My Pacific Coast Bicycle Route, 48 days in a 48 minutes film.

The Pacific Coast Route is one of the great classics of the American road trip, deeply rooted in the popular imagination of the twentieth century, almost as iconic as Route 66. Born in the era of mass motorization yet still alive in contemporary culture, the route unfolds mainly along Highway 1 and 101 for roughly 2,000 miles, and has become a benchmark itinerary for long-distance cycle touring as well. In its most complete version, it connects Vancouver, in Canada, to San Diego, in the United States, with possible extensions down to Tijuana. The docu-film: Vlady recounts his 48 days in a 48-minute documentary video (plus a brief visit to Mexico), discovering the country firsthand, speaking directly to the camera. He shares impressions, emotions, and notes in a format that blends travel journalism with personal reflection. From the very beginning, Vlady reshaped the route established by the Adventure Cycling Association: rather than leaving Canada immediately (Vancouver is about 50 km from the U.S. border), he spends three days exploring Vancouver Island, deliberately seeking gravel roads and some adventure before the long American road trip. Here, that search materializes in a moment that borders on the archetypal: a close encounter with a black bear, in a remote area, a negotiation for right of way that lasted an interminable half minute. The second deviation is a consequence of the first, as it takes place on the Olympic Peninsula, where Vlady arrived by ferry from Victoria. The third detour occurs further south, due to a landslide on the Big Sur coast. Redirected inland, Vlady drifts—both physically and mentally—into the Salinas Valley, the literary landscape of John Steinbeck. As this is his second major journey across the United States, Vlady moves beyond discovery into reflection. The film raises recurring questions: are we tourists or travelers? Does the love of travel lead to endurance cycling, or is it the other way around? And what, precisely, makes bicycle travel so distinct? More than a functional corridor, the Pacific Coast Route is a road designed for the act of seeing. Faster infrastructures run inland; here, the pace inevitably slows. It is a vertical trajectory along the edge of a continent, cinematic in nature, and inherently contemplative. The road does not serve arrival so much as experience. And yet, as Vlady realizes, it is also a one-way passage: each place, once passed, is lost. The desire to reach the end becomes entangled with the awareness that arrival will also mark the end of the journey itself. What follows is an implicit question: in a slow journey, should one sometimes choose to slow down even further, simply to prevent it from slipping away too quickly? 00:00:01 Intro 00:00:43 The Canadian Section 00:02:04 Hello Bear! 00:03:03 Entering the Olympic Peninsula 00:06:24 Travel considerations n.1 00:08:00 Aberdeen, WA 00:11:31 Travel considerations n.2 00:13:50 Astoria, OR 00:16:00 Cannon Beach, OR 00:16:50 Cape Lookout campsite, OR 00:19:17 Oregon midcoast reflections 00:20:14 Brookings coastline, OR 00:21:41 Northern California and the redwoods 00:28:38 Fort Bragg and the coastline, CA 00:32:35 San Francisco, CA 00:34:52 Homeless life in S.F. 00:36:09 On the road mood and Santa Cruz rest 00:38:01 The big detour 00:41:00 Going south in California 00:44:15 Travel considerations about Southern Cali 00:45:00 Santa Monica and L.A. 00:46:15 Between L.A. and San Diego 00:47:38 Conclusion(s) 00:50:46 Tijuana, Mex More info about the route: https://vladywashere.wordpress.com/ Music credits: @Mr.Vartol, Mobygratis, Twin Musicom, Audionautix Do you like the visual effect, the colouring? Try @Dehancer, get it today with my 10% discount code VLADYWASHERE10 https://www.dehancer.com Please consider to subscribe or join my Patreon to access a special content section: https://patreon.com/vladywashere?utm_... vlady_was_here - filmed 2025, edited 2026 #PacificCoastBicycleRoute #biketouring101 #canadatomexico