Neptune's Treasure Hunt.(Column)(Column)

Byline: Richard S. Chang

To my frequent complaints about the shortage of exciting driving roads around New York City, my friend recently offered a great tip:

"You need to follow the bikers,'' he said. "They know the best routes.''

And you know what? I knew this already.

When I lived in Los Angeles, I used to drive up the 101 to Topanga Canyon Boulevard, which curled up and down the Santa Monica Mountains and spat me out onto the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. I'd drive farther up the PCH, past the lush Pepperdine lawn, past Point Dume and Point Mugu, until I hit the county line. Across the highway from the beach is a Sunday biker hangout called Neptune's Net.

Low, long and flat against the sunburnt hills, Neptune's Net looks like an old shack from the movie Beach Blanket Bingo. It's painted a deep marine blue. There's an old splintered deck with picnic tables in equal disrepair. Whenever people ask me if I miss L.A., it's the first image that pops into my head.

It's also the ideal distance from L.A. You can take any combination of canyon roads to get there: Topanga Canyon, Kanan Dume, Decker Canyon, Latigo Canyon, Malibu Canyon, Las Flores Canyon. You can plan an afternoon around ...