Oh, there was one break. There's a low mountain range that you have to cross once you get past the western end of the San Fernando Valley. However, it's only about two miles, and then you've got Thousand Oaks, Oxnard and Ventura. Know it well, used to live there ;-).
Not sure how long it's been since you passed through there, but from Woodland Hills, Calabasas, Agoura, Westlake, and on into T.O, it's now a continuum.
Well, I don't remember the names of all the towns, but I remember the general route and many of the towns along the way.
Being as that you have lived in both California and Arizona, your present address, which state would you say is nicer to live in?