Exploring Abandoned Highway 80 with the Hovsco HovAlpha Ebike
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ต.ค. 2024
- For more info on the Hovsco HovAlpha head to www.hovsco.com...
Use the code "Highway" to get $100 OFF for all of Hovsco Ebikes.
Just outside of Descanso, CA in eastern San Diego County, you can find one of the best preserved sections of abandoned Historic Highway 80 in the state. The road is open for hiking, horseback riding, and biking. While we've hiked the road before, we figured it would be a great place to test out a bike and do some exploring.
In this video I ride the Hovsco HovAlpha bike down the abandoned road (mostly successfully) and take a look at some of the roads history and the abandoned Ellis Wayside Rest Area.
The parking area for this abandoned portion of Highway 80 is located at: 32.84194635368312, -116.63054920502363
►Music in this video is from Epidemic Sounds; use our link for a 60 day free trial: share.epidemic...
Steve.....first of all, let me say that I am totally addicted to your channel and videos. I had moved to San Diego back in 1973 and lived there until 1975. I moved to SD as a result of the college I was attending bought the property of the old USIU campus on the Sunset Bluffs in Point Loma and changing the name to the Point Loma Nazarene College (now called a "University"). Being that I was a college student back then in my Junior and Senior years, I really didn't have much of an opportunity to explore San Diego to the fullest because of the extremely heavy load of classes I was taking to get my Bachelor of Arts Degree and Teaching Credentials, so watching your videos is VERY enjoyable for me. BTW, I am looking forward to possible videos about the Campo Railroad trains and the history attributed to that. A very good friend of mine, Randy Houk, is one of the train's engineers. Also, my first cousin Ron McQuilliams that lives in Campo is a life long member of the train museum there too. There is SO much history about that train museum and the San Diego/Arizona train line financed by Speckels, the sugar guy back in the early part of the 20th century. Go check out Randy's You Tube channel on the train operations and history of the trains out of the Campo area. I have seen the train videos from Campo, down into Mexico and back in to the US. VERY interesting. Once again, thanks for your channel Steve. ......Russell D.
Well written. Intellect on the internet is hard to find.
I actually got to ride the train from Campo to Tecate a few years ago. It was a really cool experience. I'll probably be out in that area pretty soon.
I also rode the Pacific Southwest Rail Museum train to Tecate once a a while back. Unfortunately for the last few years i has not been running due to fire damage and collapse of one of the tunnels in Mexico, but it was a fun trip when I did it. Though these days, I'd think twice due to the crime problems around the border cities in Mexico.
Thanks for the fun video, that was fun! If it makes you feel any better, I was a motocross racer and BMX racer in the 80's, and our motto was "If you don't fall off at least once, you aren't trying hard enough." So you passed, lol.
I'm still surprised I only crashed the once. I think if I didn't break I would have made it too.
Great stuff Steve. Is there an uncut version with all the 🤬🤬🤬🤬 when you crashed? 👍
There is. I had to cut it to keep it PG.
@@SidetrackAdventures 🤣🤣🤣
Glad you’re okay. I don’t want to take any falls at my age. They take so much longer to get over. Lol.
Really enjoyed the video. That bike looks pretty sweet, too. Didn’t even know they made those.
@@SidetrackAdventures There is so much you do to keep it real for us, thanks for not cutting out the fall! 🙂
It's only "cheating" if you tell people you've been pedaling, Steve. Like my buddy, who listens to audio books and then tells people about all of the books he "reads." Another great adventure! Thanks.
I know someone who does that too!
Thanks for the videos and the history. My Dad and Mom never talked about how they went from California to ETex during WWII. Our home was 15 miles north of Marshall. I am disappointed that I have only known about your channel for less than a year. Your wife is a real trooper because mine would not go anywhere near where yours does. Mine doesn't like to sweat or go where snakes or bugs might be. For some reason the abandoned roads, highways, and railroads fascinate me and how they changed over the years when the heavy equipment would enable them to be rerouted and through your videos, I am able to travel with you. I look forward to the next one.
