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Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Route advice from Grand Canyon to Rincon Parkway (Ventura CA) (Any reason not to go North over the top of Angeles Natl Forest?)
Route advice from Grand Canyon to Rincon Parkway (Ventura CA) [message #301588] Sun, 05 June 2016 09:07 Go to next message
timthenomad   United States
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Registered: June 2015
Location: Austin, TX
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Hi All,

I've got navigator duty today. I'm sitting in the dinette typing while the wife (Stephanie) is driving us west on I-40. Feels like a great day to test out the new radiator re-core, water pump, fan clutch and recent anti vapor lock measures with a jaunt across the Mojave pulling a tracker. We got a fairly early start (Google maps says we should arrive at Ventura ~ 1:30 pm) so it might not even be over 100 when we go through.

Anyway, looking at the map it looks way shorter to go north of the Angeles National Forest. Essentially cut off I-15 and go 18 -> 138 -> 14 -> I-5 -> 126 -> Ventura. Looks way shorter, Google maps says it would be 10 minutes longer than going all the way down through San Bernardino and LA.

I'm not familiar with the area, the local mountains, or Sunday LA traffic. Any recommendations?

--tim


Tim Taylor
Austin TX
Philadelphia PA
76 Birchaven (SB)
76 Triumph TR6
Re: Route advice from Grand Canyon to Rincon Parkway (Ventura CA) [message #301592 is a reply to message #301588] Sun, 05 June 2016 09:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
gbarrow2 is currently offline  gbarrow2   United States
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Location: Lake Almanor, Ca./ Red Bl...
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Take the Google suggested route across the desert. Always best to avoid LA freeways when ever you can.
Look for roadside fruit stands around Pear Blossom and Little Rock.

If you're not in a hurry take a 5 minute side trip up 14 from 138 junction. You will drive through the San Andreas Fault. You can clearly see the fault distortions and separations in the cut bank on the east side of the highway.

Are you camping on the beach north of Ventura?

Have a safe trip.


Gene Barrow
Lake Almanor, Ca.
1976 Palm Beach
Re: Route advice from Grand Canyon to Rincon Parkway (Ventura CA) [message #301594 is a reply to message #301592] Sun, 05 June 2016 09:45 Go to previous messageGo to next message
timthenomad   United States
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Location: Austin, TX
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Hi Gene,

Yes, we are planning on camping on the Rincon Pky, or Hobson or that other park on the other end for about a week before heading up north. Google was actually suggesting to come south to the edge of LA, I was pondering if swinging North through Palmdale might be the better way to go.

--tim


Tim Taylor
Austin TX
Philadelphia PA
76 Birchaven (SB)
76 Triumph TR6
Re: Route advice from Grand Canyon to Rincon Parkway (Ventura CA) [message #301595 is a reply to message #301588] Sun, 05 June 2016 09:53 Go to previous messageGo to next message
pjburt is currently offline  pjburt   United States
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What gbarrow said. The Google route is a more visually interesting route.

Jerry Burt Fresno, CA.
73 Gmc 26' Canyon Lands
Members: FMCA - GMCMI - GMCWS
A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
Re: Route advice from Grand Canyon to Rincon Parkway (Ventura CA) [message #301596 is a reply to message #301594] Sun, 05 June 2016 09:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
timthenomad   United States
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Location: Austin, TX
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I think I see what you are saying. Take I-15 down to San Bernardino and the 101 over to Ventura. So swinging north through Palmdale not a good idea?

Tim Taylor
Austin TX
Philadelphia PA
76 Birchaven (SB)
76 Triumph TR6
Re: Route advice from Grand Canyon to Rincon Parkway (Ventura CA) [message #301597 is a reply to message #301596] Sun, 05 June 2016 10:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
gbarrow2 is currently offline  gbarrow2   United States
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Palmdale route is better. Keeps you farther from potential traffic snarls near LA.

