Thanks for your advices Soutwest Dave! Really appreciated!

If I understand correctly, your suggestion would be to do something like this:
Aug 5: From Grand Canyon to Lake Havasu City (what about camping out at Mojave?)
Aug 6: Then going towards Bakersfield (is this really a place to be or should I look for a 'nicer' spot to stop at?)
Aug 7: Bakersfield to Monterey
Aug 8: Monterery to SF
Aug 9: SF

-I'm not sure taking two days on that route (GC to San Simeon) is really in order and I think getting to Bakersfield from GC would be too much in one day (would't?) Could a stop in Barstow be a better alternative so that I get to Big Sur in 2 days instead of 3?
-From Monterey to SF, is it worth it to keep going on US-1 or if I should get on the 101 right away?