Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara
Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara
The Eagle Inn, Santa Barbara
The Eagle Inn, Santa Barbara
The garden at the Eagle Inn
The garden at the Eagle Inn
Wine tasting in Santa Barbara
Wine tasting in Santa Barbara

Day 3 · Mon, Mar 14

Santa Barbara, CA Paso Robles, CA

Up through Atascadero to Paso Robles wine country.

Atascadero City Hall
Atascadero City Hall
Paso Robles Inn
Paso Robles Inn
Spring blossoms in Paso Robles
Spring blossoms in Paso Robles
Downtown Paso Robles
Downtown Paso Robles
The town square, Paso Robles
The town square, Paso Robles
The tasting menu at Diablo Paso
The tasting menu at Diablo Paso
Tasting at Diablo Paso
Tasting at Diablo Paso

Overnight

Paso Robles Inn

Day 4 · Tue, Mar 15

Paso Robles, CA Bay Area, CA

North on Highway 1 along the Big Sur coast and past Monterey to the Bay Area.

By way of

  • Big Sur
  • Monterey
The Big Sur coast
The Big Sur coast
Bixby Bridge, Big Sur
Bixby Bridge, Big Sur
Pulled over above the Pacific
Pulled over above the Pacific
Dinner with friends
Dinner with friends

Day 5 · Wed, Mar 16

Bay Area, CA Sonoma, CA

Into the wine country around Sonoma.

A winery on the way into Sonoma
A winery on the way into Sonoma
Vineyards outside Sonoma
Vineyards outside Sonoma
The Sonoma Hotel
The Sonoma Hotel
The room at the Sonoma Hotel
The room at the Sonoma Hotel
Around the Sonoma Plaza
Around the Sonoma Plaza
A cheese board in Sonoma
A cheese board in Sonoma
You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy wine
You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy wine

Overnight

Sonoma Hotel

Day 6 · Thu, Mar 17

Sonoma, CA Bodega Bay, CA

Up to Calistoga, then west to the coast at Bodega Bay.

By way of

  • Calistoga
  • Bodega Bay
Calistoga
Calistoga
A glass of red at a tasting room
A glass of red at a tasting room
Bodega Bay Winery
Bodega Bay Winery

Day 7 · Fri, Mar 18

Bodega Bay, CA San Francisco, CA

Over the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco and returning the bike, then an afternoon in North Beach.

By way of

  • Sausalito
The Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge
Returning the bike at San Francisco Harley-Davidson
Returning the bike at San Francisco Harley-Davidson
Lunch in North Beach
Lunch in North Beach
The wine wall
The wine wall
Stella Pastry & Cafe, North Beach
Stella Pastry & Cafe, North Beach
Cappuccino and biscotti at Stella
Cappuccino and biscotti at Stella

After the ride · Sat, Mar 19

San Francisco

A cable car ride and a long lunch at Cotogna.

A cable car on Powell Street
A cable car on Powell Street
The pasta menu at Cotogna
The pasta menu at Cotogna
Today’s family meal at Cotogna
Today’s family meal at Cotogna
Pappardelle at Cotogna
Pappardelle at Cotogna
The wood-fired grill at Cotogna
The wood-fired grill at Cotogna
Fried chicken at Cotogna
Fried chicken at Cotogna
Dessert wine and grappa
Dessert wine and grappa
Dessert at Cotogna
Dessert at Cotogna