Gene Barrow
Lake Almanor, Ca.
1976 Palm Beach
Re: [GMCnet] Route advice from Grand Canyon to Rincon Parkway (Ventura CA) [message #301598 is a reply to message #301588] Sun, 05 June 2016 10:13 Go to previous messageGo to next message
tmaki is currently offline  tmaki   United States
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Tim,

Take the north route that you've mapped out. Avoid Cajon
Pass (15 into San Bernardino). Avoid as much in-bound LA
traffic as possible. Certainly avoid the 10, 134, 101, 5 and
as many interchanges as possible. Today's temps are expected
to be in the high 90s to low 100s today in the areas through
which you'll be traveling. It's better to keep moving than
to test your radiator, pumps, patience, marriage, sanity and
your opinion about the future of civilization sitting in
stop and go LA traffic.

Ventura is too beautiful a destination to be spoiled by the
damage to your psyche dealing with it.

Hope this helps.



Toby Maki
73 Glacier 230
Riverside, CA


On 6/5/2016 7:07 AM, Tim Taylor wrote:

> looking at the map it looks way shorter to go north of the Angeles National Forest. Essentially cut off I-15 and go 18 -> 138 -> 14 -> I-5 ->
> 126 -> Ventura. Looks way shorter, Google maps says it would be 10 minutes longer than going all the way down through San Bernardino and LA.
>
> I'm not familiar with the area, the local mountains, or Sunday LA traffic. Any recommendations?

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Re: Route advice from Grand Canyon to Rincon Parkway (Ventura CA) [message #301599 is a reply to message #301594] Sun, 05 June 2016 10:21 Go to previous messageGo to next message
gbarrow2 is currently offline  gbarrow2   United States
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How far north are you going?

One of my favorite spots is at the pier area at Bay San Luis/ Avila Beach. Port Authority provides RV camping- Mostly dry camping- only about 10 spots with hook ups. Beautiful area- Camping along the bluff above the beach. Walk to cafes and restaurants if you get tired of eating your own cooking.

Pier fishing- Sport fishing boats- water toy rentals.

Google will give you more info


Gene Barrow
Lake Almanor, Ca.
1976 Palm Beach
Re: [GMCnet] Route advice from Grand Canyon to Rincon Parkway (Ventura CA) [message #301605 is a reply to message #301588] Sun, 05 June 2016 11:07 Go to previous messageGo to next message
David Gardner is currently offline  David Gardner   United States
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Tim: That’s a good choice. It’s been w while since I lived in that area, but that route is going to be better than going in closer to LA
I,m in Ventura area, and you will have a good time at the beach.
Best
Dave Gardner
Oxnard Ca
76 Birchaven


> On Jun 5, 2016, at 7:07 AM, Tim Taylor wrote:
>
> Hi All,
>
> I've got navigator duty today. I'm sitting in the dinette typing while the wife (Stephanie) is driving us west on I-40. Feels like a great day to
> test out the new radiator re-core, water pump, fan clutch and recent anti vapor lock measures with a jaunt across the Mojave pulling a tracker. We
> got a fairly early start (Google maps says we should arrive at Ventura ~ 1:30 pm) so it might not even be over 100 when we go through.
>
> Anyway, looking at the map it looks way shorter to go north of the Angeles National Forest. Essentially cut off I-15 and go 18 -> 138 -> 14 -> I-5 ->
> 126 -> Ventura. Looks way shorter, Google maps says it would be 10 minutes longer than going all the way down through San Bernardino and LA.
>
> I'm not familiar with the area, the local mountains, or Sunday LA traffic. Any recommendations?
>
> --tim
> --
> Tim Taylor
> Austin TX
> 76 Birchaven (SB)
> 76 Triumph TR6
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org


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Re: [GMCnet] Route advice from Grand Canyon to Rincon Parkway (Ventura CA) [message #301620 is a reply to message #301605] Sun, 05 June 2016 15:13 Go to previous messageGo to next message
timthenomad   United States
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Registered: June 2015
Location: Austin, TX
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Member
Looks like the new radiator didn't past the test. Blew coolant all over the windshield just East of Needles CCA (high of 118 today, but wasn't quite that hot yet) Got it shut down right away.' Once it cooled off I was able to refill it and it seems to be holding water fine. Must have just blown out the cap.

