[DaveN]

Got all the Trekkies here first I bet <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

I am planning my trip home from CA and want to optimize the driving experience but keep the maximun numbers of hours down if I can. I have doodled a map on Google, hopefully this is the link.



http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&ms...36dfd467ca



If anyone can add comments as to what to skip/add i.e. slow road, boring scenery, too many tourists etc. I would appreciate it. I need to book 3 motels on the way so getting the route down is paramount to planning a nice town to stay in each night.

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[968Z]

Good choice to do 101 down the Oregon Coast. If you can, stop in Gold Beach. I can't remember the name of the restaurant, but it's near the jetty where the Rogue River dumps into the ocean. I can't say if they are still there, but the Cioppino is to-die-for!

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[lbpesq]

I strongly recommend taking California 25. Heading south, you pick it up off of 101 near Hollister. Right where 25 branches off of 101 is "The Garlic Shoppe", a great place to stop for all things garlic or cooking in general. Head south on 25 for about 60-65 miles where you'll intersect with 198, then west on 198 for 10-15 miles or so and you're back on 101. Heading north, (which I now realize you likely are), do the opposite - pick it up at 198. Also, if you have a little time, 25 runs past the eastern entrance to the Pinnacles National Monument. A worthwhile detour if you like nature type stuff.



A cool place to stay for the evening is Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort in Avila Beach, just a little south of San Luis Obispo. Even if you don't stay there, you can check out the hot springs/tubs. They have a hill you walk up with very private, naturally fed, hot tubs along side paths on the hill. Outdoors, romantic, relaxing.



Bill

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[ebarone968]

I second Bill's recommendation of Rt 25. A really nice road to travel....

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[rxter]

No specific comments on your route. However, if you have some time stay off the freeways. We saw way more by driving through little towns and such. The drive up 101N through Big Sur that you have on the list is a great drive as long as you don't get stuck behind an RV. It can get pretty crowded on that road, and there is really no way off once you are committed. You can, of course, pull over to 'gap the field' as it were, to spice up the driving a bit. 2 suggestions for food in Santa Cruz. O'mei Chinese http://www.omeichow.com/ best I've had in many years of hunting, and Engfer Pizza works - good pizza and a great selection of beers. http://www.engferpizzaworks.com/



Have fun and please post some pictures if you can. And let us know when you are in SoCal for the install - maybe some of us can come by to say hello and envy your new setup.

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[DaveN]

Tks for the reply. I have added the info to my do's and don'ts list. If all goes well and Bob is good with our preliminary plan I will be there May 16 with hood open and bat-wing off <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[lbpesq]

101 doesn't go through Big Sur. The road that does is Highway 1 which is still, unfortunately, closed in Monterrey County due to a landslide. Make sure you check this before attempting the coast road. If it's open, the coast is a beautiful drive.



Bill

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[rxter]

Right - 101 is inland a bit. It's on the coast down here in SoCal.

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[DaveN]

Tks. I have checked but no eta on the Monterey jam. Will keep checking, they have 3 weeks to fix it or I'll be taking 101 <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/sad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[marazas]

Yes, highway 1 is a wonderful drive... did that last year but not with 968 which would be even better.

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[DaveN]

Well we mad it home but didn't get to do much coast driving. The slide still had the piece closed we wanted to drive and the weather was dubious the whole time we were at Bobs. Boggied up the 5 and cut over at Sutherlin, drove the coast up to Lincoln City and cut back to the 5. Maybe next year we will come down the coast the whole way; you are on the wrong side of the road going North anyway.

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[Langley968]

Maybe some of us "northerners" need to make a 968 convoy to SoCal next spring to meet up for the wine tour! Something to start thinking about... <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/cool.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[tamathumper]

Warn me ahead of time and I'm game.

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[flash]

we've done it for 8 years, and the last 2 on the same weekend (likely to be the same one next year too) - there's your warning

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[DaveN]

Good idea. My wife and I were going to do that this year but she ended up in CA last month and I ended up there this month with Paso Robles right in the middle.

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