I've wanted to ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles for many years. In December, 2003, I bought a new touring bike with the intention of doing some touring, starting with a ride to LA in the spring. Here is what I did to plan and prepare for this ride (including my complete packing list).
Montera is a small coastal city about 20 miles south of San Francisco. Most importantly, it is directly south of a trecherous bit of Highway 1 known as "Devil's slide." I got a ride to just the other side of Devil's slide and stated my ride from there. Sunday, April 11: Montera to Santa Cruz.
My original plan called for me to spend the day with my friends in Santa Cruz. However, the weather forecast was suggesting that it might rain on Tuesday in Big Sur. If I waited a day, I might hit that rain. So, I decided to skip the rest day and head out. Monday, April 12: Santa Cruz to Big Sur.
Instead of rain, the day was sunny in Big Sur. I decided to keep going. I didn't know how far I would ride this day. I had three options: 40 miles, 50 miles, and 70 miles. While it is probably the toughest day of riding, it was also the most joyful. Tuesday, April 13: Big Sur to San Simeon.
The road is mostly flat after San Simeon, though the surounding hills were many different shades of green. The towns got bigger and the traffic heavier. The route stayed mostly on the coast and went through Cambria, Morro Bay, the outskirts of San Luis Obispo, and Pismo Beach. Wednesday, April 14: San Simeon to Oceano Campground.
By now, the transition from Northern to Southern California was beginning to make itself felt. The route headed inland along agricultural lands and through the small town of Guadalupe. The Harris Grade Road was well named and a serious climb up and glide down into Lompoc. Road from Lompoc to the coast was full of great views, gradual up-hills and steep downhills. The last part of the day's ride was on the shoulder of 101. Thursday, April 15: Oceano Campground to El Capitan State Beach.
A short ride to Santa Barbara and a real bed in a friend's house. The ride started on 101 and ended on a busy city thoroughfare. Friday, April 16: El Capitan State Beach to Santa Barbara.
After a rest day in Santa Barbara, I continued south on streets paralleling and often next to 101. I went over the short, steep Ortega Hill, through Summerland, Carpenteria, Ventura, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, and finally stopped along the coast just north of the LA megalopolis. Sunday, April 18: Santa Barbara to Sycamore Canyon State Park.
This was my earliest start of the entire trip as I was up and out by 9 am. The 20 miles along the coast to Malibu was quite picturesque. Once past Malibu, the road became urban, very busy, and quite commercial. I followed the beach bike path for 20 miles, from Santa Monica to Redondo Beach, then it was over Palo Verdes Peninsula, through Torrance, North Long Beach and then on to John's house. Monday, April 19: Sycamore Canyon State Park to Long Beach.
I decided to spent an extra day visiting John, so it wasn't until Wednesday that I headed down to Laguna Niguel. This was a shorter ride along the coast, with a bike path through Huntington Beach. I stopped in Newport Beach for lunch and then headed down Highway 1 past South Laguna and then on to Laguna Niguel. Wednesday, April 21: Long Beach to Laguna Niguel.
After spending several days visiting friends and family, I drove my rented car back to San Francisco. It was a fabulous adventure. Here are my closing thoughts.