Hi, sounds like some pretty solid info there so far. I'm planning my own trip on the pacific coast for next year (3 weeks from May 12th) and so far seem to be favouring San Francisco - Los Angeles, taking in the Big Sur and maybe try to get to the pinnacles as well. Allowing for rest days & seeing the sights etc i'm reckoning on maybe 12 - 15 days actually cycling, and bringing my own bike which Virgin Airlines seem quite happy to accept. Still deciding on camping v b&b.
I haven't been able to get hold of 'the book' linked to above as it's now out of print, but have got the Lonely Planet 'cycling USA west coast' and i've found some of the crazyguy travelogues good ...
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/journ...doc_id=549&v=0
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/journ...doc_id=88&v=2g
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/journ...doc_id=661&v=0
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/journ...&doc_id=92&v=0
Just a couple of questions which i'd be real grateful for any replies;
Bears & mountain lions... how big a problem are they ? coming from England my experience with them is a little limited !
Santa Cruz ... i've read some pretty horrific stories about street crime here; is it just somewhere best avoided ?
Los Angeles .. again i'm only going on some of the media stories, but is it really as unsafe (shootings, muggings etc) as it's made out to be ?
Is it possible to take my bike on the train back from LA to San Francisco ?
Anything else specific to this part of the route i ought to know ?
Thanks in advance for any thoughts
Karl