Cool Steve! I know many times you do some looong hikes in the heat. This e-bike is perfect for this type of exploring and has great range. Funny how the Hwy 80 concrete seems to last forever. There’s a lot of concrete streets in City of Orange too, great citrus history there like the old Sunkist stock market ha. Thanks for taking us on a “ride!” 😂😅
Thanks! Steve Glad you made it without too much trouble.🚲
You and me both!
LOVE your videos and kudos to your wife for hanging with you!!! Hope you didn't get hurt from your crash.
The history you share from your videos is so informational. Traveled I-8 so many times and never knew of all the hidden treasures that I missed. Thank you so much!!
Thanks. For every time I've seen people blast passed me on them while hiking now I know what I was missing.
Hey, Huel! good to see ya oh, sorry I mean Steve! Lol I hope you realize I just gave you one of the biggest compliments in the world! You are the continuation of one of my favorite people and series in the world.
Thanks for including the wipe out in your vlog. Keeping it honest and real. Thank you and good job.
I moved away from SD a year and a half ago. I want to come check this place out whenever I get to go back!
Old hiways are cool to explore. I live off US219 which is one of the oldest roads. It was an Indian trail, Turnpike then US hiway. Glad you didn't get to hurt.....my fear on a two wheeler as a amputee. Good stuff as always. Thx
I truly appreciate the research effort in all of your videos. I have lived in San Diego for over 40 years, and still learn so much about the places and histories of our beloved hometown from your videos.
Great work, Steve.
Thank you!
Way back in 1990 -1994 i drove up to the ellis rest area a number of times in a small car with no problems. Its changed a lot since then.
Steve, I am originally from Southern Cal and enjoy your videos immensely. If I may suggest, you seem to enjoy history and since you appear to be from the San Diego vacinity, I'd like to suggest that you investigate the Anza Borrego Expedition of 1775 -1776. They started in Baja and walked all the way to Monterrey, CA. The AB State park still has the remenants of a corral for the expedition livestock made out of Ocotillo.. They threw out mustard seeds on their journey so that when they returned the following year, they could follow the mustard plants that marked the trail. Check it out if you have a mind to. Keep up the good videos.
Nice e-bike demonstration! Sounds like it was a good experience overall despite taking a minor tumble.
Thank you. I had a lot of fun with it. I want to try it on a longer trek now.
LOL, I stepped off just past the old rest area on my Colnago with road slicks. I made it to the end and carried the bike down to the 8 and rode back to Alpine, then down to SD. Fun Alternative to riding down the 8 from the Descanso exit!
That's awesome you did this section on an e-bike. I love my e-bike. Hope you have recovered well from that gnarly crash. Another great video, San Diego Steve! Time to get your wife and son e-bikes...
Thank you again! I absolutely love your videos. There is so much of these areas that I never knew existed growing up in San Diego County. That bike is totally cool too. I bet it would be great for someone like me that struggles riding a bike due to knee pain. Looking forward to your next videos.
Thanks for another interesting and informative video. A couple of E-mountain bike tips. Air down on those wide tires for better traction on dirt/sand/gravel. Also most of my crashes have been when I am going too Slow...momentum is your friend over bumps, dips and rocks.
I remember the first video…look like the road is cared for somewhat. That bike is amazing….with those tires I could actually use that for my hunting trips.
Thank you for bringing us to an interesting journey on the abandoned highway. Hope you didn't get very hurt from the fall! Good thing you are wearing a helmet👍
My guy! Keep up the good work and have fun while doing it!
Thanks! Will do!
Congrats on the sponsorship AND surviving your first -- but not last -- crash!
Great video! That abandoned highway is so cool!
Another great video. Be careful on that bike. Really appreciate all the history you have taught me on these videos. Love what you are doing, my problem staying up until 1 or 2 in the mornings watching these videos, so enjoyable.
Nice one Steve! Until you mentioned your grandparents going over that road to San Diego I hadn't thought about my grandparents possibly going over the same route. They moved along with my great grandmother from Phoenix to San Diego in the late 1930's. That must have been quite an adventure in those days.
