billbauer

No pictures today.  Today was a travel day.  We awoke in our airBnB in Oxnard (Channel Island), followed Highway 1 along the coast through Malibu, into Santa Monica, into the awful LA freeway traffic and traded our rental car for a rental car airport van to LAX.  All pretty easy and uneventful. I know that some of you won't be surprised.  We arrived at LAX even before the Sun Country ticket desk was even open.  And we weren't the first ones there, two other couples were also waiting.  It is not because of a master plan to arrive this early but with a late (5:30PM) flight and no plans for anything else to do, it just happened. Bev got to go through airport security twice.  The first time through, a tube of gel inadvertently got packed in a carry on.  So Bev was able to go back out, go to the ticket counter and check the carry on and return to go through security a second time.  There wasn't a line in either place so it was pretty quick. We both feel that it was a succe

Our Pacific Coast Highway road trip is winding down.  After a breakfast al fresco (50 degrees) by a "fire feature" on the patio at the Seacreast Inn in Pismo Beach we continue on down Highway 1 which for most of the way today is identical to Interstate 101.  We stop for a light lunch in Santa Barbara at a place that we picked out last week but didn't have time to get to, the C'est Cheese for a cheese plate and wine. Last night we began our search for a place to bed down this evening deciding to try to do another airBnB that was so successful in Malibu a week ago.  This time we located a suite with a private entrance in the lower level of a home across the street from a beach in Oxnard that will give us a great starting point for heading to LAX tomorrow.  Another great little spot. An interesting side light is that we actually drove by this house last week as we randomly stopped at a beach on the way north and posted a picture of Beverly walking on the sand

After a leisurely morning wake-up, we stop for breakfast at the Lodge in Big Sur State Park.  I know, I know, everything is Big Sur this and Big Sur that.  It is hard to keep them straight.  Then we had about two hours, around 60 miles, of twisty, hilly, cliff-side, white-knuckle driving.  It was great.  It is actually better going south since the car is on the ocean side of the road.  After getting through the most twisty stuff, I actually had to force my fingers to relax from the steering wheel and regain circulation.  It is not Going to the Sun Road or Bear Tooth Highway scary but it is pretty good. The big event for the day is the Hearst Castle, actually the Hearst State Historical Landmark, near San Simeon.  Amazing that this was built in the 1900s.  William Randolph Hearst's office.  The ocean view from the terrace. We end our day in Pismo Beach, a coast town a little bit toward the Santa Barbara side of San Luis Obispo at a surprisingly nice beach front hotel call

We got a lot in on Sunday starting with a visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. While there I spotted a creature with tentacles. After lunch in the aquarium, we head for Fisherman's Wharf and an afternoon of whale watching.  I am sparing you most of the two hundred some pictures taken on the cruise, almost all of them looking pretty much exactly alike: gray sky, gray water, gray whales.  It was a great one hour trip.  The problem was that it was actually a three+ hour trip.  BTW, the picture shows two humpback whales, the one on the left headed for a dive in search of food. After the whale watching cruise, we start our trek south back into the Big Sur and stop at a relatively scenic wayside. We spend the night about 30 miles down the road at the Big Sur River Inn, a simple roadside motel with a good restaurant and no television, no phone and no cellular service.  There is in-room WiFi.  However, the connection so slow that only simple tasks can be com

Saturday morning is a good time for a run along the Monterey bike/pedestrian trail, some 29 miles long.  Here is a shot from Lover's Point west of Cannery Row. Monterey is full of tourists on Saturday.  It is time to get out of town and head inland to the home of John Steinbeck, Salinas, where we first stroll the farmer's market and then visit the National Steinbeck Center. After lunch at a local cafe we head back to the Spindrift Inn in Monterey for a low key afternoon and evening. Plans for tomorrow include the Monterey Aquarium (perhaps) and a late afternoon whale watching cruise before starting our journey south on Highway 1.  Sunday night will take us into the heart of Big Sur to the Big Sur River Inn.  There is no cell coverage in Big Sur and I doubt if there is ample WiFi.  So it is unlikely that I can update this blog tomorrow night.  The plan for Monday is the Hearst Castle in San Simeon.  After that we should be back in communication with t

Today we bade farewell to Carmel Highlands and migrated all of about 8 miles to Monterey.  First, we spent some time shopping (mostly looking) at the cute shops in the neat town of Carmel-by-the-Sea.  No, we did not see Clint Eastwood. On the "17 Mile Drive" around the Monterey peninsula: We stopped and had lunch outside on the terrace at the Lodge at Pebble Beach overlooking the 18th green. We end our day at the Spindrift Inn, a boutique hotel in the Cannery Row area of Monterey. Tonight: a quiet, relaxing evening in the room listening the ocean sounds.

Time for some down time today as we are staying over at the Tickled Pink Inn.  I'm not sure how I feel about the Tickled Pink.  It has great reviews.  We have a very interesting room with a separate living area and a private balcony overlooking the ocean separate from others.  We were pleasantly surprised when champagne (well, at least sparkling wine in case the French are listening) upon arrival.  We have robes, slippers, free cookies, wine & cheese cocktail hours, free breakfast, hot tub, fireplace, etc.  However, I'm still not sure why they short sheeted my bed!  And not by accident.  It is their policy unless a guest complains, which I did.  We were joined in our lazy day by a new friend. We didn't just lay around all day.  We managed a 30 mile drive back down the highway (and back) to have lunch at the very nice Ventana Inn.  We would have loved to have stayed at the Ventana Inn but it is out of our price range.  Lunch (steak frittes, for me) is as close as we&#

After a great breakfast outside on the deck of the restaurant at the Ragged Point Inn, we head deep into Big Sur territory.  While we don't have actually driving pictures, the Pacific Coast Highway is etched into the hillside as seen below. We were warned that the drive would be "35 mph" and sometimes it was ... slower than that.  And some of the time it was a little faster.  As many guidebooks have said, if you want to go fast, take the interstate. There are, of course, many "pull outs" with gorgeous views. We have lunch at the place everybody recommends, the Nepenthe Restaurant. After considerable searching and help from a local, we eventually found the unmarked Pfeiffer State Beach. A highlight for me is the iconic Bixby Bridge, symbol and half way point of the Big Sur Marathon. Our "splurge" accommodations for the road trip is the strangely named Tickle Pink Inn in the Carmel Highlands where we will be for a couple of