Well it's organised now and we are probably doing too much but what the hell.

Thank you for the input very useful

We have planned to stay in San Francisco theater district for three nights (still in discussion and it might be Fishermans Wharf) and catch up with our son and have a look round for a few days. Should managed to detour via Muir Woods I would think either on way to Sonomo. Can't manage everything though trying.

Then it goes a bit like this:

Sonomo
South Lake Tahoe area for a couple of days
Mammoth Lakes for a couple of days
Lone Pines to break the journey to Las Vegas
Las Vegas via Death Valley
Two days at the Grand Canyon
Mohave
Palmdale to break the journey on way back
Up the coastal route to San Luis Obispo
Monterey
San Francisco for a final few days

Home and sleep for 6 months