So we are in sunny ( :D) warm dry California. I-5 is closed until further notice (as I understand). We have a friend in the CHP (he flies a helicopter for the CHP). So we will get his advice, but I thought I would check here. I don't think we have any other option, but to run up the coast.
We are heading north out of Burbank (LA). We will be heading to Sacramento and we have to be there Friday pm. We were going to use highway 14, but I don't know whether that is closed too. Does anybody have a site that tells what the road conditions are?
Any other advice or tips?
Thanks.
God bless,
John
where are you now? why is 5 closed and try 99 up the center of the state right into sacto town
Check with the DOT. They should have some sort of site. Way things are going you might just have to sit tight and wait it out.
http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi (http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi)
Desi, we are in LA right now. Grapevine is closed right now....once we are around grapevine, we are set.
Thanks, Ed. I haven't scoured their sight, but from what I saw they didn't have a real good map...I will double check.
God bless,
John
PS, thanks Desi..
I just looked at site said I-5 closed due to snow and 14 open..
99 may be safer though? or do you have to go over the grapevine to get there?
No need to stay on the coast. If you take 101, you'll start out on the coast, but move inland at SLO. You can cross over to the central valley on 46 or 41. Or you can stay on 101 to San Jose (our old stomping grounds), then take 680 east all the way around the bay to I-80, which will take you right into sack-o-tomatoes. However, I just heard there are mudslides in Santa Barbara, so check the 101 conditions before you depart.
The other option is to head east, and take I-15. Once you're over the Cajon pass, take US-395 north to Four Corners, then turn left onto CA-58 through Mojave. You'll have to cross the Tehachapi, which might have some snow, but it is rarely closed. 58 will take you to 99 which will take you to Sac.
Either way, it is a long way around. The grapevine is seldom closed for long; it will probably be faster to just wait for them to open it.
We've done all those roads dozens if not hundreds of times; shout if you need further. The state reports all those roads as open and unrestricted right now.
-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com (http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com)
Quote from: desi arnaz on January 21, 2010, 02:45:40 PM
99 may be safer though? or do you have to go over the grapevine to get there?
Sorry to say, 99 does not start until north of the Grapevine.
-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com (http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com)
Quote from: robertglines1 on January 21, 2010, 02:37:02 PM
I just looked at site said I-5 closed due to snow and 14 open..
I would expect 14 from Santa Clarita to Palmdale to be wall-to-wall traffic. That will be the route the CHiPs will be diverting grapevine traffic.
If you do take 14, don't try to cross back on 138 to Gorman, as 5 may be closed in that stretch. Stay on 14 all the way to Mojave and then turn left on 58 to 99.
-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com (http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com)
I'd stay on 101 until SLO like Sean suggested. If you are going further north than Sac, then look me up...gets pretty ugly after Redding.
John -
Come up I-5 to LA, then pick up US 101 NB all the way to Paso Robles, which is just north of San Luis Obispo (SLO).
In Paso, take the Fresno/Bakersfield exit onto Highway 41/46 east.
Just east of Cholame (where James Dean was killed), take the Hiway 41/Fresno split.
After crossing the pass (all of 1700 ft, but with one really good pull that will drop you a gear or two), pick up I-5 NB again at Kettleman City.
This route will add approximately 2.5 hours to your travel time from SD > Sacratomato, so plan accordingly.
OTOH, if you're not leaving until the wee hours of Friday, the weather forecast is for clearing skies tonight, so the Grapevine may be open tomorrow morning.
If you come thru Fresno on Hiway 99, give me a holler and I'll buy the Pepsi if you want to take a break. Five Five Nine, Two Six Zero, 4106 is my cell number.
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
John -
Gotta go to plan C!
During the time it took me to write out & post the above message, CalTrans put up a message that Hiway 41 is now closed between 46 & 33, due to a rock slide.
So, if I-5 isn't open later tonight or in the morning, then stay on 101 to either Hollister (taking 156/152) east to I-5, or San Jose, picking up 680 like Sean suggested.
Be glad you're traveling in a bus - there's wind advisories up & down the state for trailers & RVs.
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
Thanks a lot, guys. Very, very helpful. I think we are going to hope to be able to get through. They are escorting people through there, now, and my guess is that they might open it...but we will see. Sean, thanks for the posts...they helped a lot.
RJ, thanks. Looks like we are planning on camping at the WM parking lot in Santa Clarita. We then have the option of cutting over to 101, or going up on I-5. What did you mean by the wind advisory? Does that mean that in some places they are parking the RV's? If so, we are titled as an RV...what does that mean? Does that mean that we would be beached too?
Thanks again,
God bless,
John
John -
"TRAVEL IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CAMPERS, TRAILERS OR PERMIT LOADS"
This is what CalTrans is saying - this primarily applies to S&S rigs, 5th wheels, pull-trailers, 18-wheelers pulling empty box trailers and permit loads. Doesn't apply to buses, which is what you're driving, even though it's titled as a housecar. Here's where being in a bus has a huge advantage over the other forms of RVs.