Nice job with the video, and thanks for including your crash, I like your ‘regular guy vibe’, it makes me feel like we’re all pals. Hope you’re okay.
Dang bro I remember watching your stuff when you were at 1k on my old account I’m happy you reached 100k you deserve it bro see you at 500k
Hope you know to keep your pedals parallel to the ground when not in use. Glad you didn't get hurt! Nice video. ✌
That's why I got an Ebike. Yes I've crashed on the trail, twice, same area. There's a lot of shell rock at the Seminole canyon Tx state park.
I only found your channel this year but I always enjoy your videos and I'm now subscribed. Thanks for the ride along the trail. And also good for you for taking the fall😧 and continuing the video. 😀👍
Thank you, I appreciate it.
That looks like a lot of fun. I'll bet those bikes aren't cheap!
I looked. They are $1700.00.
Not cheap, but they’re so much fun.
Thank you for bringing snippets of home Steve! I used to ride the bus home every day on that road. There was a Dead Mans Curve and a water stop on this section too!
It sure is nice going along with you on these excursions.
Beautiful view thanks for sharing
Well done Steve! Carry on Dude!
Great video Steve
Thanks 👍
I hope you can implement this bike in more videos. Allowing you to go more distance than on foot.
I love my E-bike. You may want to double check with US forest Service. Here in AZ an E bike is considered a motorized equipment on US forest service roads and trails. Hopefully👍 that will change someday.
That was actually something that crossed my mind as well.
Ebikes and other PEVs are such new things that the laws around them are a ludicrous patchwork of vague regulations right now. Generally if you just use common sense and don't ride an electric motorcycle full throttle down a bike path, you should be fine. At least that's been my experience with cops and various rangers I've encountered.
I asked and I was told as long as it had pedals I was OK. I was actually unsure where to test this thing out because I didn't know what restrictions are out there.
National Forest website "Prescott National Forest has nearly 400 miles of motorized trails and 1200 miles of Forest Road that allow use of e-bikes. E-bikes are not allowed on the Forest's non-motorized trails (including the Prescott Circle Trail). This is where I live in AZ noticed they are NOT allowed on Forest's NON-motorized trails...........
Great video, thank you! Good to get the three year perspective.
Another great video! I really appreciate all the research you put into the history of the places you visit. I like the addition of the E-bike, you can cover more territory. By the way , I could see how pretty that road would be during wildflower season in the spring, the road was lined with brittle bush! 😉
I have an electric car and people wonder why I love it so much. Now I want an e-bike. Love your videos.
Great video. I’ve been thinking about doing videos like this, but focus more within the city. There’s plenty of abandoned roads stubs within the city. Some reclaimed, but most of it due to building the modern roads.
these videos have some huell hauser vibes and i love it
Great video. I used to go bike touring back in the 1970's in the Texas hill country on a Raleigh Supercourse 10 speed bike I had custom made in England. Wiped out more than once on it so I feel your pain.
It could have been worse. Crashed the bike, got bit by a snake, hit by lightning, and grabbed by a mountain lion! Cool video, to be sure. If you're ever up in the Santa Clarita area north of LA, have a look at the original Ridge Route, built in 1915. Some of it is open, but, like this one, there's a gate at both ends. I'm not sure if non motorized travel is permitted there (USFS land), but it would be a great little trip and video.
I've been wanting to do the Ridge Route, and I thought about it for this, but having only one ebike and the logistics of having to take two cars to shuttle back and forth made it too much trouble. I do plan on getting up there eventually though.
Having just discovered your channel last week. I am hung on all the interesting routes or soots youve driven too, im from So Cal and that route 39 video got me started on your channel. Matter of fact im planning to take a friend or 2 biking there on the closed road and most likey visit crystal lake same day, maybe some nearby waterfalls along they way as they arent to far out for the normal hiker
thanks again Steve for another trip back in time. There all refreshing videos on a more simpler time!
Those things are popular around here, bunch of them in our neighborhood. Thanks for the vid, love these type of historical routes that are still open to explore.
In 2000 there was no gate and I drove all the way to the I8 overlook, this is also an access point to the Sweetwater River to hike under the I8 and view some beautiful cascdes.
