The Official WEST COAST BASH 2013 Thread!

[scooterdoug]

^ & ^^ I have a feeling there will be MANY people flying solo that weekend. I'm coming on my own, but know some of the attendees as part of my local Bay Area TPR contingency. I'd be happy to be either of your riding buddies, as I'm sure many others would be as well. See you at the Mountain on the 7th!

[rdngmikey]

I will be solo while down there, I generally like to do my own thing. Of course this will be my first event and I do like meeting new people. I won't be going on as many Coasters as most seeing how I get motion sickness, I like to take a lot of pictures and I am a fairly heavy smoker(helps to settle my stomach), but if anyone would like to hook up periodically through the day I would certainly enjoy that. I will be arriving in L.A. the evening prior to the event(driving down from NorCal) I will probably be staying in a hotel near the park so I'll be able to get to the park early, I'd like to take some early pictures of the park and visible rides from outside the park, not to mention the fact that I often simply wake up extremely early. If anyone would like to meet, let me know.

[i<3coasters]

Hello Everyone, I am looking forward to this years' West Coast Bash, but I may be attending alone :[. Is there any way anyone would like to meet up or make new friends before the event, this is my first time going to West Coast Bash and I want to make it a a weekend to remember!

 

Like many others have said, I'll be attending solo as well. Let's meet up and turn it into a YOLO!

[JJLehto]

^ Hell yeah!

My family already think Im nuts for flying to CA alone with no real plan, to meet up with people I know from the internet in two cities.

 

^ & ^^ I have a feeling there will be MANY people flying solo that weekend. I'm coming on my own, but know some of the attendees as part of my local Bay Area TPR contingency. I'd be happy to be either of your riding buddies, as I'm sure many others would be as well. See you at the Mountain on the 7th!

 

Sounds good!

Ironically I'll be driving down from Berkeley a few days earlier. Hear that place is wild, I'm looking forward to it, more than LA honestly.

[scooterdoug]

Sounds good!

Ironically I'll be driving down from Berkeley a few days earlier. Hear that place is wild, I'm looking forward to it, more than LA honestly.

 

Small world, I live in Berkeley. PM me if you'd like to meet up in Berzerkeley before the Bash. I'll be back to work then (I'm a teacher). However, since it's the beginning of the school year, I shouldn't be too busy yet.

[JJLehto]

Sounds good!

Ironically I'll be driving down from Berkeley a few days earlier. Hear that place is wild, I'm looking forward to it, more than LA honestly.

 

Small world, I live in Berkeley. PM me if you'd like to meet up in Berzerkeley before the Bash. I'll be back to work then (I'm a teacher). However, since it's the beginning of the school year, I shouldn't be too busy yet.

 

Precisely why I mentioned. I'll be staying/hanging with a friend but he also works, I was just gunna go to SF or BS around to kill time but if you were free at all that'd be cool.

[dkjamar19]

Hello Everyone, I am looking forward to this years' West Coast Bash, but I may be attending alone :[. Is there any way anyone would like to meet up or make new friends before the event, this is my first time going to West Coast Bash and I want to make it a a weekend to remember!

 

Like many others have said, I'll be attending solo as well. Let's meet up and turn it into a YOLO!

 

Cooll Yolo, PM me if you would like to know who is behind the computer screen haha.

[805Andrew]

Sorry to drift from park stuff but does anyone know if the PCH can realistically be done in a day? Making just a few brief stops along the way? I felt fine after 9 hours in the car, and 12 "on the road" going to Cedar Point and I didn't even use red bulls!

 

PCH can be done in a day, but you'll want at least 4 hours for the Monterey to San Luis Obispo portion of the drive (the best part). Most of the tips given to you by other members are good pieces of advice to follow. Starting PCH from SF, you don't need to stop until Santa Cruz. Stop in Santa Cruz if you want to see the Boardwalk. If you just want to walk around it briefly and just ride the Giant Dipper and the new coaster it shouldn't take you more than an hour (assuming the lines aren't long). After Santa Cruz, Moss Landing is a good pit stop if you are hungry as they have several seafood shacks along the right side of PCH (It's a long way to Pismo).

