Mike, you can do it in 8 and stay in hotels the whole way if you want to. It would be really easy to blow off cooking, and just camp/eat cold food/restaurants.
Don't take Hwy 9 or 92 to the coast. better options: 84/old la honda road or south of hwy 17, at the lexington reservoir, you can pick up a short dirt bike path, ride around the south side of the res. then get on old santa cruz (or maybe old san jose??? name?) road, and connect up to skyline, turn left, then down soquel-san jose road right into the little town of soquel, which is very close to camping at new brighton beach, or if you have time camp a little further south in manresa. try to get a burrito at tacqueria vallarta on 41st, or fancy beautiful pastery at Gayles in capitola, off Park (very close to new brighton beach).
Also, greyhound is a huge pain in the butt, with the box and all the stopping and waiting, and the scary people. try craigslist.org's ride share if your timing is a little flexible, or rent a car or uhaul one way. train is also a possiblity, but you still have to deal with the box.
have a great ride!