Cambria Fun Run
Our first overnight event was a hit, and a good time was had by all. On our pre-drive, it was fun to visit some of our venues ( restaurants & wineries ) from 2025. We also needed to scout out a “ new “ routing and venues for our Saturday outing. One idea was a trip north to Big Sur on newly opened HWY 1 and return to Cambria. A simple ( in concept ) tour along some of the most stunning road geography in North America. Only 70 miles, right. Well the pre-drive proved this was not what the GGR Touring Audience has come to expect from our planning committee. Albeit the views are world class, so is the traffic on these pre summer season weekends. Maybe to endure it one way would be acceptable, enduring it two ways was not ever going to happen successfully. This along with not finding acceptable parking at the Nepenthe facilities, gave us our answer. Yet from a chance encounter one evening in Sonoma with Dunstan Winery owner Chris Towt, we were made aware of Hearst Ranch Winery in San Simeon ( https://hearstranchwinery.com/ ).
What a find, terrific facilities, excellent wines and venue on the water. Another case of better to be lucky than smart some days. This was the case with Hearst Ranch Winery. After some other adjustments to the previous year’s routes and stops, we were ready to roll!
Day one ~ Hollister along CA 25 to King City, south thru wine county from Lockwood by Lake Nacimiento and into Paso Robles for a casual lunch at Finca ( https://fincapasorobles.com/ ). After lunch a short drive out Adeliada Road to Vineyard Dr then to Dark Star. After some socializing at Dark Star off to Cambria via CA 46 to Cambria Pines Inn ( https://www.cambriapineslodge.com/ ) for check in. Dinner was ad hoc and groups formed up on their own. During check-in we were greated by another “ car “ club also staying there. The Oldsmobile Club of America ( https://www.socaloldsmobile.com/ ) was holding the annual North-South meetup. We saw amazing cars ( 45 cars spanning late 1940s to 2004 ) with some wonderful stories to go along. Like PCA, it’s the people and not the cars.
Day two brought us more great driving weather, a new road ( CA 41 Morro Bay to Atascadero ) and after a stop at the James Dean Memorial site, we continued to a fun lunch stop in Parkfield ( the earth quake capital of America ), the Parkfied Café ( https://www.v6ranch.com/parkfield-cafe ). A wonderful period place that again took in our group and the main drag was Porsche parking only pretty much. It was at this stop a Service Team came into the game. One car in our group had identified a slow leak in the left rear tire. This would eventually lead to some emergency temporary repairs that took our guests and Service Car driver 40 miles to America’s Tire in Paso Robles. Tire could not be fixed ( sidewall issue ) yet they could provide the exact size and performance rated tire to get this car back to the bay area. Additionally, upon arrival home the replacement tire could be replaced with the OEM Michelin for only the cost differential. All is well that ends well in this story. With this team on their way to a tire fix, the rest of our tour head to San Simeon via Vineyard Canyon Road thru San Miquel. To reach our last official destination Hearst Ranch Winery is CA 101 to CA 46 and the CA 1.
Sunday Route Home different groups headed North on their own via CA 1. We stopped along the way in Nepenthe for a bite and that last view of our beautiful coast. If interested in our next overnight drives, please check the GGR Motoring Calendar for the Mammoth Drive ( September ) and Gold Country Tour ( October ). Again none of this is possible without the Motoring volunteers that make it all happen; Tour Routing & Planning ( Kurt Kruger, JB Ellis ), Leads ( Kurt Kruger, JB Ellis ) Sweeps ( Ken Varner, Bob Brennan, Birgit Heinz ), Service Car ( Birgit Heinz ), Radio & Tech support ( Bob Brennan, Krish K, Alan Yamauchi ).
Never Stop Driving ! Cheryl SpottPCA Golden Gate Region Motoring Director