In all my years of pounding the pavement professionally, I never heard of CalTrans restricting buses during poor weather. Only when they closed the roads to all traffic were buses delayed. (I've got a couple of really good, real life, "war stories" about this. . .)
Santa Clarita is a good decision point for tomorrow morning after breakfast.
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
Quote from: John316 on January 21, 2010, 05:48:16 PM
... Looks like we are planning on camping at the WM parking lot in Santa Clarita.
Overnight parking is not permitted at either Wal-Mart in Santa Clarita. No matter what the manager says, the cops can evict you. The nearby Camping World is also No Overnight Parking.
There is an Elks lodge with hookups plus dry parking, if you are an Elk. Otherwise, anywhere around that area, you will be looking at commercial options.
We have relatives in Santa Clarita, so we are there often -- we know whereof we speak.
-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com (http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com)
Ouch, Thanks Sean.
So what do you think we should do? The gal at WM said that they allow it for one night, but I guess she was wrong. Do you think we should give it a try, and see if we get evicted?
Edit: I just called the police in Santa Clarita. They said that WM is private property, and if we have WM permission, that it is okay. Could they have updated their policy ???.
Thanks.
God bless,
John
John -
Burbank to Santa Clarita is what? 20 miles?
Why not just stay in BDB and leave a half hour earlier?
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
Quote from: RJ on January 21, 2010, 06:36:34 PM
John -
Burbank to Santa Clarita is what? 20 miles?
Why not just stay in BDB and leave a half hour earlier?
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
Because we wanted to get out of this little "traffic hole." Figured get 20 miles up the road, and then we know we won't have any trouble with traffic...But that is just our thinking....
God bless,
John
Quote from: John316 on January 21, 2010, 06:33:04 PM
So what do you think we should do? The gal at WM said that they allow it for one night, but I guess she was wrong. Do you think we should give it a try, and see if we get evicted?
Edit: I just called the police in Santa Clarita. They said that WM is private property, and if we have WM permission, that it is okay. Could they have updated their policy ???.
Looks like you now have more current information than I did. Last time we were there, it was no overnight allowed. I would just make sure you have the name of the person who gave you permission, and then keep a low profile.
-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com (http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com)
Quote from: Sean on January 21, 2010, 06:59:10 PM
Looks like you now have more current information than I did. Last time we were there, it was no overnight allowed. I would just make sure you have the name of the person who gave you permission, and then keep a low profile.
-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com (http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com)
Thanks, Sean.
I just spoke with "Beth" at WM (I called back, got a different person, and their answers agreed), and she said that it was okay to park there for one night (as far from the entrance as possible). She also said that there was an RV out there right now, fwiw.
So I think we will go for it, and I will update you on what happens.
God bless,
John
Hi John,
You found a good place to park. When I lived in Burbank I had my bus in storage not far from Magic Mountain. Stay warm, it'll open soon.
My son manages a dollar store there.
Paul
I always call WM ahead of parking and get this same answer, also always get the persons name. Sometimes they have to check with the manager.
It is obvious that most people do not call ahead from some of the responses I get!
If I were in your fix I would normally go over Cajon Pass and go up the desert floor to Tehachapi Pass over to Bakersfield. Of course there is always the chance of snow at Tehachapi and it is predicted for tonight, but you usually don't have the problem of mud slides either.
John -
Just checked CalTrans - I-5 is open as of 19:26
Get outta Dodge QUICK!
;)
Quote from: RJ on January 21, 2010, 07:29:13 PM
John -
Just checked CalTrans - I-5 is open as of 19:26
Get outta Dodge QUICK!
;)
WILL DO...We are getting out of here as quickly as possible.
Thanks a lot for the responses, and your help, guys.
Paul, Burbank is a nice area...you are right.
Gus, I am with you. I always call ahead. Just makes sense in the long run.
God bless,
John
John, I checked my WM Altas it says overnight parking is allowed at the Santa Clarita WMs
good luck
John, Use this the next time you're looking for WM overnight camping, this list is for WM not allowing it. Smaller list than the complete one.
http://www.freecampgrounds.com/walmart_nocamping.aspx (http://www.freecampgrounds.com/walmart_nocamping.aspx)
Paul
If you use WM like we do buy their altas for 9 bucks it list every WM ,Sam's and their grocery store chain where overnight parking is permitted I use it and never a problem in years.
If you want to know where the electrail service is located in the parking lot on the light poles I can help with that John LOL
good luck
Thanks for the help, guys. We are past Grapevine, and ready for bed. The pass was just fine, and the roads were icy but clear. There was one car that spun out in front of us, in our lane, but it was okay.
Clifford, we will have to get one of those...thanks.
