Bike Forums - Steinbeck Tour

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All,

Getting ready for what I call my Steinbeck Tour. I have wanted to make this route a reality for some time now. The route goes from Santa Cruz, CA down the Salinas Valley to Paso Robles and then terminates in San Luis Obispo with Amtrak as the way back north. Its 250 miles and plan on doing it in 5 days. Plan leaving the last weekend in May, so should have good weather ( which means not too hot, not too cold, and tailwinds a majority of the route). Wildflowers should be on display. This is a credit card tour, that is hotel to hotel. At 62 years old, I feel that's a reasonable choice. Should be fun.

Post a pointer to a trip report/photos if you keep them.

I'll be curious on that inland route. When I lived in San Jose, I did a San Jose to Santa Cruz to Monterrey to San Luis Obispo perhaps half a dozen times before taking Amtrak back. Along the coast instead of inland. So saw some on the train (though often dark).

I just did that route by car from Santa Cruz. I'm not so sure I would want to do it by bike. Highway 1 is closed at Ragged Point, but an out-and-back might be more enjoyable. If Hwy 1 opens up by May, I would give that serious consideration. (We went to the Solvang area, fwiw. The wildflowers were out in force there now.)

Oops, I thought it was the tour Steinbeck did in 'Travels with Charley'

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polaris OBark (Post 22850336)

I just did that route by car from Santa Cruz. I'm not so sure I would want to do it by bike. Highway 1 is closed at Ragged Point, but an out-and-b-sihck might be more enjoyable. If Hwy 1 opens up by May, I would give that serious consideration. (We went to the Solvang area, fwiw. The wildflowers were out in force there now.)

I have done the HWY 1 down the coast to Paso Robles. What I found was the views are awesome from Carmel to Ragged point, but the traffic horrendous. Much of the trip is on narrow-ish two lane road with distracted tourists.... and that was nearly 30 years ago. The inside route has some gorgeous scenery, empty roads (no you don't go down HWY 101!). Most people don't stop in the Salinas valley other than to take a pee or get gas and food. Then again maybe its just me who like flat empty roads surrounded by hills with a tail wind.... This trip goes by several missions as well.... To me the worst day of the trip is the 1st, getting to Marina, which is also not a very nice destination.... after that it just gets better every day.