Planning two weeks thru Oregon and Cali in May

[Kulharin]

Planning a two week surf trip with a side order of mountain biking, driving down from the BC interior mid May. I'd consider myself an intermediate surfer.

I've spent some time on the Washington coast and went as far south as Oswald state park in Oregon. I have an idea of places I'd like to visit and may go as far south as Santa Barbara if there is still west swell by then.

For allocating time though, is there anywhere on the coastal road you'd recommend spending more than a day or two? Places you really love for surf or maybe mountain biking... or places that are overrated and worth skipping?

[buddy]

Boo and Groo might be able to help.

[offshore1]

Boo and Groo, the Realsurf west coast croo.

[Grooter]

I predominantly surf in Santa Cruz. Its a good spot, plenty of options but crowded to hell on weekends and over the summer when all the kids are not at school.

[BA]

Surely Beanpole can help.

[alakaboo]

Fort Bragg/Mendocino and Santa Cruz have both surf and MTB.

Redding is a good base for biking, if the snow has melted by then.

Highway 1 between Big Sur and San Luis Obispo is the best stretch in California. Surf options are sharky and wild.

That's a fuckton of driving in a 2 week trip. And a few of the best riding options will be snowy or wet.

Oregon has better surf than north California but I'm not telling you spots. Use Surfline and Trailforks.

[Kulharin]

Alternatively I might do the trip in early Sept vs mid May. Maybe my tentative trip is too ambitious for two weeks and I should spend more time exploring central n south Oregon. Would be nice to see a coast other than the pacific NW temperate rain forest. Big Sur looks very pretty.

Your snow pack must be doing better than ours. Lived in BC my whole life and we have the smallest snowpack n poorest skiing then I can remember. Vancouver Island is sitting at 30% of the average alpine base. Interior around 50-60%. Lower elevation the snow pack is non existent.

[Grooter]

It was well below average in California up until the weekend with the big storms that dumped a lot of snow bringing it to about 70% of average.

Another round is due next week I think

[Kulharin]

This maps makes me scared. https://sharkwatchsa.com/userdocs/image ... ration.jpg I'll surely get eaten?

Also is September somewhat similar to May in terms of weathers, wind and swell?

[alakaboo]

I mean this in the nicest possible way Kulharin, but did your school classrooms always have two teachers?

[BA]

[swvic]

I mean this in the nicest possible way Kulharin, but did your school classrooms always have two teachers?

Family summered in the Antipodes

[Kulharin]

One of my teachers taught me how to communicate with sharks and the sharks told me they might eat me.

[alakaboo]

That was funny.

I surf in the middle of the red triangle off California. I haven't been eaten yet.

[Beanpole]

Surely Beanpole can help.

I have surfed at Pleasure Point and been as far south on the coast as Ventura.
Snow stuff and mountain biking I’m not any use at all.
Cambria is nice but the waves are average.
Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara are very nice.
Venturas got good surf too.

[purple_pyramids]

Mendocino is worth a couple of days.
There's good camping on the beach at Russian River, and redwoods and elk.
Stop off at Sea Ranch if you are a fan of Northern Cali. 70s architecture. There is also surf.

The cascade mountains are sensational. But if you're coming from BC, then you've seen mountains.

[Kulharin]

In an average year is September usually a better bet than May for swell and wind?

On Vancouver Island May and Sept are pretty similar.

[alakaboo]

September is way better.