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2000 Miles - A California Round Trip (a CA 94112 SPECIAL)

"The 2000 Mile Race

"Highway 1 - The route of first day."

Sunday, September 3rd 2006: It's 10 am, all bags are packed, windows are closed and everything else is done. Now I'm ready to go and with me the confirmation about a rental car of Alamo. I'm walking straight ahead to the Balboa Park BART station because I need a ride to the Rental Car Center near the SFO Intl. Airport. And using the BART is the most convenient way for me to get over there - even with that "airport surcharge" that makes a ticket a $4.70 value - that's the grand total you have to pay for that specific trip from Balboa Park to SFO Intl. Airport. After approaching the airport BART station the "Blue Line" of the free Air Train people mover takes you to the Rental Car Center while the "Red Line" only circles around the airport. At the Check-In counter of Alamo their representatives want to see my Lufthansa ID and Credit Card as well - that's all you need to make them happy. The Lufthansa ID is necessary to get the special Company Rate with a whole bunch of goodies: for instance it includes the CDW / extra protection (insurance) and the upfront fuel option. After they got 5 signatures of me I walk directly to the garages where you can pick up the car that matches your booked class (Economy, Compact, Mid-Size, Fullsize, SUV or Convertible). The Mid-Size was my choice and it comes with the Chevrolet Malibu V6. No doubt - it's an awesome car. Now it's time: get on the car, ignition on, passing the exit check and go away. Get the 6-day journey started.

"Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk"

Cruising along Highway 101 over Half Moon Bay to Santa Cruz is the initial part of the 6 days trip. In case you're able to spend a few hours go to the Santa Cruz Beach Bordwalk and enjoy the ocean and the people over there. Don't miss it! And like many other things you can also have the American Way of Live riding on the Boardwalk with your car after paying little admission. Then go to the end, stop, enjoy the moment and turn back. Let's go ahead and after passing Monterey Bay and the city with its same name the ride goes on using Highway 1 again. This spectacular route runs from San Francisco in the north to Los Angeles in the south. It turns along the Pacific West Coast sometimes facing steepy and snaky roads not able to pass them with more than 15 MPH. That's true. To recover from this very hard part of Highway 1 you'll have the opportunity to see a beautiful scenary of the Westcoast with it's slightly rugged coast and cliffs. And the sunset is priceless - for sure! Pull over and make a stop on a safe place or a turnout and enjoy that magnificent countryside of West California. Believe it or not but it's hard to find a better place on earth. This mountainous part of the route needs about 2 hours to pass but after it the terrain is gonna be flatter, turns are gonna count less. Minute by minute the first day comes to its end but before we pass Big Sur, San Simeon and San Luis Obispo. But 150 Miles to L.A. still remain. and by the way: it's possible to finish this distance without having a refill of gas but it's safer to do it. To top of some gas you can either pay with ATM/Credit Cards directly at the pump or you pay upfront.

While the first day comes slightly to its end L.A. is only a couple of miles away. Passing Santa Barbara and Ventura leads me directly to the City Limit of Los Angeles. On 6 Lanes the traffic is being led into the wide-spreaded city at the Pacific. Because of my intention to stay next two nights at the La Hacienda hotel I change to the Interstate 405 to San Diego. I pass the the Airport ("LAX") that's situated close to the hotel. Finally I approach around 11.30pm. I check the rate of $55.00 each night ("Company Rate") and move upstairs to the room. The last minutes of that day are for transmitting all those pictures to the laptop. You'll find a choice of it right down the text. Enjoy it!

Sunday, Day 1: Riding along the West Coast on "Highway 1" down to L.A.

On the next day: Driving around L.A. and explore it in just one day. Here we go...