I'm in California's Sierra Nevada, a little over an hour south of Lake Tahoe. We live pretty close to a California Scenic Highway, too. On one hand, it's great living in a place where everyone else wants to COME to ride/ride to. On the other hand, though, it's a pain in the ass, largely due to two types of riders; the first and most common one being the inexperienced rider who goes out and buys the BIGGEST Harley he can find, then plops his wife/girlfriend/lover on the back in a tank top and a brain bucket, then proceeds to "fail to navigate the curve". Every fucking weekend. The second most common pain-in-the-ass-rider is the guy on the sportbike/crotchrocket, who doesn't have the experience, doesn't know the roads, or damn it, just failed to navigate the curve! Now, I don't know how you fail to navigate a curve, but if it were me, it'd be because I was going waa-aaay too fast.
This is a problem because, despite being in California, we're a poor county. There is one hospital in the entire county, and it doesn't have a trauma center. So, people who get into trouble beyond the "half-hour from the hospital" mark have to be life-flighted, those who are far enough upcountry go to Nevada. If their insurance doesn't cover the whole cost, guess who bears the brunt. That along with a very large elderly population, on fixed income, and our lack of industry (there is little logging or mining going on anymore), adds to the burden.
Worst time of year to ride up here is spring. There's still a shitload of gravel and sand on the roads, and upcountry you'll definitely find icy spots. Fall is the best, not too hot, far fewer riders/drivers out, and the passes are still open. I LOVELOVELOVE having the road completely to myself. Actually, I love having any natural/open space all to myself.
I just wrote you a whole fucking story that has zero to do with your grow... maybe it wasn't such a good idea that I learned to type.