Unintended route through gravel road

lasironayahoo.com

I ride a touring motorcycle and planned a route through some mountain roads. After some time in a road, it turned to gravel, lots of potholes, and some cemented crossings with streams on top. Everything was great with 25 mile section through this rough road. At one point, someone coming the other way in an ATV stared at me (I'm sure wondering what this lost soul was doing on this road).

Here's the route I drove...

I tried to adjust this route. I recently discovered that different base maps can be used, so I switched to HERE. Then, I configured the toolkit to avoid "unpaved roads". At this point, I was expecting the map to be recalculated and the path changed, but no change has occurred.

I would like to plan other trips, but without gravel roads. Is there a way to avoid this? The section is question is above Lake Berryesa for about 15-20 miles (above waypoint 3).

Nick Carthew

@Robert-Lasirona I'm not sure which other road the HERE map could have taken, roads are quite sparse in that area. From what I can see of Knoxville Rd by using Google StreetView it appears to be a paved road rather than a gravel road, yes it isn't in good condition and as you say there are a good number of potholes.

The avoid unpaved roads tool cannot distinguish between good and poor surfaces, only those that are listed as unpaved.

The MRA RoutePlanner has lots of tools to choose from to help you make the best routes for you. Google StreetView is my most used tool.
Here is a section of the Knoxville Rd using StreetView, It's clear to see that it's not in good condition!

Paul Jenner

I hope you had a wonderful time on those roads

Fastest way is to probably make this same route again, with your original on the screen as well. With "no offroad" ticked, then the newer version will probably turn out fine.

As for new routes, select the right map first, then tick the right boxes.

Paul.

Nick Carthew

@Paul-Jenner There are no other roads that could have been used. here I have avoid unpaved roads turned on.

lasironayahoo.com

@Nick-Carthew, what's funny is that around that area. There's a bridge to get to the lake and it's paved from there. You would have to go a little further north for the road conditions to be pretty bad, but I have to consider the difference between poorly paved and unpaved.

It's not looking like an easy way to plan these things out. I think I'm going to have to figure out a way to evaluate my routes and pick which ones to drop down into google streetview. After some thought, I'm sure there's segments that I don't have to do this. Like major highways and roads I've driven in the past.

Nick Carthew

@Robert-Lasirona You only need to check the roads in a few places using Google StreetView within the MRA RoutePlanner to get a feel of the type of road. It really doesn’t take much time, and for me it’s all part of the process for planning routes.

lasironayahoo.com

@Nick-Carthew agreed! I guess the only way to get a better handle is to get dirty and use it more regularly. My problem is that I keep wanting to follow some adventurous routes and find myself in uncomfortable situations.

Nick Carthew

@Robert-Lasirona Ha ha, we all love an adventure.

lasironayahoo.com

@Nick-Carthew that is soooo true!!! It's when the adventure puts us in that 'ahh shit' moment that can challenge the senses.

Had to change my shorts on the last adventure...