Hedonist

[servalan]

I am easily amused. This makes total hedonism a simple (yet still fulfilling) order

Comments

[lordofthesynth]

As far as I know, driving up US-101 isn't nearly as scenic as driving on CA-1 (a drive I keep promising myself to go make) on that long stretch between San Luis Obispo and Monterrey.

But I don't know for sure--really, I shouldn't even know a LOT of the things I know about California.

[servalan]

Quite right that it's not as scenic. However, I hear from some friends who just did the trip up CA-1 this weekend that it's the most boring stretch. There's nothing there, you can't get off CA-1, and it's all twisty turny roads that look the same (which keep you from enjoying the scenery because you're driving).

I figure, the section of US-101 that meshes with CA-1 around Ventura is reallyreally pretty, and SLO is nice. If I take the US-101 from SLO to Carmel/Monterey, I'll be skipping the boring parts, and then get onto the CA-1 where it gets interesting.

Still, I'm tempting myself with the idea of NM now...except that I told my mommie I'd be in NorCal for her birthday. Hmmmm.

[heathercyrin]

Yes. PCH 1 is a 2-lane, twisty turny road of death, but is a lot prettier than Rte 33 (which you probably avoided at Jen's insistence when coming up to Ojai). Hwy 1 is actually enjoyable as long as you're travelling northbound. You hug the mountains as you wind up the coast. The poor saps travelling south have nothing but the sheer drop to their right as they dodge the northbound vehicles. Honestly, seeing as how you never thought you'd end up living in CA, it's something you should experience once. Some AMAZING views. But *please* take it for the way up, not coming home.

We took it from SLO to a little north of Monterey, stopping a couple times for scenery and to traipse along the rocky shoreline and feed the squirrels. Took about 4 hours, if I recall correctly, but we split the driving so I was actually able to enjoy part of it. It's the only time when I haven't been peeved beyond belief at getting stuck behind the over-cautious RV, as you really do need to take the turns carefully.

Safe travels!

[the_magician]

I'd love to come along (I got my first US driving licence a gazillion years ago, so driving on that side of the road is very natural to me, it's where I first learned to drive (well, Virginia anyway!))

But I have no real free time (unless I stop on the way back from Japan and decide to do the "round the world" in one or two parts ...) so I think I'll have to say no (*sob*)

[servalan]

Well, I'd love to have you along if you magically found a way to join me. You first learned to drive in VA?

[the_magician]

Yep, lived there when I was younger (my father was in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and was posted to the British Embassy in Washington for three three-year tours (and to the UN in New York for one year) and I accompanied the family for two of those tours (and the New York year) from the ages of 5 to 8, and 13-17 (plus another six months while I was at Uni and the family were back in Virgina for the third tour)

So at the age of 15yrs 8mnths I got my Learners Permit and at 16 I got my driving licence. My dad (bless him) had bought a car when he got to the US (when I was 13) and it became my car as soon as I passed the test, a 1971 Plymouth Satellite Sebring (315cubic inch V8, about 5.5litres I think!) which looks pretty much like a Roadrunner or GTO as they were all built on the same basic hardware ... Daisy Duke had a yellow 1971 Satellite in Dukes of Hazard when she wasn't driving her jeep. (actually according to this page she had either a Road Runner, a Satellite or a Charger depending on where shooting was happening

[servalan]

**laughing** Sorry I can't be more outlandishly hedonistic for you. (**poke poke** I could start/end the road trip in Canada if you wanted to visit your house there. I'm flexible.)