After passing through Morro Bay and Cambria we hit that stretch of Highway 1 with narrow twisty roads and absolutely great views. Much of the road has you hundreds of feet above the ocean with few guardrails in sight. I you leave the road there is absolutely nothing between you and the water. Going north at least put us a few extra feet from the edge.
It was almost noon when we arrived at out hotel and with a check-in time of 4:00 there was plenty of time to wander around Cannery Row. The canneries are long gone, replaced by upscale hotels, restaurants and the usual tee-shirt shops. You can’t walk ten feet without being reminded this is Steinbeck country, home of Doc, Dora Flood, Lee Chong and Mack. The Cannery Row movie with Nick Nolte/Debra Winger is one of my favorites. Lunch was a really good clam chowder and a pair of Anchor Steam at a local brewery.
Originally we had reservations at a motel not too far from Cannery Row, but while in San Diego Barb switched us over to a hotel on the bay. Good decision. The Monterey Bay Inn is great. But does it have a continental breakfast? Of course it does, delivered to your room at the time requested. And the bottle of Chardonnay brought to our room was nice.
Dinner was shrimp and scallops for Barb and a seafood fettuccini for me. With no Oregon or Washington wines offered, we settled for a California Merlot.
The next day...
With the door to the deck partially open, we went to sleep listening to the surf and woke up hearing seals. Our continental breakfast arrived at the requested time. No box of raisin bran here. Coffee, orange juice, fruit plate, sesame seed muffin and hardboiled egg.
About 9:00 we took off for a drive around the Monterey Peninsula. Along the way we drove by the Pacific Grove Golf Links where I remember walking along with my dad while he played. I think I must have been about ten at the time. A short time later I found what I think was where we lived on Seaview Avenue. Lots of houses to find when you move every two or three years. Then it was back into town for a Starbucks and short walk.
Back in the car we headed for the 17 Mile Drive and a drive along a coast under a high wave warning. Great beauty in those waves. The relentless sea and all that. Golf courses and million dollar homes are the rule on the 17 Mile Drive. Pebble Beach, Spyglass and Cypress Point are but a few that thread their way through sand and cypress. A wrought iron gate guarding your driveway must be a status symbol. I wonder if there is such a thing as a starter gate that one aspires to move up from.
Back to our hotel to clean up a little and then a fifteen minute walk over to Fisherman’s Wharf for lunch. Crab Cocktail for Barb and a Shrimp Cocktail for me. We shared half way through. Oh, and a pair of Anchor Steam.
The afternoon was spent back at the hotel. At 6:00 another fifteen minute walk took us back to Fisherman’s Wharf for dinner. Barb had red snapper while I went with the clam linguini. Free appetizer of calamari and a pair of Anchor Steam, what more could we want.
A decision tonight at dinner will take us to Redding, California tomorrow instead than Eureka. Less driving time and less gas.
California Coast
Cannery Row
