Tour of the Central Coast

[Pirate looks at --]

Ok we are getting ready to take the :spyder2: on a road trip starting on Wednesday. We will be heading from the Sacramento area south to Morro Bay. 5 to 152 to 156 to 101. While there we will visit Cambria, San Simeon, and all points in the area. We are planning on Friday to head north along highway 1 through Big Sur to my sisters house in Monterey. Just wondering if anyone out there has made that drive on 1 and what your thoughts are. Any places we should stop along the way. Are there enough gas stations along the way? Thanks in advance for the info.

 

[caw001]

Sounds like fun. I've got a ride mapped out from Sacramento to Coos Bay Oregon, but have never gone the route south you are taking. I can't imagine not being able to find a gas station every 150mi or so... Especially on 5... Not sure about 152/6. They will be more sparse on 101 but you should still not have much problem finding one. I would say don't pass up any opportunities if you aren't sure where the next one is at.- Chris

 

[Pirate looks at --]

Thanks

Yea I think most of the roads will have plenty of Gas. I drive to Monterey all the time, and that won't be a problem. Salinas then King city will be a breeze. My concern was the rout 1 part of the trip. San Simeon to Big Sur, then to Carmel. I think we will be fine. Would love to know about the trip to Oregon.

 

[Dan_Ashley]

Been there lots

Love it!

stop in Morrow Bay for a fish dinner. Find the Dome of the Rock...its in the middle of the bay!

in san semion make sure to see Hearst's Castle.

in pismo, go to the beach--you can drive on the beach. But it might not be too wise to drive a Spyder on the sand....but I did it with my old Honda scooter.

lots of gas. Stop every 100 miles and you'll be fine.

oh, if you can afford it, and have time spend a night with your honey at the Madonna Inn, same with the Ragged Point Inn. Google those to get their web sites.

 

[Pirate looks at --]

Thanks

Thanks Dan, will take all of those in consideration. Usually don't worry too much about the cost when I am on vacation. Will check them all out. :yes:

 

[bobnaquin]

I just got back from Pismo Beach about an hour ago.

There is plenty of gas the way you are going but......

Do yourself a favor and when you get to Hollister on hwy 152 take hwy 25 south. 75 miles of undulating hills and if you see more than 12 cars on this stretch I will buy your gas. Then when you get to the end of hwy 25 you jog east for about 100 yards and go 40 miles further south on Peach Tree road which is even more desolate road. That will get you to San Miguel and basically you are in Morro Bay at that point. Then you can take hwy 1 north and stop at all of those places along the way the way home. I make this trip at least once a year and it is one of my favorites. BTW the coast is spectacular right now. Don't tell anyone.

If you fuel up in Monterey you will make it to Morro Bay and vice versa.

 

[JJRider]

Hello Pirate looks at... I run the regional motorcycle website called CentralCoastRider .com down here out of San Luis Obispo.

We often take our Spyder up Hwy 1 and stay in Carmel and cruise the various non-populated roads. (bought our first Spyder in Elk Grove where you are located)

Looks like you are cutting in towards the coast on 156 towards the 1. You should be fine filling up in Carmel just before dropping down towards Big Sur and making it all the way to Cambria. No fuel in San Simeon. About 101 miles down the 1 from Carmel to Cambria. If needed, Big Sur and Gorda both have gas but it might cost over 7.50 a gallon.

Check out Moonstone beach area in Cambria and if you are up to it (a little brave), take Santa Rosa Creek Rd. out of Cambria heading South East to Hwy 46. Cross over 46 and Santa Rosa Creek Rd. becomes Old Creek Rd. and will drop you right back onto Hwy 1 in the town of Cayucos which is only a few miles from Morro Bay.. (This road takes you by Whale Rock and is where numerous car commercials are filmed showing drivers driving over rolling green hills with the ocean in the background) These roads are beautiful slow roads and are a #1 favorite for motorcycle riders on the Central Coast. Be aware that it is twisty and slow going. Watch for cars coming towards you but there will be very few. One turn is a 5mph turn. We take our RT-S on it all the time two up but we are used to the roads.

