Monterey Peninsula

Wednesday, March 4, turned out to be a somewhat nice day. Maybe I need to talk to the people who schedule the weather, so it can sync with my plans. However, it did still rain part of the day, and I was indoors for a good part of it, at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Following a few fine hours spent there, I went for a drive around the Monterey Peninsula I eventually decided that I liked the beach along Pacific Grove the best, so I went back to catch the sunset there before heading back to the hotel.

Big Sur, in the rain

Tuesday, March 3 opened with some sunshine, but it was not to last. Some of the gear was stowed while wet, something I try to avoid.

The drive north from San Simeon to Carmel-by-the-Sea is largely a wild, population-free drive. The southern portions of the drive are through ranch lands, populated mostly by cattle (and the occasional ranch house). The landscape becomes more mountainous when you enter Monterey County, and the road becomes more winding, and the scenery more wild. It turns inland at the community of Big Sur, where, due to recent wildfires, and current rains, opportunities to see coast redwoods were unfortunately not available.

I did stop along the southern (San Simeon) portion of the trip to photograph some wildlife, including elephant seals resting on the beaches, and a crane (or is it an egret?)

When the road returned to the coast north of Big Sur, the rains actually stopped, and for about 1/2 hour I hiked around some trails on a spit of land, capturing the scenery and the weather, until it began closing in again.

I made may way north from there, bypassing Carmel-by-the-sea to reach Monterey, where I took refuge from the weather in a motel.

Hearst Castle has a view?

Monday, March 2 began as a somewhat gray, damp, and at times rainy day. This in a state that has been experiencing drought for the last two years. OK....

The day's activities started with the rental-car equivalent of repairs. Yesterday, the Vibe's windshield got dinged, and a small crack had formed. Having had previous experience with things like this, I knew that small windshield cracks get bigger, so I made my way to the Avis counter at the San Luis Obispo Airport, where I traded the Vibe in for a red Ford Focus. Note to self (and others): I've always had good service from Avis, even though they cost more than other rental companies.

The pleasantries over with, I made my way up Route 1 toward San Simeon. En route, I decided to stop at Moonstone Beach in Cambria, where I took a walk on (and off) the boardwalk, and photographed some wildlife.

From Moonstone, I continued north until I reached San Simeon and the visitor's center for the Hearst San Simeon State Historical Landmark, aka the Hearst Castle. I quickly booked two of the three available tours (discount for buying more than one!), and had barely time to wolf down a slice of pizza before the first one left.

It has been alleged that there is a view from the Hearst Castle; I wouldn't know it (see first picture). Given that it was either raining or in-cloud during both tours, I didn't get to experience the full effect the alleged view presumably offers. Due to the usual sorts of restrictions on photography (no flash, and so on), most of my attempted photos didn't work. But a few made it...

The first tour, recommendeded for first-timers at the castle, goes through one of the guest houses, and then through the main rooms in the castle itself, ending up in the somewhat spectacular pool house, complete with gold-inlaid mosaic floors.

The second tour goes through the upper levels of the castle, including Hearst's private quarters (where the lamp pictured is located).

Following the tours, I trundled on over to San Simeon State Park, where I actually experienced some sunshine. Fortunately, this coincided with setting up camp, and dining, although clouds did set in again. The tent got rained on again that night.

Nice weather to start

I had an uneventful flight from Boston (following an uneventful subway ride) to LA on Saturday last.

My rental car was a Pontiac Vibe, which Bear felt a need to test-drive. I only had this car a little over a day (but I get ahead of myself); it did give me a chance to experience satellite radio for the first time.

Since I arrived in the evening, I first flopped in a hotel, where I could sleep off some jet lag. I arose to fair weather, and, after "free" hotel breakfast, trundled off to shop for camping groceries. These adventures took me to Santa Barbara, where I also spent some time in the very nice art museum. On the way out of the city, I got a nice view of the city and the islands beyond.

My next destination was the tourist trap of Solvang. This town is a California re-imagining of a small Danish community; the half-timbered look is painted on, and, while there are certainly Danish and other European imports, I found plenty of California tchochkes for sale.

The day concluded with a drive through the small town of Los Osos, because my traveling companion insisted.

By this time, the weather began to look a bit more ominous. By the time I reached my camping location, Pismo Beach State Park, it seemed likely that rain would set in. By sundown, the clouds had completely spoiled the sunset, and rain set in.

My new tent was dry inside.