140 replies to this topic

[lbpesq]

As noted above, you can pick up Highway 25 near Hollister. It runs east of 101 along one of the most beautiful and fun drives you can imagine for about 60 miles until you hit 198, at which time you can go west on 198 and get back on 101. Well worth the detour. You can also continue south on 25, but I have no idea what the road is like. I took this route about 20 years ago or more and south of 198 the road turned into almost a one lane only road going through crop fields. Rather slow and worrisome that someone might be approaching in the other direction. If anyone has a more recent update on 25 below 198 I'm all ears.

Bill

[Chris Vais]

ebarone
You absolutely need to be south of San Jose/Gilroy before 3:00 PM otherwise you will get caught up in the afternoon rush. As noted above, a good recommendation would be to pick HWY 25 which you can do from Hollister. Hollister is south of Gilroy. If you are southbound on the 101 you'll see the turn-off for Hollister. You can take HWY 25 to HWY 198 west which I believe will take you back to the 101 at King City or you can stay on 101 until you come to HWY 46 and that will take right into Paso Robles. HWY 46 gets a lot of truck traffic coming over from Bakersfield so be careful.

[red2erni]

If anyone has a recommended route heading south from San Francisco that would be great. I will be hopefully on the road by 1PM Friday. Obviously trying to avoid some traffic......

I'm driving down Friday via Hwy. 25 with my wife. You are more than welcome to drive with us but we want to leave a little earlier like 9 to 10AM. We want to stop at the Pinnacle which is right on the way. We live in Portal Valley just off 280 at Alpine, also on the way. That drive is spectacular. One of the 10 best drives in the US. We want to see all the gang and have dinner, see what miracles Flash has up his sleeve and do the Scotch tasting. Last year I went down with Chris and Dan and we had a great drive down. This year I have to come back early Sunday and be in Boston Monday.
Cheers
Erni Demaray
1 650-283-7765 mobile/text
red2erni@yahoo.com

[ds968]

So does this leave only Trevor, Chris, and me for the Sat morning drive ? Anyone else ?!

Where, and at what time should we meet up ?

It may make more sense for me to drive down to 101 and meet with both of you at some point after Chris crosses over to 101 ( at either the 92 x , or Dumbarton Br. x ) ?

[Chris Vais]

Hey Dan:

Looks like it will just be the three of us. I'll come across and meet you on the west side and we'll go from there. We should probably get underway by 8:30 at the latest. What exit would you normally come on to the 101 at or would you prefer to take 280 to 85 to 101 like we did last year, a more pleasant route than the slog through San Jose on 101.

[PorscheG96]

I'll check with Jared to see if he's driving with us. Dan, I'll be @ your place between 8a and 8:30a then we can take 280 south to 101 like Chris suggests.

[ebarone968]

Thanks everyone for the input. I am looking forward to some sightseeing !

Erni,

My plane lands a little before 12 Friday. I rented a car at the airport and hoping to get on the road asap. If you are running late maybe I can catch up with you If you or anyone else is traveling in the area around that time don't hesitate to call me. 973-476-8035 look for the yellow vette Thanks Rico

Edited by ebarone968, 29 March 2011 - 08:09 AM.

[ds968]

Ok Trevor will check with Jared, and if you guys prefer to take 280-85-101, that's great, so how about if we all meet at the Edgewood Road exit ( there is a parking lot right there on the north/east corner) right off of 280, say b/w 8 and 8:15 , and depart there right at 8:30 ? Chris that's just one exit south of 92 and 280.

Will that work ?

Edited by ds968, 29 March 2011 - 08:59 AM.

[ebarone968]

Chris,
It looks like 198 west cuts across to San Lucas below King City. There is another road ( king city road, bitter water road) just north of 198 that cuts across to 101. I would assume that is a small one legged road though......

[Chris Vais]

"so how about if we all meet at the Edgewood Road exit ( there is a parking lot right there on the north/east corner) right off of 280, say b/w 8 and 8:15 "

Works for me, I'll meet you there.

[Chris Vais]

ebarone968
It looks as if your choices are HWY 25 south from Hollister to HWY 198 that will take you back to HWY 101 at San Lucas. Most of us have driven that route and can say with confidence that it is a good route to take.

Alternatively, where HWY 25 intersects HWY 198 it becomes Peach Tree Road and continues southward where it eventually joins with Indian Valley Road. Indian Valley will link back up with HWY 101 at San Miquel which is just north of Paso Robles. BTW, San Miquel is the location of one of the better preserved California Missions and worth a visit if you have never seen one before. I haven't driven this route before so I can't vouch for the road conditions.

If you rejoin the 101 at San Lucas you will be driving through one of the largest California Wine Grape growing district with more than 13,000 acres under vine. Just mind your speed carefully. The 101 south from San Lucas all the way into San Miquel is a nice run big sweeping curves where people are prone to drive rather quickly, hence it is patrolled heavily.

Hope all this helps.

[ebarone968]

Thanks Chris,
I will definitely be following your suggestions. It looks like I will be stopping for plenty of scenic views and pictures !

[rxter]

Interesting difference between NorCal and SoCal.

NorCal:
Anyone headed down early? Want to go together?
Not sure, but it sounds like a great idea.
I'm headed down in the morning after my latte.
No worries man we'll see you there.

SoCal:
We are leaving at 6AM.
Either be up to speed or we'll crush you like a bug.

[PorscheG96]

If you rejoin the 101 at San Lucas you will be driving through one of the largest California Wine Grape growing district with more than 13,000 acres under vine. Just mind your speed carefully. The 101 south from San Lucas all the way into San Miquel is a nice run big sweeping curves where people are prone to drive rather quickly, hence it is patrolled heavily.

I can vouch for this statement, San Lucas is exactly where I got a ticket for 100+ about 8 yrs ago.

Also, on the return trip to NorCal prior to hitting 25, I'd like to pull off where 46 meets 41 to check out the James Dean memorial. Just found out from a buddy of mine that's where he wrecked and lost his life.

http://www.jamesdean...om/history.html

@rxter: Sure beats "sorry, can't make it!"

Edited by PorscheG96, 29 March 2011 - 11:38 AM.

[ebarone968]

I will be sure to watch out... The cops will definitely be looking to peg a Jersey boy with a rentacar.....

[ds968]

"SoCal:
We are leaving at 6AM.
Either be up to speed or we'll crush you like a bug."


That's because all you SoCal folks live in fear of the one among you with the severe case of OCD ( now, who might that be ? ) , and if you're not lined up at equal spaces of exactly 6.5 ft behind one another, by 6:01 am , the whole drive may be called off.

We, NorCal folks are just too cool for words, so hearding cats is our M.O.

Edited by ds968, 29 March 2011 - 01:48 PM.

[Chris Vais]

"The cops will definitely be looking to peg a Jersey boy with a rentacar" Not mention one driving a bright yellow Corvette.

[flash]

funny stuff guys - this one isn't being ocd - it's just not wanting to be late, since i'm leading this extravaganza

it's a longer drive from here - you norcal guys have it easy - a mere 160 miles or so - i'm nearly double that - 2 years ago we got stuck in traffic in pismo for over a half hour - just being prepared now

but ok - i'll take the heat

[tamathumper]

There's also a "New York City" vs. "Upstate New York" dichotomy flash, but it's not nearly as civil !

[flash]

lol - no worries - there's plenty of wine flowing at this event to handle any such minor issues