WHAT DO I NEED TO GET STARTED?
A sense of adventure and common sense
WHO IS INVITED?
Any competent capable rider with a street legal Dirt Bike, Dual Sport or ADV motorcycle.
DO I HAVE TO BE A CLUB MEMBER?
Yes. This ride is included with club membership. There is no qualifying or probation period to become an Exit Tours Motorcycle Club member, and there are no required meetings or work days or politics associated with your membership — just Sign-up and ride.
WHERE DO WE STAY FRIDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT ?
Friday and Sunday we will stay at an exclusive private ranch near the start of the old Cal Poly Penguins Hi-Mountain Enduro. Plenty of room for RV or trailer parking. You can tent camp or stay in your truck. There is water available, but no hook-ups. The ride starts from the private ranch Saturday morning.
WHERE DO WE STAY SATURDAY NIGHT ?
At a private ranch which is located in a small Central California valley by the name of Cuyama at the base of Ballinger Canyon.
The valley is a half day journey from either the Los Angeles basin or the Bay area, yet, it is far enough from everywhere that it is often referred to as the middle of nowhere.
The private ranch is not a dude ranch. It is a secluded rustic get away for the ‘real’ adventurous.
The only things ever raised at this ranch is wine or beers in the light of campfires.
In Ballinger you can camp in your tent the club will portage. The club will portage your gear, tent, sleeping bag, bed roll, small ice chest, etc.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
- This is a remote area with minimal facilities available
- There is no drinking water available on the Carrizo Plain
- Water and non-flush toilets are at the ranch in Ballinger
- Gas is available in Maricopa and Santa Margarita; be sure to start your trip with a full tank of gasoline.
- The only fuel at Ballinger Canyon is your fuel portaged by the club.
- Cell phone service is not available throughout the entire Carrizo Plain
- Please see this Link on Navigation & Safety.
INFO ON THE CARRIZO PLAIN:
The Carrizo Plain is traversed by the San Andreas fault.
The San Andreas fault provides for spectacular topography along the eastern edge of the California Valley. Ridges rise sharply from the plain to form the Panorama and Elkhorn Hills, the Temblor Range and Hurricane Ridge. Temporary pools and salt-encrusted ponds appear along the fault, trapping rainwater to create stunning scenery.
Soda Lake covers an area of about 3,000 acres and is one of the most dominant geographic features of the Carrizo Plain. As a result of evaporating mineral-laden surface water, a crust has formed on the lake, creating a glistening white bed of salt that has become a famous attraction for the Carrizo Valley.
Adjacent to the southwest edge of the San Joaquin Valley, the Carrizo Plain National Monument is a 250,000-acre oasis as well as a diverse complex of habitats for many rare species of plants and animals
There are seasonal recreational opportunities for visitors, many of them focused on the plain’s abundant birds and wildflowers. Scenic drives are popular activities for visitors in the National Monument.
ADDITIONAL RIDE INFORMATION
Q: HOW DO I NAVIGATE THE ROUTE?
This is not a guided tour, you will navigate by Ride with GPS tracks phone compatible. Maps that are not suitable for navigation but to give you a general idea of the route will be emailed. There will be NO course markings.
Maps are not suitable for navigation. You must have GPS unit or a cell phone to navigate the course. Or ride with a friend who has GPS and understands how it works.
GPS tracks from Ride with GPS are cell phone compatible. Just download the app once we send send you a membership link. Tracks work without a cell phone signal.
Ride with GPS Tracks will be emailed.
We work to minimize pavement mileage, maximize scenery and fun, and generally only use paved roads as necessary to tie dirt loops together and access amenities.
HAZARDS DO EXIST ON OUR ROUTES:
Such as downed trees, washouts, rocks, etc. and will NOT be marked in any fashion.
- All routes are publicly-accessible
- You may encounter other riders and traffic.
- Riders need to use caution and common sense at all times and stay to the right when possible, particularly around blind turns.
- Remember vehicles heading uphill have the right-of-way.
USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM:
We discourage you from riding alone and encourage everyone to use the buddy system and pair up with at least one other rider so that you can look after each other.
- Your ride will be enhanced if you ride with others who are of the same skill level.
- Riding similar motorcycles.
- Have compatible desires for the ride (speed of travel, how often to stop for a rest and pictures, etc.).
- The Club won’t have any checkpoints throughout the day or sweep riders to keep track of you.
BUDDY RIDING PROTOCOL:
- Don’t lose sight of your buddy
- Don’t make a major turn unless you know your buddy will also.
- Wait at major turns.
- If buddies get separated, both go back to the last place they saw each other.
- We may provide “Outriders” to help you if you need a shortcut to the finish or have questions along the way, but they should NOT be considered “sweep” riders: they are not medics, will not be available to fix bikes or change flats, nor will they have extra parts. Our “Outriders” may have satellite communication.
- We will have a Sign-out and Sign-In sheet under the EZ Up all 3 mornings. Sign out when you leave and Sign-In when you return so we know you’re in.
- Carry a cell phone and we highly recommend the use of a satellite-operated tracking and rescue device such as a SPOT as you will often be out of cell phone range. There is no cell phone service in the Carizzo Plains Valley.