Bob N, mentioned taking Hwy 25 down south where you can. This road is the best kept secret. Fantastic riding with no or very little traffic. We have taken Peach Tree to Indian Valley but I really prefer that road on 2 wheels vs. the Spyder. It is a bit rough lately and my wife commented that it was not the most fun, however on my dual sport it is a blast and a new favorite.

The Central Coast is more about relaxing and hanging out then tons of stuff to do. (at least in my opinion) San Luis Obispo is nice downtown for walking and shopping. Maybe check out Avila Beach. Nice beach town that is laid back and a short distance from Morro Bay. Friday late afternoon/evening they have a farmers market on the beach and usually have good live music and lots of great food. One of our favorites. Only bad thing is finding parking if you get there after 5:00 pm.

If you happen to be around on the weekend and still on the Central Coast and would like any ride company, give us a shout. I have often take riders both local and out of town for some great riding around the Central Coast. (Santa Barbara to Cambria)

Send a private message if you want to meet up. Although you may just want a relaxing weekend by yourselves.

Cheers,
Jon and Joyce

 

[Pirate looks at --]

Great Trip

Just got back last night from the 853 mile tour of the central coast. AWESOME! The only real issue was on Wednesday we ran into road "work" on I-5. The entire freeway stopped, our top speed for 45 minutes was 4 mph. When we finally got up to the "work". There were 3 CALTRANS vehicles and one CHP parked along the highway doing nothing. UGH! BTW during this traffic in 90 degrees, no heat issues to speak of. Found a great Mexican Restaurant in Salinas, Los Altos, great ryde through billions of dollars of produce in the Salinas Valley on 101. Had a nice visit with some of my girl friends family in Atascadero, and a sweet ryde down Hi Way 41 out of the sun and into the Fog of Morro Bay. Great dinner on the water front at the Galley, Scallops to die for. Thursday we visited friends in the morning and then rode to Cambria for lunch. We took JJ's suggestion and risked Santa Rosa Creek Rode/Old Creek Road after which we needed a Beer at the Old Cayoucas Tavern. JJ, there were times when the road was barely wide enough for the Spyder, let alone oncoming traffic. BTW, there was none! Back into Morro Bay for Drinks at Legends, and met some incredible people. We had a wonderful dinner at Thai Bounty, and off to bed. Friday we were off up Highway 1 to Monterey, just a beautiful ryde. Stopped to see the Elephant Seals and what comes ryding in, but another White RT LTD. We met Keith and Lynn from Phoenix, told them about this forum, so I hope we see them here before too long, and we rode up to Big Sur together, Great Folks, nice ryde. Had lunch in Fernwood, incredible food, and headed to Carmel. We found out the hard way that there are no motorcycles, or Roadsters for that matter, allowed on the 17 mile drive. Bummer. Visited my parents in Monterey and had a blast. Saturday we rode to Santa Cruz and had lunch at Aldo's in the harbor. Then continued up almost all the way to Half Moon Bay, lots of Biker Buddies along the way. Sunday we headed back home and had a very easy ryde up I-5 with NO TRAFFIC all the way home. Just a note, every where we stopped we were asked about our unique ryde. So where do we go next weekend...........?

 

[SpyderAnn01]

That sounds like an awesome trip. I'd heard about that stretch of road that doesn't allow motorcycles, what's up with that? :shocked: I'll have to remember this post for future trip planning as it is always nice to have tips from people that have been there and or live there. Aren't spyderlovers great?

 

[regor]

Three of us did pretty much the same ride last Feb. We left sacramento around noon spent the night in Monterrey then the next day rode down to santa maria. Gas is not a problem, and there is not a more scenic ride around. We went on the next day to ridgecrest, then into death valley the next day. Man in was windy, a guy passed us pulling a camping trailer on the way out. I kept looking back in my mirror to see if I could see parts of his trailer blowing across the landscape. We ended up in Porterville that night via lake Isabella, over a very skinny, twisty and icy road. Man that was a long day. The next morning we ran hwy 99 into sacramento, that was the only day on the trip we had a little rain. Chris, we did the ride to gold beach Oregon last oct. We heading back again, on the 29th. roger