Eric - I hope you don't mind me putting a link to my California vacation thread from this past June, but the beauty of the pictures say a lot for CA. We encountered friendly people and great scenery throughout our trip.
https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=825586
Over the past thirty years or so I've travel around most of the states on my Sportster. I've found that people in small towns and rural areas all seem to be friendly and pleasant whether it be California, New York, or wherever. Nothing against city folks, I just haven't spent a lot of time there.