Stupid Travel (Driving) question - LA to Monterey

[MouseWife]

That is what we normally take.

We did that also from San Francisco up into Florence, OR.

We kept seeing a father/son along the route, staying at the same places. They were going to Seattle and we asked if they would continue on along the 1 and they said they couldn't take it anymore!! LOL

[Alex]

1 only runs from Santa Barbara to Leggett, CA (well, technically it runs all the way down into LA but most people wouldn't use it south of Santa Barbara).

So by the time you reached Florence, 1 was several hundred miles into the background. Unless everybody was doing incredibly short days I don't see how it would take more than two days to drive the entire length. I have driven the entire length of 101 (from LA up around the Olympic peninsula and then down Puget Sound to Olympia). It's a nice drive but they've done too many improvements on it and now it frequently feels too much like an interstate (San Luis Obispo to Santa Rosa and then norther Oregon coast particularly).

For no reason other than you mentioning it, here's my photo from the one time we stopped and slept in Florence:

[MouseWife]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

1 only runs from Santa Barbara to Leggett, CA (well, technically it runs all the way down into LA but most people wouldn't use it south of Santa Barbara).

So by the time you reached Florence, 1 was several hundred miles into the background. Unless everybody was doing incredibly short days I don't see how it would take more than two days to drive the entire length.

Hmm. Well, hmm. I guess not the one but along the coast all the way and it took forever. Now that you mention it, we did have quite a bit inland but it was still two lanes and a long drive. Windy, curvey. Long. Woozy.

We took our time, four nights. We started off from Frisco, first night in Fort Bragg, second in Eureka, Crescent City, then Florence.

Ah, I don't remember that from Florence. We stayed at the Best Western right as you hit the town, before you cross the bridge {heading north}. It seemed quite old but they said it was from the 70s' or later. {the design was quite older to me}. Across the bridge was a quaint little seaport village. Perhaps {since we didn't go past the highway that we then took into Portland} that was up there?

We did go in to the Taco Bell. I remember because I rang the bell for such good service.

Doh, I need to make a photo bucket account....I have so many pics....

[Alex]

Yeah, that drive on 1 between SF and Fort Bragg is pretty slow (especially if you get stuck behind someone afraid of sharp turns and tall cliffs. Not quite as bad as through Big Sur area but a lot longer.

You were off of 1 about an hour after leaving Fort Bragg. But considering the roads I find myself on during some of our weekend drives, all of 101 feels like an interstate to me.

Couldn't tell you about that motel in Florence. I am amazed I even remembered it was in Florence, let alone the local geography.

Hope you did some good sightseeing in Eureka since you only drove 80 miles that day in getting to Crescent City. If Florence is where you cut back over to 5 for the final push into Portland then you picked the best of the cutovers for pretty coast range driving.

[MouseWife]

Yep, that day we did only drive a short bit. But, we really wanted to stay in Eureka and Crescent City {we had a free night at the hotel there, that was awesome, btw}.

We really did take our time. Actually, if we had more $$ and time, I'd do it again and stop even more.

And, not necessarily those two places. All over. Eureka didn't have a helluva lot but the hotel was nice {we had a fireplace, indoor/outdoor pool, breakfast} overlooking the ocean. Crescent City, ah, that Hampton Inn was very comfy. And, right along the ocean. We walked right over to the Battery Point Lighthouse. I totally recommend this place, even though it is in the middle of nowhere and in tsunami warning area, it is peaceful and beautiful.

The lighthouse, well, you can only get to it during low tide!

And, I think, also, that the time we turned in was a good time. We had beautiful views greenery from Florence to Portland. {or whenever we hit the major freeway}.

I am dying here, trying to set up another little trip. Since checking rates last night, they've gone up about {at least} $50. I should have just booked the rooms last night....

[MouseWife]

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...e/P9250099.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...e/P9260146.jpg

First one is Glass Beach, Fort Bragg, CA

Second is Battery Point Lighthouse, Crescent City

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

101 is a prettier drive, but with more stopping. Remember that it's not always a freeway. So it'll take you a lot longer on the 101.

To the best of my recollection, while the 101 is not a freeway the entire trip, there are no stop signs or lights to get in the way. There used to be four (or was it five) signals as you went through Santa Barbara, but those were (finally) removed and the freeway put through about 15 years ago.

When I went to Cal Poly SLO, I made the drive between SLO and OC MANY times and know the route well. I always took the San Marcos Pass past lake Cachuma - it shaves about 20 minutes off the drive.

And BTW: talked my coworker into taking the 101. Since he is leaving at 4:00 tomorrow morning, I don't think he will run into too much traffic.

[Alex]

I could be wrong but my recollection is that the first stoplight on 101 after LA is in San Francisco.