Short California Loop in Late October?

[ben1580]

Hi - My wife and I would like to do a 5 day(ish) loop in California in late October. We'll be based in San Fran, but could drive to a different start location. Ideally, we'd do a loop. I've thought about starting out on the western express and then looping back somewhere. We are fine to camp, but I'm thinking that the Sierras may be a tad chilly that time of year. Any suggestions would be welcome. Sonoma Valley? Big Sur?

[valygrl]

I did this in May a few years ago.  It was fantastic.  I parked in some shopping center in Carmel.

Start in Carmel, south to Big Sur (Kirk Creek campground, may need to filter/boil/bring water, but a fantastic hiker/biker area)
Over Nacamiento-Fergusson Road (STEEP) to forest service campground over the top
Thru Ft Hunter Legget, Jolon Rd to King City, take G13 to Hyw 25 North, camp at Pinnacles.
Hwy 25 north to Cienega Road (thru Hollister Hills Rec. Area) thru Holllister to San Jaun Bautista (we stayed in a hotel)
Back to Carmel via Elkhorn Slough (pretty!!) and the bike paths along the coast, and 17-mile drive.

[ben1580]

hmmm...that does sound like a nice ride with some pretty interesting diversity. Here is an attempt to map your route, does it look about right?

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Carmel-by-the-Sea,+CA&daddr=kirk+campground+ca+to:King+City,+CA+to:CA-146+W%2FChalone+Creek+Rd+to:36.7651314,-121.4082796+to:San+Juan+Bautista,+San+Benito,+California+to:CA-1+N+to:36.63655,-121.932707+to:17+Mile+Dr+to:Carmel-by-the-Sea,+CA&hl=en&geocode=FefJLQIdKJm7-ClT7Be3FeaNgDEcVFHKpivC0g%3BFRonJQIdsSLC-CGaVBqR2L7dUw%3BFQiQKAIdc8PH-CkDmcjX1_CSgDGuHe_FDZZZhQ%3BFVjOLAIdyBPH-A%3BFcv9MAId6XTD-ClJVgXTfRuSgDGRThje0E8J7A%3BFcc3MgIdM3rB-CnpUSe60viRgDFku_Wdzd9vYw%3BFWCFMQIdTLy9-A%3BFYYHLwIdXXS7-CnpSFy4EOGNgDG25RaqVe96-A%3BFbCeLgIdgRa7-A%3BFefJLQIdKJm7-ClT7Be3FeaNgDEcVFHKpivC0g&mra=dpe&mrcr=5&mrsp=7&sz=14&via=4,7&dirflg=b&sll=36.62159,-121.924896&sspn=0.03713,0.065832&ie=UTF8&ll=36.620074,-121.931076&spn=0.074262,0.131664&z=13&lci=bike

[valygrl]

Close - here's an attempt with some adjustments. 

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Carmel-by-the-Sea,+CA&daddr=kirk+campground+ca+to:King+City,+CA+to:CA-146+W%2FChalone+Creek+Rd+to:36.765131,-121.408279+to:The+Alameda+to:36.86414,-121.726284+to:36.82484,-121.73017+to:CA-156+W+to:36.63655,-121.932707+to:17+Mile+Dr+to:36.5931233,-121.9621188+to:Carmel-by-the-Sea,+CA&geocode=FefJLQIdKJm7-ClT7Be3FeaNgDEcVFHKpivC0g%3BFRonJQIdsSLC-CGaVBqR2L7dUw%3BFQiQKAIdc8PH-CkDmcjX1_CSgDGuHe_FDZZZhQ%3BFVjOLAIdyBPH-A%3BFcv9MAId6XTD-ClJVgXTfRuSgDGRThje0E8J7A%3BFUQjMgIdPIzB-A%3BFYyAMgIdtJq--ClxzOkrfASOgDEISVzVsRLr6A%3BFQjnMQIdhou--CnHQOrfpwaOgDHTaP6vszQ0Vw%3BFQX5MAIdWz6--A%3BFYYHLwIdXXS7-CnpSFy4EOGNgDG25RaqVe96-A%3BFbCeLgIdgRa7-A%3BFeNdLgIdegG7-Ck5bCMIMeeNgDGohOQb7VVEkQ%3BFefJLQIdKJm7-ClT7Be3FeaNgDEcVFHKpivC0g&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrcr=6&mrsp=11&sz=14&via=4,6,7,9,11&sll=36.603333,-121.908073&sspn=0.063047,0.122995&ie=UTF8&lci=bike&ll=36.417967,-121.3797&spn=1.011151,1.967926&z=10

It was a pretty long time ago - the roads I'm showing here on the south/west parts of the loop are correct, the parts between San Juan Buatista and Elkhorn I'm not as sure about - but there are lots of OK roads to choose from in that area, a Triple-A map would be fine, or you can use a Krebs map http://www.krebscycleproducts.com/T2.html which is excellent.

Putting it on bicycle routing opens it up to showing some roads that aren't really available.  The road you mark into Pinnacles is not a paved road, and it is probably not passable by bike into the monument. 

[ben1580]

great - thanks! if anyone else has suggestions, i'm all ears (maybe I can squeeze in more than one short trip during the months we'll be out there)

[cgarch]

Take a look at this for the 'North of the Bay' option.
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/forum/board/message/?o=ax9Un&thread_id=156857&v=I&page=1&nested=0#156908
As for the option currently presented here, I can't think of a much better route. Have ridden it several times though not unsupported. CA 25 is a complete gem with generally quiet road and spectacular scenery. The East Pinnacles campground is a little on the pricey side. If the weather holds, it is a great time to be on the Big Sur coast. If you get cramped for time you could also return on Carmel Valley Road by way of Arroyo Seco. Hmm, maybe I should go myself!

Craig
Santa Rosa, CA