I binge watched your us 80 series. Loved the videos. You do such a good job narrating and I can only guess your wife and son enjoy. Looking forward to more.
Thanks. Hoping to do some more Highway 80 stuff soon.
That is super tempting. I think I'm at the age where a little pedal assist sounds great! Crashing, maybe not so much...but I had some pretty wild ones back when I was young.
This really cool to see and experience! Not just because you are on an e-bike which is pretty sweet in that Hovsco sought you out, but at 3:25 Steve, you mentioned how neat it was to think you were on a road that was traveled by your Grandparents back in the past on their own way to San Diego! I had to laugh at the "cheating" remark while using the assist pedal on your return part of the ride! LOLOL On the dirt part of the ride no doubt it was tough to enjoy the scenery while trying to keep an eye out for ruts in the road! VERY glad you did get seriously hurt on your spill! Those moments keep us humble and vigilant! Great surprise to get this Saturday Treat! Cheers From Ohio Steve and Family and Sidetrack Adventures Posse! Keep Strutting Everyone!
Thank you. I always appreciate all the support.
I am so glad you showed the map. I live in the Midwest where we have INTERSTATE 80. So when you kept saying Highway 80 I got a bit confused for a moment. The map was like an “oh I see” moment!
When they started the interstate system they switched it and did high numbers in the north to try and avoid the confusion but I think it probably just added more.
Steve, great stuff as always. I have been subscribed to your channel for about a year and unless I search for you, your stuff doesn't appear in my sub feed.
Thanks for all your support. The same thing happens to me too. If you hit the bell I think it will always show it to you, but its weird TH-cam doesn't just show you everything you've subscribed to!
You will find like me and my wife the ebike is a game changer. Longer rides that allow you to explore so much more without killing your self (as long as you keep the rubber under you that is) keep it up
Thanks for the video, Steve. One of my favorite stretches of old 80. You’ve inspired me to ride down myself and finally check out an old alignment which, based on some research, dates from the 1920s. It’s near the far west end, just before I-8 cuts off 80.
Glad you're alright! Love your videos, thank you.
In the 60s I lived in El Cajon. We would drive that section of road before I 8 was completed. As that section nears the end, there was a curve we called, "dead man's curve". The current hwy goes over that old curve.
Thanks and best wishes!
Anything involving bikes is interesting for me. I am planning to ride my bicycle 🚲 all the way across the country at some point. I don’t have an E bike but I might get one at some point for just puttering around and speedy errands. I’m sure you’re going to enjoy that bike a lot. 👍☮️🌞🚵🩵
Nice video. It reminds me of Highway 39. It has a lot of history. Can you revisit Highway 39 using your EV bike and then go to the bridge to no where? It's all the history of Highway 39.
Great video Steve. The E-bike looks fun too. Glad you’re ok after your minor incident! I’d have probably gone right over the handle bars! Looking forward to more adventures.
That's pretty much what happened, except one of the handlebars did tag me so I had a little bruise, but other than that no problems.
@@SidetrackAdventures glad you’re ok and not too sore.
Thanks for the updated video on Highway 80. I'm about 10 mins away
That was great. Suggest you do a number of rides and get used to it on any surface. Also buy one for yourwife.
Great video man! Hope u heal up from the bruise bro!
Hope ur ok from that spill thank u for showing very dope
I've hiked that old road a few times. Looks a lot easier on the bike! Lot's of geocaches to find alone the route.
I learned (by hard knocks) that for heavy electric bicycles one really needs to redefine the description of them as "electric motorcycles" to appreciate the effect that the extra weight has on their controllability.
You didn't cuss when you fell? Good man. Haven't seen your dad in a while. I hope he is doing fine.
Great video!!! Nice crash. Hope you were ok afterwards. E-bikes are very fun but they like regular mountain bikes take a bit to get used to off road. On mine I try to keep the rubber side down 😂
Thanks for another cool Adventure !!!
