Day 9
Today we started in – Half Moon Bay
We finished in – Monterey
Miles travelled today – 97
Miles so far this trip – 1050
Tonight we are staying at – Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa
Sunday 31st March Day 9
We wake up and have a typical free motel breakfast in the motel reception.
Waffles, toast and bagels are top of the list. Not particularly award wining but it filled us up and got the day off to a good start.
We decide to head into Half Moon Bay, the town. It only seemed right therefore, that we play Half Moon Bay by Train on the stereo.
Music on, shades on, roof down (that last one was in my dreams) we enter in the peaceful yet active Main Street of Half Moon Bay.
Cafes, bakery’s, shops. Pavement tables for the morning coffee getters that want to watch the world go by.
Singles and couples walk their dogs their dogs, perhaps a Sunday morning ritual.
In between the cafes and bakeries are art galleries, overpriced clothes shops and quirky nikk nak shops. Some open vying for your trade, and some not.
All that manages to lure us in is a small corner cafe. It’s fixtures and fittings largely dark wood. A big chalkboard dominates the wall behind the counter, letting everyone know instantly what refreshments are available.
A mistakenly ordered Earl Grey tea unsurprisingly tastes odd with milk. The ice tea and apple juice are more pleasing.
We set up camp for a few minutes in the garden. A large wood sculpture takes pride of place in the middle of a big round, blue tiled table.
Across the narrow garden, a large parasol provides shade for Kelly Rodgers.
He is busy tuning his 12 string guitar, while his 6 string sits patiently on its stand.
He strikes up his first song using his tinny 12 string. The pleasant sound fills the air, and he accompanies the sound by relentlessly puffing into a harmonica expertly attached to his neck.
The sun beats down. Blue skies. Acoustic guitar. Perfect. I think I could sit here for hours.
But, alas, Monterey calls so we hit the Pacific Coast Highway. Winding roads, pullouts every half mile give plenty of photo opportunities. $10 though to park close to the beach, so we pass, knowing we are only going to be there for an hour.
We continue to enjoy the pullouts. Signs advising us that the cliffs are unstable. It doesn’t stop people edging as close as they dare to get that Instagramable selfie, us included.
We continue our drive, sometimes hugging the coast, other times coming more inland to swerve around giant field of yellow flowers, houses, and in one instant, a person sitting roadside playing guitar.
We are being treated to blue skies, bright green fields and rugged cliffs.
Our morning entertainer Kelly Rogers, in his pre song ramblings warns us the blue skies wont last.
We make the mostly the blue skies, and swing into a pull out over looking the sea. Max is enjoying his camera and the photo taking almost as much as I am.
This particular pullout has a muddy track down the cliff side tempted people down to the beach. We venture halfway down before common sense prevails and we turn and head back to the safety of where the car is.
We decide to lunch here, with our store bought salads, enjoying the views.
Our good friend Google maps tells us the PCH is closed is a few miles ahead. This has only just happened so we pray it is temporary and we don’t have to detour inland to when we set off.
We sit here, the sun beating through the glass. Doors open to let some air in, along with the smells and sounds of the Pacific Ocean.
Luckily, the road closure was a temporary one, so we can head to our first real stop on Highway 1, Santa Cruz.
To avoid driving for hours we head to slightly out of town parking. Pay for 3 hours and no sooner had we locked the car up we are approached by a friendly face on a Tuk-Tuk.
“Wanna ride to the pier or the boardwalk?” He drawls.
“How much?”
“$10, $20. Hell I’ll take $100 dollars if you wanna pay that”
I offer the $10 that at the end of the ride turns into $12 as he deserves a small tip.
He has a friendly face, and a happy demeaner. Well presented in an Hawaiian style shirt, glasses and a straw hat to keep the California sun at bay as he peddles up and down for hours.
He drops us at the far end so we can walk back, and we enter under a big curved sign that reminds us where we are.
Rides greet us. Named like Typhoon, Giant Dipper and the rollercoaster that sits atop one of the arcades.
Smells fill the air and we wander around for an hour before going back to the car. I will elaborate on our experience here one day.
Head back to the PCH, and as we hit it, we see a sea of tents on our right. A quick look up and it appears to be a homeless camp. Blue team after blue tent are pitched on top of each other. Not a nice way to live, and only marginally better than roaming the streets I would imagine.
It takes us to see something like this to realise how lucky we are. Yes we have to work hard for what we have, as does everyone, but it is surely better than living like they have to.
Pretty soon we are arriving in Monterey at what is our poshest hotel to date. The Monterey Plaza & Spa. We enjoy the Valet parking, the luxury reception, the Bell Boys and the room overlooking the harbour on the 3rd floor.
But we both agree that for a Road Trip holiday, motels where you can reverse up to the back door, and park your own car.
We head to Cannery Row for tea. Clusters of shops and restaurants, greet us, as we past a small beach, McAbee Beach.
We hunt for somewhere to eat. A 2 hour wait at Bubba Gump and the high prices at FishHopper means we eat in Louie Linguini.
A table overlooking the sea is a nice place to be. We sit there, eating and colouring with Max until the sun goes down. The shop and street lights take over.
We head back to the hotel, and squeeze in one last drink at Schooners.
The L-shaped outside terrace greets us. We sit, the hotel to the left. Sea to the right. Chattering mixed in with low music and sea crashing on the floor. It is a relatively mild night but a patio heater emanates a warming glow toward us.
A tired Max means we can’t head up to the main patio, and enjoy some time around the fire pit. Our beds are calling.
Day 9 complete. 15 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