Try Highway 152 west from Gilroy through to Watsonville. It is a brief blast up and over Mt Madonna.

I usually make the run from Hwy 92, down 35 through Woodside, then to Hwy 9 south through Boulder Creek and Felton into Santa Cruz, then take Hwy 1 down to jct with 152 East and head into Gilroy.

I'm itching for a road trip....maybe up through the 36 loop through Mad River from 101 to I-5?

The run through the Mother Lode is a blast too. Take Hwy 4 east from Stockton up into Angel's Camp. Take Hwy 49 south through Sonora, Chinese Camp......Mariposa, then it hooks up with Hwy 41 south in Oakhurst. Once you take this it will dump you into Fresno....ugh....but then there are lots of wide open, flat-straight roads with almost no traffic that head across the Valley to I-5. Bring a map!

have fun.