Caravan to Sonoma

[iray1]

Hi
Just wanted to give everyone a heads up. I live in Morro Bay But had business in Monterey over the weekend. Mixing business with pleasure I grabed the girl friend for a joy ride to Monterey.
"NOT" It was 102 * Hot, sweaty, sun burnt, and dehydrated. Up Hwy.101.
June it can get to 110 from Paso Robles to Napa. My car was on the verge of over heating but never did. We took the coast back for a cool scenic ride. I'll be ready for the heat next time so you should be too. Best bring an ice chest with water, and sun screen. The coast takes longer with better views and places to stop if the heat is on in June I may take the long way to save my relationship. It might be best if we plan an eairly morning sunrise exit out of Paso to excape the heat. What do you think?
Ray

[Craig Smith]

Ray: If this hot weather keeps up, I agree that the drive up 101 will not be pleasant. It could cool down some. We do get that fog sometimes in June. I also agree that an early start might be in order. How many hours did it take you to drive from Monterey to Morro Bay by highway 1? I agree with others that Highway 1 up to Sonoma in 1 day is a long drive. But all and all it will beat working.
Craig

[DennisKeith]

I've been in Paso Robles twice in the middle of summer and somehow, both times, it reminded me of the Old Testament phrase 'Fiery Furnace'. The two day approach seems nicer so how about an overnight in San Luis Obisbo/Cambria/San Simeon? Just a thought.

[iray1]

Craig
Here is what I got off the internet regarding mileage & time.

1. Morro Bay to Sonoma via Hwy 101...4 hrs 53 min /323 mi

2. Morro Bay via Hwy 1 to Carmel 120 mi. 2 hr. 6 min. Taking hwy 101 from Carmel to Sonoma 163mi. 2.5 hr...... 283 mi total.
Look at the mileage difference??? 40 mi.

The next formula I entered:

3. Morro Bay to Carmel 120 mi 2 hr 6 min
carmel to Santa Cruz 46 mi. 50 min
Santa Cruz to San Francisco 73.4 mi....1 hr 10 min
San fran to Sonoma 44.0 mi 51 min
total mileage 283mi less miles than a direct route uo 101.
You would think Hwy 101 would be shorter??? Hwy I is 40 miles shorter. However it will take 5hr 18 min V.S. 4 hr 53min.
THIS IS WHAT I GOT OFF THE COMPUTER I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS INFO IS 100% CORRECT.

If we can make a plan to excape the heat and exit paso Robles an hour before sun rise 4:30 AM it should be a comfortable trip.
Any later than that I'll take the coastal route and stop for lunch in San Francisco. Tourist traffic through Big Sur does not start untill July. An A.M. flight path should be clear.

[JimVillers]

Ray .... It has be a long time since I was on route 1 ..... averaging 60 MPH for 120 miles is dreaming. Slow down and enjoy the car, the road and the scenery.

[Craig Smith]

Ray: It has been about 7 years since I took Highway 1 up to Carmel. I remember there was alot of traffic going into Carmel and it seems it took awhile. I know the option of leaving Paso at 4:30 in the mourning is not going to happen for me. My wife is coming along and there is no way she is going to get up and leave at 4:30 a.m. on her vacation. If we as a group change our minds and go highway 1, than I would like to stay in Cambria instead of Paso. It is nicer and we will be closer to Sonoma. I find it hard to believe that it will take about the same time going Highway 1 vs. 101, that is why I was asking how long it took you. I was under the impression from your message that you went up 101 to Carmel and returned on 1. I understand there is about 7 cars going up from S. Calif. so we will see what the others think.
Craig

[DennisKeith]

Bill,

Do we have a current estimate of the cars that are planning to caravan up to Sonoma? Mine included.

[Ainsworth]

Dennis,
At this point we have 8 confirmed (counting Ray who will be joining in at the halfway point) plus a couple of "maybe's". There will be a blurb in the next newsletter detailing the meeting spot at the T.O. mall parking lot. I'm anticipating additional members who don't follow the web activity will jump in once the newsletter is out. I would bet at least 15 cars or so.
The wife and I did the Hwy.1 drive from San Luis Obispo (Madonna Inn believe it or not) to Carmel last October in our wagon. We had a leisurely lunch at Nepenthe (great spot) in Big Sur, a couple of quick stops for photos and it took the better part of the day. The place to avoid is the section of Hwy 1 going into Carmel at commuter time - backed up for miles probably added 1/2 an hour to the overall drive.

I also ran some numbers from mapquest and here's what I got:

SLO to Sonoma via Hwy 1 - 5.30hrs - 296 mi.
Paso Robles to Sonoma via Hwy 1 (from 46) - 5.30hrs - 290mi.
SLO to Sonoma via Hwy 101 - 4.32hrs - 274mi.
Paso Robles to Sonoma via Hwy.101 - 4.05hrs - 246mi.

About an 1.5hrs difference between the two routes, add another 1.5hrs for lunch and a gas stop or two (and that we're driving 190SLs) and we're looking at 5.5hrs to 7hrs depending on which route we take.
So, leaving at 8:00am this "Theoretically" gets us to Sonoma at about 2:00 or 3:30 depending on route and providing it's clear sailing all the way. We could be going through the Bay area close to traffic time. Have never caravaned a distance like this before, but I would imagine, that factor also will slow the drive a bit. Without a doubt Hwy 1 is a spectacular drive, it just makes for a very long 2nd day of driving. We may chose to do it on the way back at a more leisurely pace, maybe staying in Cambria or further down in Avila beach.

As far as the heat issue goes, for those of you who joined us at the So Cal get together last year (mid June) it was very cloudy and cold. In June you never know.