Cool...the momentum is gaining!

Here's the latest update to the trip. It looks like a few of us have walkie talkies to stay in touch along the way, and, at least thru to Santa Barbara, cell phones should still get reception. Not sure what service is available once we get to Hearst Castle area and north.


ROLL CALL EVERYONE: Please pull out your maps and tell us where you are most likely to join the caravan, and where you are most likely to leave the caravan at these main destinations on Saturday, May 15:

:arrow: 1. Santa Monica, Highway 1...next stretch is along coast thru Malibu...very pretty. Meeting time is early morning TBD (8 or 9am?), and meeting place is the parking lot of the Comfort Inn at 2815 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica.

:arrow: 2. Oxnard/Ventura, Highway 1 and 101 join here...next stretch is along ocean up through Santa Barbara...should be green (or brown in a heat wave) rolling hills.

:arrow: 3. Gaviota just above Santa Barbara, Highway 101 where it just veers inland (we'll figure out later if we want to drive on the 1 or the 101 across the Lompoc Penninsula...neither is along beach...1 is rural, and 101 is more of a straight shot).

:arrow: 4. Arroyo Grande back where the 1 and 101 join up again. Next stretch is Pismo Beach and San Luis Obispo on the 101 and then it splits back to the 1 down to Morro Bay and along the ocean past Hearst Castle. This begins some of the most beautiful coastal driving...virtually on a cliff overlooking the ocean all the way up to Big Sur.

:arrow: 5. Carmel on Highway 1. Not too far south of Monterey, Reg might know a good place to meet the northern Cal crowd. The famous "17 mile drive" would top off the trip if done during daylight hours.

:arrow: 6. Monterey on Highway 1 and a group dinner to end the day. From here, it's easy to cut back to the 101 for a "straight shot" drive (vs winding highway 1) south back to Los Angeles...about 6 hours drive.