Expert: Jason Curodeau - 5/26/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hey Jason, im looking to take a trip out to california by myself in the next couple weeks and im going to be taking nothing more than a longboard (skateboard) and maybe a camera to document it. I'm looking to go from san fransico to los angelos or visa versa, and its about 400 miles if im not mistaken. im just trying to decide if i should start from san fransico or los angelos. which way would be better geographicaly for me if i was going to be longboarding the whole way? (more downhill preferably) Im still trying to put my route that im going to take together but i cant until i know the geography a little better. Thank you so much for your time, hope to hear from you soon. (also im looking into taking my route close to the coast if you think thats possible)

ANSWER: Andrew,
Wow sounds like a bit of a challenge, but I am sure it will be a fun one. The best way to attempt this would be from San Francisco down to L.A. I say this for two reasons: 1 you may have a slightly more down hill journey, this is a very small percent because it is up and down no matter how you cut it. 2. It is easier to see the ocean from the southbound side as you are usually on the water side of the road. The last is great for views but also for safety as there are many places where oncoming traffic literally pops out of nowhere. There are also some sections that do not allow unmotorized traffic.
This could be a risky trip as many motorists are busy looking everywhere but where they are driving. Be uber aware of your surroundings i.e. no I-pod!!! It could save your life. Oh and work out your thumb a bit cause some of the uphill stuff, again there is a lot, is pretty long and steep. In my experience along the coast, both as a hitcher and a picker upper, people are generally freindly and into the vibe of the trip. So a lot of interesting folks and good conversation.
I would attempt to stay along hwy 1 as much as possible but beware there are not a lot of towns along the way especially between Monterey and San Simeon. The good news is that many of the out of the way places harbor people who enjoy the spirit of what you are doing and how your doing it. The further inland you get the more congested it gets,plus itgets a lot hotter too.
Hope I have been a help and good luck, enjoy your trip
Jason Curodeau

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QUESTION: Thank you so much! your a tremendous help, theres just one more thing thats been weighing on my mind along with my friends and families concerns, and thats the risk of people maybe "rolling" or "jumping" me in some cities i.e Los angelos maybe. The point of this trip is to get away and meet new people as much as seek myself and push my limits, but safety is as much as a concern as anything else due to the fact, i may be going by myself. from your personal experience would there be a different route i should take as in change my destinations? it doesnt have to be from san fran to los angelos in particular, those are just the two that stood out to me, being major cities. would you maybe have a personal opinion on a different place i should start and finish based on my safety and maybe better riding conditions. keeping in mind i would like to stay near the coast. some have said i should maybe start even more north and come down to san fran, avoiding South cali due to some people and crime rates. Any advise or opinions would be greatly appreciated. you've been such a help already Jason, thanks again in already helping me complete my journey.

ANSWER: Andrew,
I am happy to be of help, I enjoy helping people that want to experience life and travel especialy when they do it in different ways. Most people travel in R.V.'s I have never had anyone who wanted to do it on a long board. Where are you travelling from?
"Some of your friends" are smart by the way. Although Los Angeles and San Francisco are beautiful cities I would not realy want to be making my way around them on a long board especially if I didn't know my way around. I am not saying that they are war zones or anything I just agree that the further north you go the better. In terms of scenery and the people experience.
I lived in Seattle Washington for about five years and while there I knew many people who would do a bike ride from Seattle to Portland. It is not quite the distance but you could go further north and come down the Washington coast cross the Long Veiw bridge into Astoria Oregon, and then work towards Portland. Also if you google "Seattle to Portland" I am sure will find specific routes that the bikers take with some searching.
Another good trip is from Portland to San Francisco. The coast is much more scenic north of San francisco and Anywhere you go between British Colombia and San Francisco is nice.
There are always going to hills to climb and fairly long distances between services especially on a long board but I really feel that the further north you go the more the people there in these small towns will appreciate what you are doing. I lived on a land locked marina on Lake Powell and met a guy, Mike Smith, who was on a canoe trip around the lake, he showed up in December and the weather was horrible. His parents came out to look for him a week before he showed up. By this time he had been alone on the lake and eating nothing but rice and beans for about a month. There where four of us stationed there during winter months and we took him in as one of our own. The point is, when people aren't caged in a big city they trust others more and tend to reach out and become involved with others. You know, the way it should be. Because of the sparce population and peoples affinity towrd nature in the far north you would probably have more meaningful encounters with your fellow man. As opposed, lets say, to the one you might have in a Santa Monica convienience store.
There are some really great towns north of San Francisco that would blow your mind and possibly make you want to stay. Point Reyes station is one and another is Point arena. Point arena has literally been revitalized by the locals. They co-op evrything and all pitched in to get there little theatre back in shape there are cafe's organic stores and really cool people.

From Astoria Oregon to Crescent city you are pretty much on the coast the whole way. Then Just north of Fort Bragg California to San Francisco as well. If you need a place to fly in and out of staying on the coast might be difficult, but if you have a driver to get you to your destination and pick you up the choices are easier.
Hope this helped and I wish you the best. This sounds like a really great adventure you are about to embark on.
Jason Curodeau

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QUESTION: I'm really interested in the Fort braggs to San Fran trip, would you suggest taking highway 1? would that be the right way for me? im not sure how riding that much high way would be, not sure how the highway is or if a longboard would be even legal. any suggestions on that trip? it seems much more realistic and less extreme and other people ive conversed with about it say itd be a better/safer trip too. Thanks again Jason, youve been more than enough help already.

Answer
Andrew,
yeah that sounds like the best way to go. I just did it on my motorcycle last summer around july and it there was way less congestion and the weather was'nt too hot. It did get very cool in the evenings but of all the options I would say this is the best. I am not sure if it is "illegal" they just try to minimize foot traffic or in your case board traffic to avoid accidents and law suits. If you stay safe and aware of what is behind and in front of you the trip shoud be a great one. Plus this in my opinion is the best stretch of the California coast. Definitely take hwy 1! There really is no better way. There are some nice campgrounds in gaulala. Just after you leave the main part of town there is a turn off on your left and you take this road down a hill that dumps right into a campground. I stayed there it is on the south side of a little river and there are hiking trails and stuff. Out of the way and fairly inexpensive. That is if you are camping. If you are staying in hotels be prepard to spend a lot of money some of them can run as much as 200 dollars a night. Anyway hope you have a great trip and don't be afraid to let me know how it went.
Jason Curodeau