Decided it wasn't a good day to press it across the desert so we are camped on the Colorado river just east of Needles and will try again in the early, early AM this time.

--tim


Tim Taylor
Austin TX
Philadelphia PA
76 Birchaven (SB)
76 Triumph TR6
Re: [GMCnet] Route advice from Grand Canyon to Rincon Parkway (Ventura CA) [message #301624 is a reply to message #301620] Sun, 05 June 2016 16:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
tmaki is currently offline  tmaki   United States
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Registered: September 2005
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Better to find out when you're not in the hottest part of
the day, nor in what is a vast, unending, unforgiving,
desolate desert. Days like we've had for the last several
are never good days to cross the desert.

Good idea to wait until very early AM to proceed. Other than
temperature (should moderate back to normal overnight), the
same route recommendations apply. The LA "rush hour" lasts
from before 4:00 AM until about 10:00 AM, and there is very
little relief even after that. Virtually all traffic will be
in-bound. Be especially vigilant for heavy truck traffic on
a Monday morning. Truck speed limit in California is 55.
Don't be surprised if you get passed by big rigs that make
you look like you're standing still.

If you have AM radio, tune to 1070 (KNX) for up-to-date
traffic reports every ten minutes on the 5s. KNX has a
pretty big footprint and you should be able to pick it up on
the Palmdale side. Also KFI (640) is good. If you have XM,
don't mess with their traffic reports. They are rarely
updated in real time.

If you can get around LA by 5:00 AM, you'll be in good shape.


Toby Maki
73 Glacier 230
Riverside, CA


On 6/5/2016 1:13 PM, Tim Taylor wrote:
> Looks like the new radiator didn't past the test.
>
> Decided it wasn't a good day to press it across the desert

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Re: [GMCnet] Route advice from Grand Canyon to Rincon Parkway (Ventura CA) [message #301635 is a reply to message #301620] Sun, 05 June 2016 20:32 Go to previous messageGo to next message
gbarrow2 is currently offline  gbarrow2   United States
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Tim,
Are you at Park Moabi on the Cal. side of the river? if so, and if you can take the time to rent a boat and take the trip through the Topock Gorge to Lake Havasu it is a great senic trip through the desert. 120F last time I was there.


Gene Barrow
Lake Almanor, Ca.
1976 Palm Beach
Re: [GMCnet] Route advice from Grand Canyon to Rincon Parkway (Ventura CA) [message #301651 is a reply to message #301635] Sun, 05 June 2016 23:31 Go to previous messageGo to next message
timthenomad   United States
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Registered: June 2015
Location: Austin, TX
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Yep, that's the one.
http://qa.tahitiblue.com/images/GMC/camping-mobi-sm.jpg

I think that side trip will have to wait for cooler temperatures. The rest of the day was spent pretty much just sitting in the river and cowering from the sun. I though the last 20 years in Texas taught me all I needed to know about heat, but this place today was a whole new level.

--tim


Tim Taylor
Austin TX
Philadelphia PA
76 Birchaven (SB)
76 Triumph TR6
Re: Route advice from Grand Canyon to Rincon Parkway (Ventura CA) [message #301756 is a reply to message #301588] Mon, 06 June 2016 23:46 Go to previous messageGo to next message
timthenomad   United States
Messages: 63
Registered: June 2015
Location: Austin, TX
Karma: 5
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Mission Accomplished,

http://qa.tahitiblue.com/images/GMC/ventura-dm.jpg

Thank you Gene and Toby for the good advice. Had a smooth ride into Ventura. There were a couple of climbs on I-40 between Needles and Barstow that had the temperature gauge climbing pretty high, but other than that it was a nice drive.


Thank you.

