Route Tips from Klamath Falls, OR to Davis, CA (plus computer tips)

[Arlene]

Greetings. I'm looking for route tips/hotel tips/etc. from Klamath Falls, Oregon, to Davis, California.

It's been 35 years since I trundled, fully loaded, from San Francisco to Seattle. My knees are not as young anymore, and I'm planning on taking off from Klamath Falls, Oregon (taking Amtrak there from Seattle) and bicycling with some gear but not camping/cooking gear from there to Davis, California.

I have eight days to do it, and I know leaving from Klamath means I start off with mountains/big hills. 

I'm not sure if I should stay inland and go that way to Davis or head for the coast.

However, I'd appreciate--greatly--route tips, hotel tips, etc.  I have connected with WarmShowers, so I might see what resources they have as well. 

In addition, I know I can't take my 6 pound Lenova laptop with me. Would love advice on a small, lightweight something or other that I can write on and get email on.

Thanks all.

Arlene

PS I used to be a member of Adventure Cyclist when it was Bikecentennial and I worked, gazillion years ago, for LAW, when it was LAW.

[Nyimbo]

If you want to stay on a known and mapped route, you can get yourself from Klamath Falls down hwy 97 to Intersect with the Sierra Cascades route at Weed.  After following the Sierra Cascades route south to South Lake Tahoe you can take off on the Western Express Route west and down the hill to Davis.  (I don't know the route the Western Express takes through Sacramento metro area but if you can find your way to the American River Bike Trail  -the trail starts in Folsom and goes all the way to downtown Sac with extensions all the way into Davis.)


From Klamath Falls I have only driven on hwy 97 in vehicles and to be honest I don't remember paying attention to the width of the shoulders but I suspect it is doable.  I would prefer to ride the Pacific Coast -- in fact it is my intentions to do so this August -- however I wouldn't prefer getting from  Klamath Falls over to the Cresent City.  It is quite a bit out of the way and quite a challenging ride too especially if your knees are not young anymore.


On the Sierra Cascades (Lassen National Park on the way and is great fun as is Lake Tahoe)  You will be missing Crater Lake -one of my favorite spots, by starting at Klamath Falls. 

[Arlene]

Thanks for the advice. I am new (again) to this and forgot to check this forum. I missed Crater Lake last time too: around Memorial Day, there was some 8 feet of snow piled up against the side of the road and that was all you could see.

I have to start from Klamath Falls because I have eight days to get to Davis, and as near as I can see, it's some 330 miles. It's also beastly hot there now. Yesterday, in Redding, it was 105 degrees. I think I can ride downhill in that but uphill? Nope.

Arlene

[BikeliciousBabe]

You can see U.S. 97 on Google Maps Street View. Appears to have a good shoulder to Weed.

Speaking of Weed:

https://www.redding.com/story/news/local/2019/04/19/420-pot-festival-marijuana-dispensary-weed-ca/3521343002/