Getting sent on a work trip to exhibit at a tradeshow can sometimes be a chore. But when the trip is to California, and there’s an opportunity to tag a few days’ holiday on the end, it can be a real bonus. So, after a busy week working the show in San Diego, I took the chance to rent a Harley Davidson from Eagle Rider and explore the surrounding areas of Palm Springs and the Joshua Tree National Park.
My plan was as follows:
- Day 1: Pick up the Harley from Eagle Rider, San Diego, then head East to Mount Laguna, then work North to Borrego Springs, and spend the night in Palm Springs.
- Day 2: A loop through the Joshua Tree National Park, starting on the North side by Yucca Valley, then coming out on the South side. Finally, a pit stop at Sky Valley and return to Palm Springs for the night.
- Day 3: From Palm Springs, heading South through Mount San Jacinto State Park and then back to San Diego to drop the bike off.
The bike I rented was a Harley Davidson Road Glide. Primarily because Eagle Rider had a great out-of-season deal on, and only Harleys were available that week. I’ve ridden a few Hogs before, but this was a particularly big and heavy one. In all honesty, I found it a bit too big and heavy. I managed to drop it at a stoplight, 10 minutes after picking it up, and wow, it was a pig to pick up at just over 420kg! I found the handlebars quite high, and the clutch was very heavy; combined, this made riding all day very tiresome. I stalled it regularly on the first day, which then necessitated a minute or two waiting for the dash computer and sat nav to boot up again…
As the trip went on, I did get more accustomed to it. I do like the low-down torque and grunt these big Hogs have, such fun to pull you through all the twists and turns. Albeit with the constant reminder to take it easy as the food boards keep scraping on the bends… However, I was never 100% comfortable with it at low speed or when coming to a stop. Needless to say, it won’t be on my shopping list.
However, the star of this adventure was the stunning Southern California landscape. A beautiful mix of pine forests, snow-capped mountains, desert and stunning rock formations. Much of it so quiet, away from all the city buzz, where one can be at peace with nature.
Day 1
I took Route 8 out of San Diego, then peeled off up to Mount Laguna, which was amazing, a beautiful climb up through pine wood forest with a smattering of snow left on the verges. Unsure of the area, I was a little apprehensive about just how much ice and snow I’d encounter, but the sun was out, the roads were clear, and it was fine. I stopped in at The Outpost by Valley Farm for lunch – a much-needed yummy pulled pork sandwich. A highly recommended pitstop.
I then continued North and descended into the Borrego Springs desert, where the climate was dramatically different, hot, dry and super sandy. Borrego Springs is famous for many massive iron sculptures of animals and dinosaurs by the local artist Ricardo Breceda. Such fun riding around the outskirts of the town and finding these huge creatures looming in the surrounding desert.
I continued North through the San Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains, a lovely route climbing high before coming back down into the Palm Springs valley. I just managed to roll into town as the sun went down and darkness set in, riding through the lit-up city to my motel.
Total distance: 222 miles.
Day 2
Refreshed after a good night’s rest, I grabbed breakfast in a nearby coffee shop, who seemed perplexed at my request for a musili pot with cold milk! From Palm Springs, I went North along Route 62 to Yucca Valley to enter the Joshua Tree National Park at the North entrance. From there, I worked my way South through the park, exploring the odd side road along the way, before coming out at the Southern exit.
The Joshua Tree park was a stunning place to visit, with lots of desert, sand and rock formations. Far too many to explore them all in a day, but I did manage to have a couple of short walks around some nearby to the road. There was only so much hiking in the hot desert under the sun you can do in motorcycle clobber! Nonetheless, I did check some of the more famous rock formations, like Skull Rock and Arch Rock.
Along the way, I climbed up to Keys View, where one could see for miles to the South into the Coachella rift valley. Curiously, there were patches of snow on the high ground, not what I was expecting for a desert! It was a good time to visit, the park was not particularly busy with minimal traffic, the weather was beautiful and still plenty hot in the sun, with the high ground offering a pleasant coolness.
In the evening, I returned to Palm Springs via Sky Valley to pay homage to one of my favourite metal bands, Kyuss! Of course, taking a pic in front of the famous sign from their album cover (albeit the sign has since been replaced since the one on their album).
Day 3
For my final day, I had to blitz back to San Diego to drop the Harley off and dash to a 6 pm flight back to the UK. So, I was up early, grabbed a quick breakfast at a local coffee shop, then headed west to Banning before taking the Route 243 scenic mountain climb up into the San Jacinto Reserve. A beautiful road that twists and turns through stunning pine forests. The sky was perfectly blue, the sun out, but the temperature dropped greatly as I ascended. Snow lined the roadsides, but thankfully, the pavement was nicely cleared. I stopped for a walk at Lake Fulmor, which was almost entirely frozen over, not that it deterred some fisherman!
I continued South, finally settling into the Road Glide’s handling, getting more comfortable to tip over through bends, footboards scraping with abandon! Many others were out enjoying the route, bikers and car enthusiasts alike. I caught up with a group in Alfa Romeos, making the most of the day.
In the afternoon, time was pushing on, so I cut the fun route short, turned off at Aguanga to catch Route 15 down to Eagle Rider, San Diego. The Harley was, of course, perfectly at home blatting down the freeway and perfectly capable of lane splitting where traffic built up (yes, it’s legal in California).
Looking Back
It was a great adventure, it worked out well to tag on the end of a work trip. It did mean lugging all my bike and work stuff around for the week, easy enough with my big Lomo dry bag Rok-Strapped across the Harley’s panniers. Basing myself out of Palm Springs for 2 nights, let me leave much of my luggage for my day around Joshua Tree Park which helped.
The wide variety of climates and altitudes called for some careful selection of gear. Multiple pairs of gloves and many layers to add or strip off as needed. However, I wish I had taken better headgear to wear in the desert to shade myself from the sun when off the bike. I ended up using my neck gaiter as a makeshift head scarf to shield myself!
I’m also done with renting Harleys; this Road Glide was just too big and too much hard work for comfort, and of limited fun on the twisty bends. Nothing against Eagle Rider, from whom I rented this Harley; their service was impeccable, and they will remain my first choice for motorcycle rental in the future. However, next time, I’ll just be renting a different bike!
