South Coast
by Robert Davis

     Our south coast reminds me of Orange County’s Pacific Coast Highway thirty years ago. Beach towns, strawberry fields, people who are not in a big hurry to get to somewhere else.  The Pacific Coast Bike Route takes you from San Luis Obispo as far south as you want to go.  Guadalupe is 28 miles away.  Casmalia is another twelve.  If you want to have lunch in Lompoc, you can ride sixty miles to get there.

     San Luis Obispo to Shell Beach -- 8 miles of generally level riding.  Follow the signs for the Pacific Coast Bike Route.  Starting at Mission Plaza, ride south on Higuera 4 2 miles to Ontario. Turn right, follow Ontario 3 miles to Avila Beach Drive.  Turn left toward the freeway, then right on Shell Beach Road.
     The good:  You pick up Class 2 bikeway right away in town as you cross Nipomo.
     The bad:  This is downtown and traffic is heavy.  You have to make a tricky move to stay in the bike lane as you cross the Marsh street freeway ramps.  Do the same thing at Madonna Road.  City biking requires a lot of attention.  A bicyclist in traffic is like a rabbit in a field of lions.  You need to flow with traffic.  Be predictable.  Obey the law.  Stop at stop signs.  Signal your turns.  My strategy is to watch everything and pretend that I am invisible.
After you cross Madonna Road, the bike lane becomes bumpy and rutted until you get out of town.

    Alternate -- Bob Jones Bike Trail south of San Luis Bay Drive.  This takes you on a nice side trip to Avila Beach, Port San Luis and See Canyon.
The bike trail follows San Luis Obispo Creek through the golf course to the sea.  Read and heed the signs throughout the golf course relating to private property.  Golfers don’t want no bikers soiling their greens.  After a couple of miles, the bike trail ends at Avila Beach Drive.  By turning right, you can ride two more miles to Harford Pier.  This is the end of the road.
     The good:  Pretty and picturesque; separated from road traffic while you’re on the trail.  Avila Beach Drive has a Class 2 bike lane.  There is a public rest room halfway to the pier.  The pier is a working pier.  It has a high strolling quotient.
     The bad:  Beware of sand on the shoulder.

     Alternate -- See Canyon Road.  From Bob Jones Bike Trail, turn right to See Canyon Road.  This will take you up the canyon past apple farms.
     The good:  The first four miles are rolling uphill, oak-shaded and interesting.
     The bad:  Narrow, rough road; more traffic than you would like.  Poison oak hedges reach out to caress inattentive riders.  After a nice little climb (10% for 1.5 mile) past Black Walnut Road, the road turns to dirt.  If you like adventure, continue riding across the crest of the Irish Hills.  There are magnificent views of Morro Rock and the northern coastline.  The dirt returns to pavement partway down Prefumo Canyon.  From there, descend to Laguna Lake and Los Osos Valley Road.

     Shell Beach to Halcyon -- 9 miles of generally flat riding through beach communities.
     The good:  Class 2 bikeway; coastline views; courteous traffic.  Marie Callendar has monthly pie specials.  Monarch butterflies hibernate in the eucalyptus grove at the south end of Pismo Beach.  At the intersection with Halcyon Road is Hayashi’s Fruit Stand.  This is the source of world-famous strawberries served at San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club’s Wildflower Classic.  Stop and chat with Yolanda.
     The bad:  Some visiting drivers pay more attention to wondering where they are going than to watching out for law-abiding bicyclists.

     Halcyon to Guadalupe -- 11 miles of rolling riding.  Climb up onto the Nipomo Mesa.  Ride through eucalyptus groves and oil refineries.  Descend quickly into the Santa Maria River flood plain.  Admire endlessly flat fields of vegetables.  Guess which ones are emitting that delightful odor of Brussels sprouts.
     The good:  Class 2 bikeway across the mesa.  Width varies depending upon how recently highway sections have been repaved.  If the wind is blowing, it will generally be at your back.
     The bad:  Climbing onto the mesa.  Two routes diverge at Halcyon.  They rejoin after two miles.  Neither has a shoulder.  One is steep; the other is steeper.  Crossing the plain south of the mesa is made interesting by scattered clumps of dried mud on the roadway.

     There are several ways to return from Guadalupe.  My favorite is to meet Mrs. Davis at the Far Western Tavern.  I buy her Margaritas and steak.  Then I drive her home.