Driving Reno to SF to LA

We left Reno on Friday and headed over the mountains to SF. After all the great roads on US50 I figured this would just be a quick drop into California, another example of why I don't play the stock market. Coming out of Carson City you climb around 3000 feet in less than 10 miles while cruising at 50MPH through sweeping turns with great vistas all around, and occasionally there is a switchback just to keep you interested. After passing over Spooner Summit you cruise along the SE shore of Lake Tahoe great sights and no straight or level roads. After driving through the town of South Lake Tahoe and crossing into CA you once again start climbing and turning to pass over Echo Summit at a switchback with great views, for the passenger. Then is all down hill, while you twist, going up a little and down a lot like a ME109 pilot trying to loose a P51 off his tail. Finally the road turns to four lanes and the fun is almost over for awhile. Dropping into Sacramento to the end of 50 the temperature climbs and the traffic grows until you are just another commuter on the super slab. After about on hour through the valley you start over the hills east of SF and get some relief from the heat as you enter the cooling fog producing air from the Pacific. The only thing to say about the interstate to SF is it gets you there. The streets of SF however are another story.

Driving in SF is alot of fun and the tour the SF MG Club lead us on Saturday was just outstanding. Although it was low speed it did have its share of climbs and dives, some of which seemed steep enough they would require a parachute if done in an airplane, along with plenty of turns, and views that required slow speed to take them in.

Leaving SF on Monday we headed down the Pacific Coast Highway, CA1. I though I knew what was in store since I had driven the PCH from SF to Half Moon Bay, what a novice. The cuts and cliffs between SF and HMB were interesting as was the rest of the drive down to Monterey, but then you pass through Carmel and enter the Carmel Highlands. We have all seen the sign on various roads, you know the one, it looks like a snake with a arrow head and usually has a speed advisory or a distance like 1 mile posted below. While they have one of those as you enter the Carmel Highlands and the and the little sign below says 73 miles, and they ain't kiddin. The speed limit occasionaly gets up to 45 MPH then you get on the brakes and grab a lower gear to whip around a curve all the while looking at the surf a couple hundred feet below or a shear rock wall. What a drive!!!!! After two hours of that the more gentle hills and turns into Santa Maria, which would merit a couple hour driveout to do anywhere else seem almost mundane.

Finishing up into LA on the PCH is just beautiful. The highway rolls along the coast and its huge beaches, as you pass through all those places you have seen on TV and the movies all your life. It takes a hugh effort to keep your eyes on the road with all the mansions hanging off the hills and cliffs above, while you look for Rockford's trailer on the beach. I can't imagine a better drive than US50 and the PCH but I am gonna keep looking, it's just too much fun.