The best laid plans

Until I encountered California 1, big city traffic would have easily topped my list of least favorite things about RV driving.  It still comes in a close second, and today my route was going to take me right through San Francisco, so first thing this morning, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out the best way to go.

Highway 101 is the road that goes across the Golden Gate Bridge, which made the first leg of the trip a no-brainer, but once past the toll booths at the San Francisco end of the bridge, I had to choose between staying on 101 and taking California 1.  At first I favored Route 1.  From the bridge, it meandered a bit through the Presidio and Golden Gate Park but then went straight down the west side of San Francisco on 19th Avenue, merged with I-280 to whisk you through Daly City, and finally spit you out onto four-laned Cabrillo Highway that went all the way to Pacifica on the coast.

But then I started having second thoughts.  Staying on 101 was simpler, and though longer, it involved less driving on city streets and was probably quicker, as well.  It also would take me all the way to Monterey Bay without running the risk of encountering stretches of scenic coastal highway that would be a problem for Nancy.  Yes, definitely, my mind was made up.  Stay on 101.

The universe, however, had other plans.  Just past the toll booths, there is major construction underway and everything is torn up.  I followed the only road that was open and after a few blocks realized I was on California 1 anyway.  I never saw a sign for 101.

For the most part, it proved to be an excellent way to go.  It was a beautiful day.  It was still only mid-morning and the traffic was light.  Nineteenth Avenue was a nice area and Nancy tried to take pictures of everything we passed.  We reached Pacifica without incident and stopped for gas and groceries.

The town sits near sea level in a small cove fronted by a sandy beach.  Just beyond, however, the land rises steeply to Pedro Point.  Highway 1 is reduced to two lanes as it climbs the headland and after about a mile comes out again at the coast where for another mile it is just a narrow ribbon of asphalt etched into the side of a sheer cliff hundreds of feet above the ocean.  I was sweating bullets.  I can only imagine what Nancy was going through.  One bright note:  they have begun constructing a tunnel through the headland that will someday make this nightmarish stretch of road just a fond memory of old timers.

Though we encountered several places farther along where the pull-offs provided scenic vistas, we drove the rest of the way without another bad moment.  At one stop, I had been taking pictures for several minutes before I noticed the surfers.  (Enlarge the second photo)

We have stopped for the night at Marina, a town on the bay about 6 miles north of Monterey.  The sand dunes here are now fenced off to let the native plants recover and they seemed to be doing quite well.

Day 85
Santa Rosa, CA to Marina, CA

Daily Mileage:  160.7
Total Mileage:  13,253.3