If you're considering this or a similar ride, I strongly recommend Krebs' excellent South San Francisco Bay & Monterey Bay Areas Bicycle Touring Map, in which the town of Expedia does not appear even once.
Half Moon Bay temporary hiker-biker campsite was unclear (or unacceptable, whichever). So I set up here instead and was fine until all packed up next morning, when I was asked to pack up and move to hiker-biker site...
Stealth camp, stagnant water
More stealth camp, now on the freakin' WWW.
Pitch a tent? Invisible from road and nothing on the sides, either.
Entry to an excellent (ahem) stealth camping spot, about 8 miles south of HMB. But you have to pack all your water for the night and first 20-some miles of the ride south.
Highway 1 near outlet of Tunitas Creek, I think
Highway 1 south of Half Moon Bay
Highway 1 south of Half Moon Bay
Highway 1 south of Half Moon Bay
Highway 1 near Pigeon Point. Everything in bloom.
Brighton State Beach, on cliffs above Capitola
Approaching Monterey. I remember my family driving this route. The PG&E plant was a landmark amidst the endless brassica and thistle fields.
Didn't we already see this one?
Monterey
Monterey
Cockpit. Grape bunch stem out of ziplock bag. Bars offer 5-6 hand positions. Natural shellaced diamond-weave red-and-white cotton tape over cork base layer.
Carmel Valley Road
Carmel Valley Road, maybe a third along the way
Stout bearded oak on Carmel Valley Road
Carmel Valley Road near the summit
Mouth breather approaches summit
Carmel Valley pass vista
Top of Carmel Valley Road
Southeastern view from summit of Carmel Valley Road
Near Arroyo Seco (endpoint of Carmel Valley Road)
Near Arroyo Seco. Can you spot the wild turkey? Later I saw toms in full impress-the-hens mode, but they went flaccid and bailed before I could get the camera out.
Carmel Valley. The flora and fauna (ecotrope?) is strongly reminiscent of Diamond Bar, hundreds of miles south, where I grew up mostly. Familiar smells, and I can name all the birds by their calls.
Between Arroyo Seco and Greenfield
Between Greenfield and King City
On the way to Pinnacles National Monument, out of King City. Headwind.
Top of Rte. 25
Highest point of Rte 25. Saw a badger.
Top of Rte 25
Sorry about the glare. Pinnacles off in the distance. Soft lovely green hills.
Rte 25. Pretty, huh?
Not going to make it to Pinnacles before dark...
Lots of abandoned or merely ancient implements of early settlement on Rte 25.
Packing up at Pinnacles
Ranch, North of Pinnacles
Pinnacles to Hollister
Near Paicines, south of Hollister. Sprays of purple and white along the way, too.
Insufferable pose. Isn't it a gorgeous bike?
Nice spot for lunch. Pebble State Beach/Bean Hollow tide pools.
A fake candid shot at Pebble State Beach
Trying to make leg look meatier. No use.
Trying to make it to Pinnacles before dark.