[GMAP]<iframe width="640" height="480" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=California+41+%26+Atascadero+Ave,+Atascadero,+San+Luis+Obispo,+California+93422&daddr=California+229,+Creston,+CA+93432+toarkhill+rd+%26+California+58,+Atascadero,+CA+93453+to:35.37966,-120.43928+to:90+West+Pozo+Road,+Santa+Margarita,+CA+93453+(Pozo+Saloon)+to:Santa+Margarita,+CA&hl=en&geocode=FbJkHQId18bO-Cl_CmhJK-jsgDG8AYGLRhutJw%3BFbagHQIdycvQ-Cn_aChvKOvsgDHDx1EUnuw6Cg%3BFaJaHAIdB2TQ-CmxlOcL7ezsgDGnz1wiTniUJw%3BFczZGwIdED7S-Cnp4Fx1-o3sgDHi6v3soDbDPA%3BFUuyGgId1RjT-CHAKOQIuH2Ivin_ykKu4IjsgDF2uBcw4GmKJA%3BFRUCHAId36bP-Clxyl59QIHsgDEKOHDULiKh8A&mra=dvme&mrsp=3&sz=13&via=3&sll=35.359096,-120.380974&sspn=0.096458,0.180588&ie=UTF8&ll=35.409759,-120.520706&spn=0.268625,0.439453&z=11&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=California+41+%26+Atascadero+Ave,+Atascadero,+San+Luis+Obispo,+California+93422&daddr=California+229,+Creston,+CA+93432+toarkhill+rd+%26+California+58,+Atascadero,+CA+93453+to:35.37966,-120.43928+to:90+West+Pozo+Road,+Santa+Margarita,+CA+93453+(Pozo+Saloon)+to:Santa+Margarita,+CA&hl=en&geocode=FbJkHQId18bO-Cl_CmhJK-jsgDG8AYGLRhutJw%3BFbagHQIdycvQ-Cn_aChvKOvsgDHDx1EUnuw6Cg%3BFaJaHAIdB2TQ-CmxlOcL7ezsgDGnz1wiTniUJw%3BFczZGwIdED7S-Cnp4Fx1-o3sgDHi6v3soDbDPA%3BFUuyGgId1RjT-CHAKOQIuH2Ivin_ykKu4IjsgDF2uBcw4GmKJA%3BFRUCHAId36bP-Clxyl59QIHsgDEKOHDULiKh8A&mra=dvme&mrsp=3&sz=13&via=3&sll=35.359096,-120.380974&sspn=0.096458,0.180588&ie=UTF8&ll=35.409759,-120.520706&spn=0.268625,0.439453&z=11" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small>[/GMAP] A nice diversion when headed up or down US 101 or across CA-46 in the central coast of California is CA SR 229. Between points B and C on the map. SR 229 is a great "rollercoaster" road. It is between Creston (near Paso Robles) and Santa Margarita. It is recently re-paved with tight turns, blind crests, and many elevation changes. The best part of the road is less than 2 lanes wide without a center line so you do need to stay on your own side of the road. There is usually little traffic on the road but it is in the country so beware of larger vehicles on the road (trucks with horse trailers). It can be a little tough on passengers but the real twisty section is only about 5 miles long so most passengers can survive. There are many ways to incorporate SR 229 into your trip/drive so expand out the above map to see nearby cities and highways. For a short diversion when traveling US-101, head out of Santa Margarita, Atascadero, or Paso Robles to make a blast across SR 229. However, I suggest including a drive on SR 229 with other great roads around the area. The above map includes a loop across Parkhill Rd over to Pozo for a stop at the Pozo Saloon. Point A (Mile 0): Start at US-101 and CA-41 in Atascadero, CA. Head north-east on CA-41. - About 11 miles up CA-41 turn right onto SR 229 towards Creston. Point B (Mile 14): SR 229 south of Creston. The intially straight SR 229 begins to curve. - This is where the fun begins. The best part of SR 229 is the 5 miles starting south of Creston (B) to SR-58 (C). - Suggest driving from Creston towards SR-58 (Santa Margarita). - At about mile 20, turn right onto SR-58. There is a stop sign at SR-229 and SR-58. Point C (Mile 21): Turn left onto Parkhill Rd. Another twisty road with very little traffic. Usually do not even catch up to another car and usually only one or two going opposite direction. - At about mile 39 you will make a right-hand bend that will put you onto Pozo Rd. Point D (Mile 41): Stop at the Pozo Saloon for a drink or lunch. Great burgers or Tri-Tip and of course the Pozo Martini. There is usually a band playing on Sunday afternoons. The saloon was built in 1858. - After the stop continue down Pozo Rd to Santa Margarita. Point E (Mile 58): The little town of Santa Margarita and back to US-101. We often stop for Ice Cream in Santa Margarita. Here is a link to photos from a CCMC trip to the Pozo Saloon: 01/30/10: Pozo Saloon - a set on Flickr
Was wondering when someone would identify this one! A personal favorite, and really ideal for a well-tuned MINI! Have had lots of fun "educating" enthusiastic drivers of Vettes, sleeper Volvos, and even Lotus Elises on this darling ribbon of paved nirvana! MANY THUMBS UP on this one - do it if you ever can. Be advised that a reconnaissance run is always advisable before trying it at any sort of speed... Makes it just that much more fun anyway: Recon run in one direction; pull a 180 when the twisty stuff runs out; head back the other way; rinse & repeat as desired! _Dave_ edit - PS: The southern end is where the twisties get really fiddly, and if you start from the North, it's like ending a ski run with moguls! The rythm of the turns just gets better and better! Heading North is still fun, but you hit the trickiest stuff first... Just sayin' 2nd edit - PPS: The whole run described is fun, but my unbridled enthusiasm and commentary is focused only on CA 229, the section between markers B and C as presented in the original post.
Highway 229 is the best 5 mile twisty I have ever run. Very unique, like ski moguls. For MTTS (MINI takes the States) in August 2006, we took a group of MINIs on 229 and there was a lot of smiles and grins when we stopped at the end just before Highway 58!! :cornut: Remember that Dave?
Craig, I will cherish that memory forever! Made an in-car video, but the memory stick ran out just as we were hitting the "moguls"... Have to dig that up and post on You Tube sometime... _Dave_
And here's the link to the video: [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf9Rda3LPtg[/ame] Apologies for the many issues this video has, including: shakycam, pixelation, a crack in my windshield, low speed due to passenger considerations, etc. _Dave_
Dave - That was great - really brings back some good memories of MTTS 2006. I have a new Go Pro Hero camera, maybe we'll get some new footage of 229 on the way up to the Monterey Motorsports Reunion in August.
Thanks for fixing the link Nate! This was my first-ever YouTube upload... Craig, a decent video of 229 would be awesome. I feel bad about mine, but it's better than nothing... _Dave_
Haven't been on 229, a little out of my area of travel, but North of there a bit is 198, San Lucas to Coalinga. Not as varied and not a loop, but not well traveled either and worth a look I think. Have not done this in anything other than an empty semi, but did it many times and always tried to beat my best time. Same as 20, Willits to Ft. Bragg. The fun is all relative ie, "run what ya brung."
KPH - I have been on both Highway 198 and Highway 20 with my MINI and they are both very good twisty roads. But Highway 229 is unique - if you are ever in the Atascadero area you need to run it. :wink:
CFMINI- You, my friend, are devoted. Hwy 20 is out of the way from everywhere. I was paid to go there! 229 will be highlighted on the map.
When you run Hwy 20 south from Clear Lake be sure and take Hwy 16 to i-505, instead of staying on Hwy 20 all the way to Williams @i-5.