- If you get stranded we will of course do whatever we can to bail you out. However if we need to arrange evacuation, medical aid, or any other form of rescue assistance for you, there may be a charge associated with that assistance.
- There may be a course photographer in a strategic place each day to take your picture and provide photos for you online after the event.
DISCLAIMER
- Exit Tours Motorcycle Club rides are not competitions, nor are prizes or trophies awarded.
- All participants are on their own, riding at their own pace, at their own risk, and always have the option to follow the designated route or to follow another route of their choosing.
- Exit Tours M/C rides are non-competitive, non-commercial, paying for the amenities with the ride and not for the ride itself. These are recreational club rides for Club members only.
- The San Andreas 300 starts and finishes on private property. Amenities are provided, such as meals, fuel portage, parking-meeting arrangements and camping.
- Most USFS and BLM Motor Vehicle Use Maps are outdated, inaccurate, ambiguous and difficult to read even for the rangers. But especially for the general public.
- Even in designated riding areas, USFS and BLM route signs are often missing, non-existent, outdated, misplaced and confusing.
- In many areas private property boundaries are not well defined or even posted.
- It is possible that anyone following an Exit Tours Motorcycle Club route could get behind closed gates or ride somewhere they are not supposed to be and possibly get cited or yelled at.
- Every Exit Tours M/C member is advised of this in advance of our rides, and by participating takes full and sole responsibility for their actions and well-being, without exception.
- We recommend leaving early and keeping stops to a minimum.
- You leave when you wish, ride at your own pace and we do not ride in large groups.
- We also highly recommend you come with a friend and be responsible for each other throughout the day.
RIDE & EVENT OVERVIEW
- This Dual Sport & ADV ride is a, “low-key, high adventure, no hassle” self-guided tour, using a GPS tracks, voice directions with blue tooth or an electronic roll chart to navigate an unmarked route.
- GPS tracks will be emailed 2 weeks before ride.
- Sign-in and park your truck on private property near Turkey Flats in Pozo on Friday afternoon or Saturday morning.
- Secure parking is available.
- Camp Friday night in Pozo at the private ranch if you wish or arrive in Pozo by 7 am and be on the trail by 9 am Saturday.
- There will be 1 fuel stop each day where club will portage your 5 gallon fuel can and lunch provided on Saturday and Sunday (Fuel stop at approx. 104 and 195 miles)
- ADV Riders please get fuel on your own in Maricopa around 120 miles on Saturday before arriving at Ballinger Canyon at around 180 miles.
- The Club will portage your camping gear to the ranch in Ballinger Canyon for Saturday night.
- Bring your sleeping bag, cot or pad, a chair, overnight bag and tent (Pack as much as you can into your gear bag). No large ice chests. Adult beverages will be provided.
- Your motorcycle must have a USFS approved spark arrestor and excessive noise is a BIG issue, as it is used to limit our right to ride.
- At sign-in you will be required to sign a liability release form. You will receive your ride packet, T-shirt, Etc. at Sign-in.
Day 1
- Leave with a full tank of fuel Saturday morning.
- Remote lunch & gas stop at around 104 miles on the Dual Sport loop (Beverages & lunch provided).
- Emergency remote Gas in one 5 gallon gas can at 95 miles.
- Riders meeting at 7 & 8 AM Sat-Monday.
- You only need attend 1 meeting each day.
- There will be ‘A’, B+ and ‘B’ routes from Pozo.
- Breakfast Saturday morning
- Fuel and lunch stop is at the private ranch in Ballinger canyon both days.
- Challenging Dual Sport Singletrack ride of 25 to 45 miles total Saturday afternoon after the fuel stop and lunch.
- BBQ & adult beverages available Saturday night.
- ADV loop for lunch will be approx. 200 miles to the private ranch in Ballinger.
- ADV loop after lunch could be a short challenging ride to an old WWII Lookout Tower
- Reserve a covered picnic table and fire pit with water for your group (Limited availability, Fee)
- Only one person in each group needs to reserve covered picnic table and fire ring.
- You can also pitch your tent near the lodge on the mesa for no additional cost.
Day 2
- 2 Sunday riders meeting (You only need attend one meeting)
- Breakfast Sunday morning at the ranch in Ballinger Canyon.
- 35- 45 mile ‘A’, B+ or ‘B’ morning loops and back to the ranch for a sack lunch & gas stop (Beverages provided)
- 100+ miles back to Pozo after the morning loop
- ‘A’ Dual Sport morning loop could include challenging Singletrack
- B+ You could do a loop in Ballinger Canyon if you wish Sunday morning
- ‘B’ morning loop is fun 2 track up to a WWII lookout tower.
- You must be able to cover 105 miles on a tank or carry extra fuel with you.
- After ride BBQ and beverages in Pozo Sunday afternoon at the private ranch.
Day 3
- Free Coffee available
- Monday riders meeting
- Ride an Adventure Loop to 3 iconic Central Coast beaches
- Ride your choice of Dual Sport loops
- Trailride in Pozo
- Pack up and head home
- You can stay Monday night if you wish
