Originally Posted by
MatthewLAX
Isn't there a little shortcut just past the Pacheco Pass where you take a sort-of back road in the direction of Hollister and come out by the outlets, where you can then jump on 101?
Correct - it is the Ferguson Road turnoff: (it is actually located a few miles past the Hollister turnoff):
Making the left (staying on 152) takes you past the garlic processing plant to 101. If you don't follow 152 and take Ferguson Road instead, the road curves and change its name to Leavesley Road, which leads to the outlets and 101.
(When I was a kid, we used to go from Fresno to Watsonville, so I am used to the 152 routing).