By Wayne Brew | September 25, 2017

U.S. Route 101 is another of the first generation interstate highways. In 1979 I hitchhiked Route 101 from Los Angeles to San Jose where it has been converted to a limited access highway. In Washington and Oregon Route 101 is the coastal highway providing spectacular views of the rugged coast. South of Eureka, California it goes into California it goes inland into redwood tree country. It took over two days of driving following the curves near the coast and the steep climbs into the coastal mountains. I camped the first night in an Oregon State Park that was only a short walk to the beach and one can hear the ocean throughout the night. South of Eureka the highway becomes mostly four-lane as it goes through the coastal mountains and redwood forests. I took a 31-mile road that parallels 101 that is called Avenue of the Giants where I could get close to these magnificent trees.

At the end of day 16 I had a couch to sleep on and friendly company at a good friend of my daughters in Oakland. We drank beer at a small pub where the bar was tipped from a past earthquake (why fix character?) and had a great meal in downtown Oakland at a Korean fusion restaurant.