Help: I'm in Monterey, leaving tomorrow (at 11am-ish). I have a flight from SFO at 20:35 (and car to return, etc.)… what do I do in between those two times, while on the way?

Have you seen the coastline in between Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay? Beautiful scenery, and some good places to go hiking (e.g., Rancho del Oso / Waddell Creek part of Big Basin Redwoods State Park). Most scenic part is probably from a bit N of Waddell Creek to Tunitas Creek.

I saw the coastline insofar as I drove past it on the way here. 😀 Big Basin Redwoods State Park was something I was definitely planning on heading through at least, but hadn't looked up relatively easy and shortish hikes (or safety, or anything).

(or rather, I was considering going back via highway 9 and 236 and potentially stopping off somewhere there)

The part of Big Basin Redwoods SP near the coast is more variable and interesting than the more reliably-forested part near the park headquarters, IMO. There are also a good hikes in the preserves at openspace.org/ , especially (for fall) Skyline Ridge or Monte Bello.

To be fair, redwoods are somewhat novel for me!

There are also some nice redwood forests in El Corte de Madera Creek OSP and in Purisima Creek Redwoods OSP (again in openspace.org/preserves). It's been a *long* time since I've been to Big Basin Redwoods SP park HQ... but IIRC highway 236 is very slow and twisty.

Google Maps reckons an average of 25mph (v. 36mph for highway 9), which is about what I was expecting. Still looks wider and straighter than plenty of roads I drive on in Scotland (albeit I have a wider car here…).

I think you might be able to average 25mph if you're on a motorcycle... but I think that's incredibly optimistic for a car.