Paul, great website. I bookmarked it.
Thanks again for the help.
God bless,
John
Quote from: John316 on January 22, 2010, 12:06:02 AM
Thanks for the help, guys. We are past Grapevine, and ready for bed.
Glad you made it out. Stay on I-5 to get to Sacramento, 99 is okay but not as good.
Quote from: BG6 on January 22, 2010, 12:23:28 AM
Quote from: John316 on January 22, 2010, 12:06:02 AM
Thanks for the help, guys. We are past Grapevine, and ready for bed.
Glad you made it out. Stay on I-5 to get to Sacramento, 99 is okay but not as good.
Will do...thanks.
God bless,
John
BG6 -
Hey, I'd never get to see ANY busnuts if everyone used I-5 thru the valley. :'(
Some of you guys have gotta travel 99. . . please? (Tom & Doreen excepted!!) It's not that bad, and there are a LOT more places to stop if necessary.
Fresno's got some GREAT restaurants, Wally World's that allow o/n parking, and we're only an hour from Yosemite National Park, too!
Plus I'll buy the Pepsi for those willing to stop and visit! ;D
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
Quote from: Dreamscape on January 21, 2010, 07:56:16 PM
John, Use this the next time you're looking for WM overnight camping, this list is for WM not allowing it. Smaller list than the complete one.
http://www.freecampgrounds.com/walmart_nocamping.aspx (http://www.freecampgrounds.com/walmart_nocamping.aspx)
Cliff, John, Paul, George & Ringo -There's also an extensive list of WM's in the
files area of this Yahoo Group:
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/walmartrving/ (http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/walmartrving/)
You'll have to sign up or become a member, but that's a fairly simple process. (And, for those skittish about signing up, I haven't gotten any spam from here, based on the email address I use for Yahell.)
The neat thing about this group's database is that it can be downloaded into your GPS! Very cool. It's also updated frequently, often based on group member's experiences. Worth the price of admission, that's for sure!
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
Thanks RJ, I'm a member there and forgot! ;D
Somebody please take 99 to keep RJ happy, OK!
I-5 is pretty boring, I agree. At least with 99 you get to view all the vineyards!
Have a safe trip John!
Paul
Quote from: RJ
BG6 -
Hey, I'd never get to see ANY busnuts if everyone used I-5 thru the valley. :'(
Some of you guys have gotta travel 99. . . please? (Tom & Doreen excepted!!) It's not that bad, and there are a LOT more places to stop if necessary.
Fresno's got some GREAT restaurants, Wally World's that allow o/n parking, and we're only an hour from Yosemite National Park, too!
Plus I'll buy the Pepsi for those willing to stop and visit! ;D
FWIW & HTH. . . ;)
Not to mention Don Fairchild is sometimes at Bakersfield which 99 also goes thru! FWIW ;)
;D BK ;D
Rj, We really did want to stop by, and say howdy, but we are on too tight a schedule. The biggest reason that we wanted to stop by, was to see if we could beg some coach driving lessons out of you. I know there is always places that we could improve on, and there aren't many professional drivers (like you), that we might be able to beg some tips out of. Not to mention the Pepsi is always good ;). Oh, and thanks for the yahoo groups link...
Paul, actually I-5 is very interesting compared to driving I-70 straight through Kansas...lol.
BK, we will make the 99 trip sometime. That is where the former member Dale (songman) lives too.
God bless,
John
Is Don Fairchild still in Bakersfield??
Last I heard he had moved East.
I hope he is back in BFL because I go that way every spring and it is nice to know he is there just in case.
Don, where are you?
Quote from: gus on January 22, 2010, 06:01:29 PM
Nusa,
You won't ever find a post from me that isn't a response to some off the wall right wing political post by another poster.
Now I'm really confused! The above post says you'll only post
"a response to some off the wall right wing political post from another poster" (your exact words not mine! And I still don't see anything political in this thread, but yet you posted here (below) after posting the "other post."
So what does this thread have to do with off the wall political posts? Unless Don is one of those "some off the wall right wing politicals" ;)
Quote from: gus
Is Don Fairchild still in Bakersfield??
Last I heard he had moved East.
I hope he is back in BFL because I go that way every spring and it is nice to know he is there just in case.
Don, where are you?
And yes for NOW Don is still in Bakersfield!
BK -
Now I'm really confused. I don't set that first quote from Gus on the thread? None of my biz, really, but just curious (and confused). ???
Nellie
Quote from: Nellie Wilson on January 22, 2010, 09:56:07 PM
BK -
Now I'm really confused. I don't set that first quote from Gus on the thread? None of my biz, really, but just curious (and confused). ???
Nellie
Nellie,
Quoted from another thread, last post...HTH..http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=14672.30 (http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=14672.30)
God bless,
John
Mellie,
As John says, it is on another thread altogether.