 

Monterey should be your next stop. Go straight to Cannery Row, the heart of Monterey. If you haven't eaten yet, they are a lot of eateries here (you will be hungry again by the time you get to Pismo), although I feel the restaurants in Moss Landing are less touristy and a better value. The Monterey Bay Aquarium in Cannery Row is excellent and should be visited at least once in one's lifetime, but you should allow at least two hours for the Aquarium and even then that may be rushing it. If you don't have time for it, it gives you an excuse to come back. Walk around Cannery Row and the Wharf and then move along. The 17 Mile Drive (a toll road) might be worth considering if you want to drive through Pebble Beach and its famed golf courses and it will connect back with the PCH. If not then continue down the PCH from Monterey. BTW, gas up in the Monterey area as gas stations are few and far in between and very expensive for the next hundred miles south. Gas up again in Morro Bay (the Valero, ARCO, or Mobil, not the Chevron ) as their stations are usually cheaper than the ones in SLO.

 

Driving South of Monterey, stop at Pfeiffer Beach. This place is tricky to find as there is no sign for the turnoff, but if your rental car has GPS, it will find it. Going South, right after Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (which is on the left side) there is a road on the right side which has a sharp beyond 90 degree angle which is the road that goes down to Pfeiffer Beach. It is a windy narrow paved road that takes about 10 minutes to get to the beach parking lot, which is $5 charged by US Forest Service. The beach is a short walk from the parking lot and you can see it in about 10 minutes if your on a tight schedule. It has purple sand in certain parts and is worth seeing, but bring a jacket as it can get very windy here. Right before Pfeiffer Beach is Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park on the left side, which is a really nice park with redwoods, a river you can swim in, BBQ/picnic grounds, and a campground. If is really nice to see if you have time but if you can't allow yourself at least 45 minutes in the pay day use area then skip it.

 

Definitely see McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park which is 20-30 minutes south of Big Sur. If you only make one stop on your drive, let this be it. Turn left into JPBSP as it has free parking. From here you can walk a few minutes inland along a creek to see some redwoods before you take the coastal trail to McWay Falls. Then take the coastal trail which goes underneath PCH to the view of McWay Falls. Turn on the left trail after going underneath the PCH and it will walk along the cliff giving you beautiful views of the falls pouring onto the beach which has no access to it (somehow people still manage to get down there). Continue along the trail until the end (it isn't very long) to see some cool ruins from the 1920-1930s. You can manage to see all of this in 20-30 minutes as the trails from the parking lot are very short.

 

Continuing South, stop wherever you feel has a nice view for a quick picture. Ragged Point is a good place to stop and use the restroom and has a short walk to a view of the coastline. If you stop here, take a peak of the price on the gas pumps as it might be the most expensive gas in all of California. About 10-15 minutes south of here is a lookout for the Elephant Seals before San Simeon. Stop here to take a look at the Elephant Seals, it will only take you a few minutes. Driving South, look into the mountains on the left side and try to spot Hearst Castle. You won't have time to take tour of Hearst Castle if you are going down PCH in just one day. Don't feel too bad though, as I live in San Luis Obispo County and have only been to Hearst Castle once on a 6th grade field trip back in the 90s.

 

PCH 1 will merge with the US 101 in San Luis Obispo, and from there on, take 101 south to Santa Barbara. Stop in Pismo Beach for Splash Cafe and get the clam chowder. The other seafood dishes are good too, but the clam chowder is a must. I haven't tried it with the seafood topping, but it is good straight up in a cup. If you want to, you can walk to the pier to get a view of the beach as it is only half a block from Splash Cafe. Pismo Beach calls itself "Classic California" and it is an example of a CA beach town that hasn't had the effects of overdevelopment or over population.

 

After Pismo, stick to 101 and don't bother with Hwy 1 as it just goes through Guadalupe and Lompoc which is nothing worth seeing. Hwy 1 will merge again with 101 south of Buellton/Lompoc. You'll see numerous billboards for Pea Soup Anderson's in Buellton, skip it. Before Buellton, you'll have the option of taking CA Hwy 154 to Santa Barbara where it will merge back with the 101. It can be slightly quicker than the 101 depending how the traffic is flowing. It is a scenic route that goes by some vineyards, a lake, and up a mountain down into SB with great views coming down to SB. 101 is also scenic south of Buellton and into Gaviota, but boring after that until SB. If it is dark by the time you get to 154, then I would just stick with the 101. If you still have time in Santa Barbara, cruise down State St. to the beach and walk the beach and/or downtown State St. area. From Ventura, take Hwy 126 to Valencia.

