SPI EXPERIENCES IMC IN VFR FLT.

Narrative

I WAS CLBING OUT TO DO A X-COUNTRY TO SALINAS FROM SAN CARLOS. I WAS IN THE HAZE AND THERE WERE CUMULUS CLOUDS IN THE HAZE. AS I APCHED THE WOODSIDE VOR AT 3300 FT; I NOTICED THE CITY SUDDENLY FADE AWAY AND AT THAT TIME I REALIZED I WAS IN THE CLOUD. I MAINTAINED MY HDG FIGURING I WOULD COME OUT THE OTHER SIDE. SINCE I WAS NOT COMFORTABLE WITH IFR FLT; I MAINTAINED WINGS LEVEL FLT. I WAS AWARE THAT THE TERRAIN WOULD NOT BE A FACTOR AT MY ALT AND ALSO I DIDN'T WANT TO BUST THE TCA WHICH RAN AT 4000 FT MSL ABOVE ME. I CALLED OAKLAND RADIO AND INFORMED THEM I WAS A STUDENT PLT IN THE CLOUDS ON A X-COUNTRY TO SALINAS AND NEEDED ASSISTANCE. HE HAD ME SQUAWK 7700 AND HAD ME CONTACT ZOA. I BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS AND NOTICED ANOTHER CLOUD AHEAD SO I MADE A 180 DEG TURN TO AVOID GOING INTO ANOTHER CLOUD. ZOA ADVISED THERE WAS NO TFC IN THE AREA AND HAD ME CHANGE MY SQUAWK. THEN I TURNED TOWARD THE WOODSIDE VOR AND PROCEEDED DIRECT TO IT. AS I CROSSED OVER THE VOR I RAN INTO ANOTHER CLOUD; BUT I SOON BROKE OUT AND AT THAT TIME I COULD SEE SAN CARLOS ARPT AND; ALSO SEE THE OUTSIDE OF THE ATA. REMAINDER OF THE FLT WAS NORMAL PROC.