--tim


Tim Taylor
Austin TX
Philadelphia PA
76 Birchaven (SB)
76 Triumph TR6
Re: Route advice from Grand Canyon to Rincon Parkway (Ventura CA) [message #301766 is a reply to message #301588] Tue, 07 June 2016 08:27 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jhbridges is currently offline  jhbridges   United States
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With regard to LA traffic. The afternoon I got to Ontario, I noticed on the way to Cousins' house, heavy westbound traffic headed to the city. Next morning, heading East out of Miguel's place in the new used coach, I noticed heavy traffic westbound towards the city. Is there a very large stack of cars someplace? I never saw many going East morning or evening.

--johnny


Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons. Braselton, Ga. I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell

[Updated on: Tue, 07 June 2016 08:28]

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Re: [GMCnet] Route advice from Grand Canyon to Rincon Parkway (Ventura CA) [message #301768 is a reply to message #301766] Tue, 07 June 2016 09:27 Go to previous messageGo to next message
tmaki is currently offline  tmaki   United States
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On 6/7/2016 6:27 AM, Johnny Bridges via Gmclist wrote:
> With regard to LA traffic. I never saw many going East morning or evening.

Since you were more than likely traveling on the 60, you
were on the periphery of the heaviest commuter traffic.
Montclair/Ontario are the beginning of the "suburbs". Most
of the east bound traffic has bled off by the time you get
there. The 10 is somewhat worse as it is the main artery to
San Bernardino and other connectors.

On the other hand, you may have just found a rare traffic
"window" -- they do exist and are truly a short-lived blessing.

The major tie-ups happen at the interchanges, and can extend
miles. I live about 4 miles from the I-15/60 interchange,
and the 10/15 is just a couple of miles north of that. Even
with 6 or 8 eight lanes in both directions, most afternoons
between 4 and 6:30, all you can see from the 10 to the 60
are brake lights. In a sane world, it shouldn't take 10 or
15 minutes to go 2 miles. But it's typical on a work day
afternoon commute. Closer in to the city, it's even worse.

I have a 160-mile-a-day commute and drive these roads every
M-F, and often on weekends. Mornings aren't too bad -- up to
two hours from my driveway to my office. Afternoons are a
dose of misery -- up to 3-1/2 to 4 hours on the home drive.
I've had a pre-holiday commute home take 7 hours. Even the
streets were impossible. Generally, in the PM, I abandon the
freeway at Pasadena and go "overland" (surface streets).
Doesn't take as long and is less stressful.

If you flew into Ontario in the daylight (and you had a
window seat), you may have noticed the tremendous buildup of
warehouse and "logistics" sites nearly all the way from
Palms Springs to Ontario (except through the "badlands").
Many millions of square feet of tilt-ups and shipping docks.
And more going up all the time. Truck traffic is predicted
to become insane.

Welcome to southern California...



Toby Maki
73 Glacier 230
Riverside, CA

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Re: [GMCnet] Route advice from Grand Canyon to Rincon Parkway (Ventura CA) [message #301770 is a reply to message #301768] Tue, 07 June 2016 09:45 Go to previous messageGo to next message
bdub is currently offline  bdub   United States
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Been there, done that. Palm Springs through San Bernadino enroute to Vegas
at around 5pm. Beautiful scenery but no time to look because of the dern
traffic! It's a madhouse!

On Tue, Jun 7, 2016 at 9:27 AM, tmaki wrote:

