I bet there has not been more than half a dozen shovels drive SF to LA in decades, not that you would have bragging rights or anything.....

http://www.dot.ca.gov/

Check the highway conditions before you leave Carmel/Monterey, if it has rained a lot you may have to come down 101. If you do there are several roads that will take you back over to the coast south of the perennial trouble spots so you will still be able to get in some good rides.
1 does break off from 101 again in Pismo Beach down through Lompoc and joins up again before you hit the Santa Barbara coast. Not as spectacular as the Big Sur portion but still better than the freeway. From there south it's pretty much city driving. Try to time things so you miss rush hour. From what I've heard you are almost guaranteed a ticket in Huntington Beach for your pipes.
I used to drive between SLO and Gorda last century as a wee lad, I don't remember gas at Ragged Point. Gorda may be it.
I just found this website, looks like it has gone upscale since I was there. The food was always good.
http://raggedpointinn.com/

Your cause, if it were summer, would be the beaches anywhere around a college campus. Cal Poly SLO/Avila Beach, UCSB/Isla Vista near the airport etc. But since it is January you may have to content yourselves with dinner and a diet Coke downtown.

Let us know how it is going, I may be home when you are passing through SLO. Sounds like several of us may be able to meet up.

 

Get some throw over saddlebags,5 sets of clothes,a tent,sleeping bag, and you're good to go...I'm also 52, all this talk,might have to fire her up over the 3 day weekend,and ride the twisted sister highway....ON A SHOVEL! ..........If you guys are going back up to FRISCO take 101 and stop at HOLLISTER.....

 

No bags on for me. Those guys said they have me covered if i take the shovel :=).No return north. as of today the plan is to return out of LA-LA following week. Just did some mapping,looks like 427 mi/4 days. very doable...weather permitting. Gettin pumped!!

 

Go for it..As many times as I've been up and back: never had strong winds. Even packed the ole lady and 3 days of clothes bags, etc. when we camped out at FERNWOOD.It really is a sweet ride, when you leave RAGGED POINT, it drops off back to sea level. TAKE CARE, SWEET LOOKIN' SHOVEL...........

 

Shovel or streetglide? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

i'm from mn. but can i drop my 2cents worth in? wife and i rode cal.1 from l.a. to waco wa. ( it's101 in or. and wa.) fantastic ride. we left LA on July 1 and spend the fourth in waco. the amazing thing was the traffic. or the lack of. great two lane road right on the ocean and we had it practically to ourselves (except when it split back in freeways thru the cities). oh yeah, take the shovel.

 

Got a PM from 11sec shovel... Bikes made it there, they arrive tonite. Leave on Tuesday for LA. Didn't say which bike he took. I hope they beat the forecast for rain....And took the SHOVEL.....

 

Not a cloud in sight today on the coast today! Clear and cold. Supposed to be an overnight low of 31 on the coast. Dress warm!

 

OP when you get around Long Beach, hit me up. I'm stationed in Seal Beach just off the PCH. We'll get a beer at Mothers in Sunset beach, and I'll ride with ya to HB.

 

So how did the trip go! Got some pics.