. . . if y'all are leaving Sacto on Friday morning, and you plan on being in La Pine by noon on Saturday, there aren't that many options (roadwise) that'll get you there in time for lunch with Bigfoot Ray on Saturday. Running out and riding the north coast is a time-consuming thing, and it's hard to cover ground quickly up that way.
I'll let Sacramento Mike or one of these other locals help you make that call.
I am with you, I think we are biting off too much territory to cover by running out to the coast. Let's beeline it to La Pine.
It's just under 300 miles to Eureka, a trip I've taken a lot (my daughter lives there). That's six hours, and it includes TWN's famous highway 36. From there, up through Crescent City to Grants Pass is shown as 166 more miles via 101 and 199 (both fun, pretty roads), 3 hrs. 22 mins. A longish day, but real do-able with a fairly early start, with some coast and some great redwood sections. Plus I'm thinking we could beat those times by
a little.
Google Maps says 3 hrs, 12 mins. from Grants Pass (if we stop there) to LaPine, 160 miles. A leisurely departure before 9 gets us there by noon Saturday easy.
You could definitely make it faster by jamming up I-5 if you want, but I'd hate to have you
ride by all the good stuff. Up to you, though. I'll still let you sleep on my floor.
(Edit for p.s., if some of you want to take straight, flat, ugly I-5 from here, and anybody else wants to ride fun, twisty, hilly 36-101-199, I'll still be glad to lead that leg, departing early 9/14, Friday morning.)