We studied the route options by bicycle, and working around Google and with Google. With bike routes Google sends us the most efficient route, which is not always the most scenic nor safe. Our objective was to avoid biking the 154 as much as possible. When June,our camp host, trailed us with her car lights blinking for six miles on the 154 highway to the turnoff at Stagecoach road, we were very grateful. This photo is a look back as we climbed Statecoach Road out of Cachuma Lake's valley. From that turnoff till arriving at Santa Barbara we crossed the 154 six times. Surprisingly we found it exhilarating, fun, curious and safe, with a few caveats. This was an answer beyond our expectations to our prayer request that went out to our prayer partners.
Stagecoach road took us around two mountains. We were set in our lowest gears for 10 miles slowly climbing. The grade was manageable without pushing, but very slow. We enjoyed passing under the 154 Arche Bridge and then passing it again from above. We crossed the 154 at Painted Cave Road, which switched north of the highway making a loop into Los Padres National Forest. This photo shows David and Sophie on the road dwarfed by the bridge above.
Carolyn asked Sophie to walk as David road his bike up the last 3 miles to the turn off to Painted Cave Landmark. The incline was hot and sweaty, but doable. Remarkably there were neighborhoods of homes bordering the National Forest. We found dozens of homes on this one lane road that held this historic landmark. Worth the trip on bikes. We saw a number of cyclists heaving up this tiny road bed. This link explains these caves. https://californiathroughmylens.com/chumash-painted-cave/
From the Painted Cave, we did not pedal at all, except to cross the 154 again and drop into Santa Barabara on the Old San Marcos Road. The number of switchbacks blanked our memories as we kept curving slowling around them. We had to stop and rest our hands as our brakes were quite warm from negociating the speed. But the view of the ocean and Santa Barbara sparkled spectacularly in the afternoon sunlight.