Originally Posted by
raybo
I've done this ride from SF to Laguna Beach many times and down to San Diego once. Here are my thoughts:
I used the Hwy 1 routing to Guadalupe south of Oceano/Grover Beach. Once, I took the section using Valley, Los Berros, El Campo, and Halcyon. I found it longer and no more interesting than going up the hill and directly to Guadalupe. The ride up the hill (Hwy 1) can be a bit hairy as it is shoulderless and steep. But, it is also short and straight so people can see you. That said, don't do it without a mirror and willingness to pull over to let trucks (mostly pick-ups) go by. I'd suggest staying on Hwy 1.
Here is a quote from
my journal of that trip:
I also would take Harris Grade Road into Lompoc. It is a bit of a hard push up the hill. It is very curvy but always low traffic when I've been on it. The biggest issue is motorcycles, and the occasional sports car, being driven way too fast on it. These can both be heard far away so it is easy to be prepared for them. I found Hwy 1 to be more effort and far less interesting. It takes all the traffic that Harris Grade Road used to. There is a wide shoulder, but it certainly isn't any easier. Further, the shoulder on Hwy 1 near the base is all torn up due to heavy vehicles. From the top of Harris Grade Road you can just about coast into Lompoc. Here is my description of
the day I rode from Oceano through Lompoc on Harris Grade Road, including some photos of Harris Grade Road, itself.
Thanks for all that. I looked at the three possible routes (Halcyon, Mesa View, and Los Berros/El Campo) near Oceano on Google Street View, and saw that the first two include steep, narrow stretches just about straight up the side of the plateau, while the longer route seems to go aound it from the north. I'll likely stick with the ACA routing.
Same for Harris Grade. Traffic appears to be much lighter than CA1, and the grade averages less than 2%. Then there's that long coast into Lompoc. The noise of heavy traffic is something I do try to avoid.