 

Enjoy your drive down PCH and 101.

[Kyle Coleman]

Looks like I am also flying solo both days so if any other singles want a riding buddy hit me up with a pm.

[JJLehto]

Count me in for any of these hook ups and yeah, how are we gunna know what we actually look like? Pics via PM? So internet!

 

Just as an FYI I will wanna hit X2, Tatsu and whatever else is night ERT during the day, because I'm impatient

 

Thanks Andrew, yeah I decided to do it in two days and really enjoy the drive. I'll be spending the night in San Luis Obispo and head out from there to LA. Monterey will be my first major stop indeed, to fill up and it looks like a sweet town. From there I'll make random stops wherever looks cool, as well as Big Sur and probably Bixby Bridge, deff McWay falls.

TY internet travel guides!I'm pretty much gunna do exactly what you suggest, and I am gunna enjoy the hell out of it.

[AlvChen1]

I hope you're staying at the Madonna Inn in SLO.

www.buzzfeed.com/louispeitzman/the-madonna-inn-rooms-you-have-to-stay-in-before-you-die

[Astrojack]

Count me as another solo I plan on staying near Six Flags Friday night, then will be staying near Knotts Saturday-Tuesday.

Edited July 30, 2013 by Astrojack

[805Andrew]

Looks like I'll be going solo as couple of friends already had plans for that weekend. I just have to get the days confirmed off and I'm set. I'll be driving from the San Luis Obispo area either Friday evening or very early Saturday morning. I wouldn't mind carpooling with someone from SLO if that's possible (PM me).

 

Thanks Andrew, yeah I decided to do it in two days and really enjoy the drive. I'll be spending the night in San Luis Obispo and head out from there to LA. Monterey will be my first major stop indeed, to fill up and it looks like a sweet town. From there I'll make random stops wherever looks cool, as well as Big Sur and probably Bixby Bridge, deff McWay falls.

TY internet travel guides!I'm pretty much gunna do exactly what you suggest, and I am gunna enjoy the hell out of it.

 

Now that you have an extra day you should leave SF early and definitely see the Monterey Bay Aquarium, then head down the Big Sur Coast. You should walk around downtown SLO (Higuera St) the night you are there and eat at one of the many eateries there. They even have a branch of the Splash Cafe there (not the original location but the same menu). Walk down Bubble Gum Alley in downtown SLO and check out the lobby/main building of the Madonna Inn (both featured in the book Weird California). It is not likely you will probably be staying at the Madonna Inn as it is pretty expensive. If you are staying in SLO Thursday night you are in for a treat as the Farmer's Market on Higuera St runs from 6:30 to 9 PM every Thursday night and is famous. Produce is only a small part of it, as they are numerous vendors, food booths, special interest groups, and street performers as well. They are tons of people walking around and all the shops and restaurants along the streets are open.

[JJLehto]

Yeah I heard! Sadly not, I'll be there Tuesday night and leaving the next morning. SInce it's a college town I'm just gunna look for some bars to chill in and grab some good food.

If I wasn't already seeing a friend in LA I'd hang there longer and take you up on the carpool. And no, since it's just me Im going cheap...Motel 6 most likely LOL

 

Also with all us solo goers sounds like a good chance of us forming a group and hanging for the day.