> On 6/7/2016 6:27 AM, Johnny Bridges via Gmclist wrote:
>
>> With regard to LA traffic. I never saw many going East morning or evening.
>>
>
> Since you were more than likely traveling on the 60, you were on the
> periphery of the heaviest commuter traffic. Montclair/Ontario are the
> beginning of the "suburbs". Most of the east bound traffic has bled off by
> the time you get there. The 10 is somewhat worse as it is the main artery
> to San Bernardino and other connectors.
>
> On the other hand, you may have just found a rare traffic "window" -- they
> do exist and are truly a short-lived blessing.
>
> The major tie-ups happen at the interchanges, and can extend miles. I live
> about 4 miles from the I-15/60 interchange, and the 10/15 is just a couple
> of miles north of that. Even with 6 or 8 eight lanes in both directions,
> most afternoons between 4 and 6:30, all you can see from the 10 to the 60
> are brake lights. In a sane world, it shouldn't take 10 or 15 minutes to go
> 2 miles. But it's typical on a work day afternoon commute. Closer in to the
> city, it's even worse.
>
> I have a 160-mile-a-day commute and drive these roads every M-F, and often
> on weekends. Mornings aren't too bad -- up to two hours from my driveway to
> my office. Afternoons are a dose of misery -- up to 3-1/2 to 4 hours on the
> home drive. I've had a pre-holiday commute home take 7 hours. Even the
> streets were impossible. Generally, in the PM, I abandon the freeway at
> Pasadena and go "overland" (surface streets). Doesn't take as long and is
> less stressful.
>
> If you flew into Ontario in the daylight (and you had a window seat), you
> may have noticed the tremendous buildup of warehouse and "logistics" sites
> nearly all the way from Palms Springs to Ontario (except through the
> "badlands"). Many millions of square feet of tilt-ups and shipping docks.
> And more going up all the time. Truck traffic is predicted to become insane.
>
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bdub
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Re: Route advice from Grand Canyon to Rincon Parkway (Ventura CA) [message #301780 is a reply to message #301588] Tue, 07 June 2016 10:40 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jhbridges is currently offline  jhbridges   United States
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Actually, I 10 to Phoenix... wasn't bad at 10A, but the other way was a joke. The last 8 years I worked, commute was 105 miles total, which I did on a commuter bus. The idea of traffic times vs pay kept me from taking several offers in Southern CA and New Yark over my career. Atlanta could be enough fun.

--johnny


Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons. Braselton, Ga. I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
Re: [GMCnet] Route advice from Grand Canyon to Rincon Parkway (Ventura CA) [message #301786 is a reply to message #301768] Tue, 07 June 2016 11:11 Go to previous messageGo to next message
A Hamilto is currently offline  A Hamilto   United States
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tmaki wrote on Tue, 07 June 2016 09:27
...In a sane world, it shouldn't take 10 or 15 minutes to go 2 miles. ...
That is exactly why I retired early from the Washington DC metro area and fled to Upper Alabama. The CFO doesn't like scraping by on the reduced income (even in a low cost-of-living area), but I couldn't stand wasting my life waiting in lines EVERY WHERE I WENT.
Re: [GMCnet] Route advice from Grand Canyon to Rincon Parkway (Ventura CA) [message #301787 is a reply to message #301780] Tue, 07 June 2016 11:21 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
tmaki is currently offline  tmaki   United States
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On 6/7/2016 8:40 AM, Johnny Bridges via Gmclist wrote:
> Actually, I 10 to Phoenix... wasn't bad at 10A,

Oh yeah, at 10 in the morning it's almost pleasant. If you
had waited 5 more hours...

> a commuter bus.

Funnily enough, I have a Metrolink station about a mile and
a half from me. It would be a workable solution, but
wouldn't save much time and would cost about the same as gas
for my car. Main benefit would be reduction in stress, and
the possibility to get some reading in or whatever.

> traffic times vs pay kept me from taking several offers in Southern CA

And to some extent, that is the driving force behind all
this traffic mess. The good jobs are closer to the coast.
All the big aerospace, automotive, electronics, media
(TV,radio, film) and other large engineering, manufacturing
and distribution concerns are in LA and Orange counties.
Affordable homes are "out here". There are 40,000 new homes
being built just 5 or 6 miles from us that start in the "low
$500,000s"). And they're being snapped up. Yup, affordable
housing. And all those 2.5 cars per home will be on the
freeways next year.

It's a trade-off. In my case, I can own a "horse property"
(not that we are "horse people" -- it's just much more
space) in a near-rural, and affordable area, and make LA
money. It's just a conscious decision to accept the time
cost, build the bank accounts (we live WAY below our means),
and look forward to when we don't have to do this any more.

Lots of people think it's crazy. In some ways I suppose it
is. But it's a calculated (and hopefully, temporary) insanity.


TM

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