🐈🐾🐈⬛🐾👍
Great video Steve, I've been considering an E-bike because I see so many types in use recreationally and as commuters. Nice intro to one. Including the mishap, and general info on this model. Cheers...✌
I traveled this road in 1956 with my parents I was 5. we drove it three times in1959 I was 8
Well that crash was pretty startling! Glad you weren't hurt!
Hope you ok Mi friend🤙🏽… Keep up the great work
You're too funny! Right after "so we'll test how this bike does off road," you drop it. Love your humility as a lesser man would have omitted that scene. Well done. One thing I'd appreciate knowing is when did highways cease being used as we traveled around San Diego County a lot during the 60s and I sometimes wonder if we might have been on one road or another that you cover. Thanks for your videos.
It was cut off around 1964.
5:15. I saw this coming in the foreground..not sure what you were looking at but I hope you're ok!!
Steve…Nice.. you tell a story about the rich historic Highway 80 between Tybee Island , Georgia and San Diego, Calif. my (deceased) parent’s house is about 5 miles away from US 80 and US 41. I always wanted to ride my motorcycle from Tybee Island to San Diego, Calif (end on Cabrillo Memorial Road/Cabrillo National Monument Park) one day. I believe that Historic US 80 better than US 66!
Great video! I truly enjoy your videos on San Diego's historical places.
Thank you. I should have another San Diego area video coming on Wednesday too.
THANK YOU CRASH I MEAN STEVE,,,GLAD YOU WERE NOT HURT 2 BAD...WOW THAT CONCRETE ROAD BED STILL LOOKING GREAT..THEY DON'T BUILD LIKE THAT ANYMORE..
SAFE TRAVELS AND ENJOY YOUR NEW EBIKE..
Yeah, its almost 100 years old and still in great condition.
Everybodys getting ebikes to do reviews on except ol Dogman! Great video.
Hope you get one soon.
@@SidetrackAdventures I reached out to them
I dig your channel, very well done
6:52. Now THAT would make this video go VIRAL!
Like your channel. Would you consider doing a vid on Burro Schmidt Tunnel & house?
Great Video hope you're ok 👍
Congratulations on 100K subscribers. I really enjoy your content.
Thank you, I appreciate it.
E-bikes are awesome. Aventon Sinch is great
I never realized they were so fun.
Nice Video!! I recommend to go to New Mexico at exit 3 of Interestate 10 there is a Ghost Twon named Stine New Mexico i hope you go and make a video of that Ghost town
I'll look into it. Hoping to be back in New Mexico this winter.
Great video! There are still a couple of places here in Texas where the old Highway 80 is not used and was replaced by a newer Highway 80. I live in Arlington, TX and the current Highway 80 is only a few blocks from me.
I bought a great book on Highway 80 in Texas and have been itching to get out there. I just need to figure out when I can do it.
@SidetrackAdventures I would use Google Maps and see which part of Highway 80 has been blocked off. There are many old motels in my area that were used in the 40's, 50's and 60's along that highway.
Steve, you're not the only person that's wiped out on the bicycle. My wife did it in a Walmart.
Aren't ebikes motorized? The sign said.... Also, I loved your Bonita video. I live nearby and never knew about Billy the Kid's first killing there. Did you know Edgar Rice Burroughs, who wrote Tarzan did a stint in the cavalry at Ft. Grant?
Pretty scary road, Steve. Glad you're okay.❤ I'd need a trike.😅😂
Fascinating history, from a faraway fan....
Pretty interesting. I live nearby and I still learned something. I suppose you know that sections of Old Hwy. 80 east of there is still open and used daily?
Big fan of your channel, I live in San Diego and would like to try that trail out where can I find that trail. Keep up the good work
I put the gps in the description, but if you can find it by taking I8 to Highway 79, then turning on Wildwood Glen Rd.
One of my favorite videos you have done. Has your researched determined when this section of 80 was officially discontinued? Thanks!
Steve, is that concrete or pavement ? It looks like blocks of concrete to me. Awesome 😎 video as always. I just watched the first video you've done on HWY 80 just yesterday.
Concrete.
Beautiful day for a bike ride 👌
Neato ! GREAT trek again Steve .
Cheers from Detroit 🇺🇲
Glad you enjoyed it