Day 10
Today we started in – Monterey
We finished in – Big Sur
Miles travelled today – 37
Miles so far this trip – 1087
Tonight we are staying at – Big Sur Lodge
Monday April 1st – Day 10
I sit here penning notes from yesterdays trip, and look out the window. We are 3 floors up overlooking the harbour, so the views are good.
I spot a bird launching off from his bobbing place in the sea, but stays inches above the water. He / She has a long thing in its mouth, maybe a fish, perhaps something for a nest. It is moving too fast to tell, but its ability to keep perfectly level across the water is impressive.
It finally comes to rest atop a derelict structure with maybe 20 of its friends.
Further out, a small boat edges closer to the harbour, maybe returning after an early morning fishing trip. Two paddle boarders approach, there is a small beach area next to our hotel, they head for that, a morning burst of activity for them.
A quick note, I am afraid these daily posts are becoming harder to do. As a result they are becoming more and more of a “we did this, we did that”.
If only to serve as a reminder of our times, I hope to elaborate on them at my leisure.
Back to today. We head out trying to find a suitable place for breakfast. Only after asking a local do we sit down under a pergola intertwined with some sort of greenery. (Plants are not my strong point).
Wave Cafe is a California Spanish style place. The classical guitar music being piped through the outdoor speakers, coupled with the yellow exterior, and the aforementioned pergola sets the scene.
Not surprising as the town of Monterey was one of the earliest settlements founded by the Spanish.
Fishermans Wharf is next, with it mix of sweet shops, eateries, seafood places and on this occasion, unfortunately a poorly otter.
The local Rangers scooped her up, and took her off to the local aquarium to recoup erase after, it turns out, giving birth.
Myself, and an eager Max helped them lift the heavy netting over the railings.
Before this, we wander up and down Fishermans Wharf. It is filled with seafood shops, most have ladies (one has a man) outside, drawing you over with some sort of thimbleful of a sample (usually Chowder). Once there, they chat and try to entice you inside, but there is no ‘hard sell’.
One shop has a unpopular (with families) sign outside:
Another shop agrees with us and has its own sign:
Otters float on their back, crunching on mussle shells to extract their slimy goodness. Once done, they dart back under the pier to prise another from the wooden supports. It appears to be an endless supply.
A bad picture thanks to the wrong lens, but it was all I’d brought with me!
After a couple of hours we leave, and after the previously mentioned incident with the poorly otter, we are back on the road.
Carmel on the sea, another quaint seaside town. The inclement weather and an ever pressing schedule means 30 minutes or so on the beach is all we muster.
As we are heading back to the car, we bump into a couple walking a beautiful lassie type Collie. Max, as he has done to every doggy he has seen this trip, stops, looks up at the humans and says
“Can I stroke your dog”
Followed by
“Whatsis name?”
And finally,
“Is it a boy or a girl?”
As he was doing this, a more mature lady power walks through us. “A bit of room for the walkers!” she huffs, drawing a raised eyebrow from lassie dog owner.
We make it to the car, drive off dutifully following the sat nav. We round the next corner, and who should be standing in the road, making us drive round her?
Huffy Lycra Woman (worst superhero name ever by the way)
I resist the urge to wind down the window and call out “Bit of room for the drivers please!”
Bixby Bridge is our next stop, eventually. After getting lured into many of the pull outs. I get the shot I missed from our 2013 trip, although the weather is still being unkind so it has grey as a back drop and not blue.
Eventually we reach Big Sur lodge, and our chalet style room awaits. The overpriced restaurants has to make do for tea, and after a drink in the bar planning tomorrow, we retire to bed.
Day 9 complete. 14 to go!
See Full Itinerary of our trip here
Day 1 – London to LA
Day 2 – LA to Sequoia National Park
Day 3 – Sequoia to Yosemite
Day 4 – Yosemite to San Andreas
Day 5 – San Andreas to Lake Tahoe
Day 6 – Full Day at Lake Tahoe
Day 7 – Lake Tahoe to Napa
Day 8 – Napa to Half Moon Bay
Day 9 – Half Moon Bay to Monterey
Day 10 – Monterey to Big Sur
Day 11 – Big Sur to San Simeon
Day 12 – San Simeon to Pismo Beach
Day 13 – Pismo Beach to Santa Barbara
Day 14 – Santa Barbara to Santa Monica
Day 15 – Santa Monica
Day 16 – Santa Monica
Day 17 – Fly to Manhattan
Day 18 – Manhattan
Day 19 to 24 – Long Island