bragi

I'm contemplating a tour from Seattle to San Francisco and back this summer (yes, I know, I'm not an excellent long-term planner), and I have a few questions:

1. Is there an established route for doing this? I'm thinking of maybe going along US 101, and hope there are parallel routes that involve less traffic. I'd like to avoid some of the hillier terrain in southwest OR, and stick to the coast on that section. I'm also hoping to spend as much time in the redwood forests as possible once I get into northern CA. Any suggestions? Is there a map for this route?

2. I'm planning on carrying some clothes, a tent, a sleeping bag, and nothing else; no cooking gear, not food; it's not quite a credit-card tour, but I plan to eat at restaurants and out of stores along the whole route, in order to keep the load a little lighter. I'm hoping for 60-75 miles a day, unless something interesting slows me down from time to time. Is this realistic?

I've toured a few times before, but not for this length of time (I'm giving myself 5-6 weeks) and not for this distance. Any suggestions/advice would be greatly appreciated.

B. Carfree

Flat roads like U.S.101 have more traffic than the hillier alternatives. If you want to avoid hills, you will have more traffic. Also, if you want to always be assured of food supplies, you will be staying on the beaten track. Again, more traffic that way.

ACA has maps for the coast (and through the redwoods) and for an inland return route. Have fun.

msviolin57

Krebs also makes a map for Northern California that includes information about the coast route as well as the back roads.

fietsbob

"And back" I'd consider inland, US 395,
East of the Cascades in OR, WA, presents an entirely different trip from the Coast.

paxtonm

You asked if there's an established route, and the answer is most definitely yes. "Bicycling the Pacific Coast" by Kirkendall and Spring is not perfect, but it's the agreed-upon Bible for the trip. You won't have any problem securing food, and you will get your bellyful of redwoods as well. I, too, would opt to return via more inland routes. The trip south should be filled with delightful tailwinds. Northbound on the Pacific Coast route will feature headwinds, narrower shoulders and more limited views.

Have a great ride.

TheHen

I rode up this highway once many years ago. It was absolutely grand, although one would have to note where the food is actually available. One of my most distinct memories was stopping at a rest stop for the night just because I didn't feel like riding through the darkness. We had been enjoying a wonderful tailwind all day, but the next morning the wind shifted and remained a powerful north wind for the next several days. Since only one car went past us that night while we camped, I wish we had just taken advantage of the wind and ridden through the night. The moon was nearly full and I'm sure it would have been fun.

Somewhere along the way where there were some toothpicks they called trees that were being hauled by log trucks, we asked why the log truck drivers were so safe and courteous (we were used to a different approach on the coast). The people were shocked that anyone would expect otherwise from local family men. I like that sort of attitude. Hopefully it still exists.

bragi

I don't doubt that there are headwinds going north up the coast, but wouldn't this be also true further inland? Just curious. I'm actually kind of thinking that I should just make it a one way ride, hang out in SF for a week, and then take Amtrack home, or rent a car and toss the bikes in the back.

liamof

Why stop in SF? If you are traveling that far why not check out Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur on Hwy 1? That is the cream of the California Coast trip. I would hop on the train in San Luis Obispo to head back north.
Liam