Valygrl did a good job of summarizing the important points. She is right about the California raccoons; they are pretty bold. One managed to unzip my wife's bento bag, a small bag attached to the top tube, and steal her M&M's! Another one managed to grab my front pannier containing the food, which was under the rainfly only a couple of inches from my leg. That was just the start of an all night war. Hint-- HALT, a pepper spray designed to repel dogs, works well on raccoons.

The book that folks are referring to is : "Bicycling the Pacific Coast" by Spring and Kirkendall. It is pretty comprehensive.

If you have the time, you might consider taking the route north from Vancouver to Powell River and then Across to Vancouver Island before heading south. I thought it was the best part of the north coast.

Southern California State Parks have closed some of their hiker/biker campsites due to problems with vagrants. If you talk to the ranger in these parks they will sometimes give you the hiker/biker rate for a standard camp spot.

I'm biased, but you'll find the best hiker/biker campsites anywhere in the state parks along the Oregon Coast.