Pescadero is a village on the coast of San Mateo County, about twenty kilometres south of Half Moon Bay by the old road, and it is one of the best-loved small stops for any rider who comes down from the Santa Cruz ridge. Highway 1 runs through here with the Pacific close on one side and farmland on the other, and the sky is usually larger than you expect.
The area is farm country. Artichokes thrive in the cool, foggy air, and the roadside stands sell them by the bag in season, alongside strawberries, flowers and brussels sprouts. In the village itself an old tavern has served artichoke soup and a long list of fried things for generations, and the bakery down the street is known for garlic bread and pies. Both are busy at weekends, so it can pay to arrive on a weekday or early. A few kilometres south, Pigeon Point Lighthouse, finished in 1872, rises 115 feet above the shore and is among the tallest on the West Coast.
For the bike, the coast road is a different mood from the ridge. It is gentler, more open, with long straights and smooth bends that flick along the bluffs. Wind is a real factor, sometimes strong enough to push a lightweight bike across the lane, and fog can sit on the road for hours in summer. The best light comes in late afternoon in spring and autumn, when the fog thins and the grass glows. In winter you may see grey whales spouting offshore.
There are no big towns near, and Woodside, at twenty-three kilometres, is the nearest sizeable place, so carry enough fuel for the coast run. Half Moon Bay, to the north, has stations and more food. Dress for a cold, damp wind, even if it was warm on the ridge.