[805Andrew]

^ Tuesday is Pint Night in SLO and with Cuesta College back in session and Cal Poly starting a couple of weeks later, they will be people about and you should have a good time. Three bars worth checking out in SLO are SLO Brew, Frog & Peach, and McCarthy's (all walking distance from each other). If you have your own pint glass (I doubt you will) you can bring it into Frog & Peach and get craft and import beers for $3 or Coors Light for $1. They have over 30 different beers on tap (try the Youngs Chocolate Stout). You can also buy the pint glass which comes filled and keep it for refill specials. SLO Brew also has pint night, but they make you buy their glass. You can bring the SLO Brew glass into Frog and Peach for their specials. SLO Brew has $1-$3 house brews which they make themselves (the Reggae Red, Honey Blonde, and Blueberry Ale are good) and is a bar and restaurant (before 9PM) upstairs w/ pool tables and a live music venue downstairs with bands playing almost every night. Look at all posters of bands that played there before they were famous such as Green Day, No Doubt, and Sublime. McCarthys is on a side street, but only a few blocks away and is an dive bar (but not too gross) with an outdoor patio. They have shuffleboard and a jukebox that plays rock and punk tracks and are known for having the largest Jameson Whiskey account in the US. Another bar you may want to check out is Bull's Tavern, a dive infamous for a drink called the Bull Sweat which you can probably convince someone to buy for you.

 

For a good inexpensive meal, I would go to Firestone Grill or Splash Cafe. Firestone Grill is famous for its Tri Tip sandwiches (a West Coast cut of steak for you East Coasters). Splash Cafe of course is famous for its Clam Chowder. Both of these places are fast-casual places, so you don't have to leave a tip. If you don't go to Splash Cafe that night, you should go to the Pismo one the next morning. Also don't forget to try Firestone Double Barrel Ale and Firestone 805 beers, which are locally made in Paso Robles (not related to Firestone Grill) and if you like wine try some Paso Robles wines like a Petite Sirah or a Zinfandel.

 

For hotels, you might be able to find a decent hotel for close to the price of a Motel 6 on Priceline or Hotwire. We should totally hang at Magic Mountain btw.

[JJLehto]

Kayak FTW I don't need much. For $40 I thought about a hostel but figured the extra 20 some bucks isn't gunna kill and I'll take the privacy.

Ha you read my mind, I was kinda hoping to tell some people Im out from NJ, just driving through CA alone taking in the sites and people and hoped someone would buy me some drinks. Esp that it'll be my 25th bday week. Yeah man I love dive bars/college bars I'm looking forward to it all.

If you'll be in SLO the third PM me sometime, we can hang then as well. If not MM for sure my man.

[805Andrew]

^If I am not too busy September 3rd I could meet up with you in Downtown SLO. I'll PM you as we get closer to the date.

[scooterdoug]

I like the idea of us solo flyers joining forces at the Bash. While I do know a small handful of attendees as part of the NorCal contingency, the more the merrier. PM me if you are interested, and I'll send you my picture (so you know who to look for) and my cell number (so that we can coordinate and ensure we find each other the day of the event). Looking forward to it!

[JJLehto]

Necessity for me. IDK how you all feel but I hate riding alone. I mean I'll be the odd guy out in a group, but I hate actually being alone at a park.

Just makes sense, why all be solo when we'll be meeting at ERT anyway? Then carry on from there!

 

I'll do the same, PM if anyone wants.

[i<3coasters]

Just PM'd Doug. Maybe we can get a mass PM going with the solos to coordinate?

[JJLehto]

Works for me. Doug PMd though, and if you want to see my ugly mug check the picture thread.

I really do need to keep myself from getting too excited haha but this whole thing I've had in mind since January!

 

Cyall around and at the bash

[Sir Clinksalot]

Note to self: Don't show 805Andrew's post to my daughter before she (hopefully) heads off to Cal Poly SLO next year. (granted she won't be 21 but still)

[chickenbowl]

Note to self: Don't show 805Andrew's post to my daughter before she (hopefully) heads off to Cal Poly SLO next year. (granted she won't be 21 but still)

 

I love seeing all the SLO posts! If you or your daughter have any questions about Cal Poly, I'm a current student (Engineering) and can answer them! (Just PM me)

[805Andrew]

Note to self: Don't show 805Andrew's post to my daughter before she (hopefully) heads off to Cal Poly SLO next year. (granted she won't be 21 but still)

 

Why not?

[JJLehto]

Ha! I wasn't gunna drink before I was 21. Then the first day of college happened...

And I gotta thank you guys for all the tips and suggestions, pretty much been my personal trip advisers. Especially all the tips for Monterey and SLO, being the biggest stops on my drive. Gunna be so much better than just winging it like I originally planned.