Shoreline Highway

Ah...you have look further than mapquest john...google things like:

gas/food/lodging, town name 1, town name 2 etc (one at a time along your route.

Glad you're enjoying your trip, tho. And i like your attitude that any day in which we learn something is a good one. For me if i can help/be of use to someone it salvages the worst of days.

Try double hairpin turns, one right after the other as you're climbing a mountain (this is a less traveled route to Estes Park, that i've made a mental not to NEVER travel in winter.

Okay, John, I have been worried about you all day today! You ALWAYS post a blog in the morning. I ALWAYS read it before I go to work. It wasn't there this morning, and I didn't know if you were sick, sick of writing, or MIA. Please remember to file your travel plans with me in the future, K?

MapQuest, SchmapQuest.....ask a Californiana! We are friendly, you know, and we don't bite.

And the gold? You had it today, as you were wishing you had your sunglasses! Welcome to sunny California, my friend!

Cali

So you made it to the ocean and there is sun too. You are double lucky and I'm sure enjoying yourself.

Lots more to gold than "gold"...enjoy the golden sun, the golden sands and a golden time! Enjoy, my friend :) And find an alternate route back.

The gold? Traversing the highways. Watching the waves. Eating breakfast at the Tradewinds in Ft. Bragg, or the Samoa Cook House. Walking in fresh the water creek to the ocean beach at Wages Creek Campground. That's the gold. Oh, and learning a little 'Boont' in Boonville!

The gold is always there 'in them dar hills." You are on such a wonderful journey, but as you found out, 101 is the way to go. I wish I knew where you were. There are some outta sight campgrounds in Northern California -- near Crescent City -- with hot water and plenty of electrical outlets for blow dryers. One close to the beach that has floor to ceiling great tiles in their spacious restrooms. Another along the river just south and East of Crescent City where the firewood is bundled, the ranger will bring it. And a gated one a few miles East of Eureka -- really, guard gate and all that. It is on a lake and a lovely spot to camp, although camping California style means bringing a trailer equipped with fridge, stove a mosquito netted pull out room and all the comforts of home. When the kids and I started to set up a tent, there was much so much concern that people came over offering to let us stay with them, or, at the least help us set it up. We brought along a blow up boat for 4 and the kids had a great time on that lake. Fishing is very good there to for the Bay feeds into it and sometimes one can catch ocean bass.

How far down the coast are you going? If you head to Calistoga, there are hot springs, some of the hotels' swimming pools are fed by them. Wondeful spas! Just above Calistoga is the Petrified Forest that Mark Twain wrote about. Well worth the trip. There are also glider trips one can take to soar above the valley. A real rush! If you head south from there into the Napa Valley there is winery after winery with their tasting rooms sufficient for one to stay blitzed for at least a week -- and some fine wines that are not exported to Oregon or Washington. We always came back with a burgundy that excelled anything we could find anyplace else.

If you stay on 101 (or get back on it) you will pass through a great seaside national park North of San Francisco, full of marshes and shorebirds.

Are you staying North of SFO? Or heading further down the coast. If you are, keep to 101 to Half Moon Bay -- a little chillier than you will find South of there, of course. Santa Cruz is sunny while Half Moon Bay is socked in by fog. And 10 degrees warmer, usually, too. Santa Cruz has a boardwalk with the last remaining large roller coaster, they claim. Surf there is good. Oh, just above Santa Cruz is a nudist beach -- the Red, White and Blue Beach, as I recall the name. It's privately owned but the locals can direct you. The only sign was the name painted mailbox.

By the time you get to Monterey, it will definitely feel like California, too.

The "gold" is in the hills due East of San Jose. The names of the towns escape me, but Jones? or something similar. After the flooding rains of the mid 80's there was a mini gold rush there again as the rains uncovered some new small veins and washed nuggets into the streams. With the price of gold in the stratosphere now, my guess there are prospectors back there again.

Let us know where you are for I am sure you can get plenty of travel tips from the natives.

I have motored to California a few occasions. The first time the Big Sur Highway was closed as we headed from Monterrey to the Hurst Castle, but a few years ago, going in the same direction, I used that magnificent ocean road. It was worth the ride, with twist and turns and spectacular vistas.

Ahhhh . . . an adventure in the wonderful form of a road trip. Keep me posted while I am holed up in my office looking out the window at 10 inches of snow. Happy (and hopefully more accurate than map quest) trails John!

Sounds wonderful John! Love the coast and so glad you are able to enjoy it.
I did hear something about whale watching and glass beach? Also there is a great little breakfast place in Fort Bragg called, the "EggHead"??? You may want to try their pumpkin spice waffles! Yummy!!!

Oh Yeah....the gold is where I live, in the "Gold Country".