Well he's starting out in Cali (which means he'll be going going back back to cali cali at some point.... )... Can't help ya with that leg. Call me when you hit the Berkshires to the west, the Green Mtns. to the north, or Jersey.
I still think the best/cheapest/most effective way would be on a Ninja 250... almost 70mpg highway... yet it's a REAL bike and therefore legal on a controlled-access highway... I got one you can take... lookin a little rough around the edges, and no odometer (bang on the tank to see if it needs gas), but runs like a top.
...just sayin...