California Day 5 – Down the Coast to Monterey

Bill Oates
Aug 28, 2017 · 2 min read

Packed up the house and said farewell to the other half of the family. Up and out by 10 – not bad going. First stop a supermarket: Target. Had everything we needed from a cheap quilt, basic picnic kit through to stuff for lunchtime sandwiches.

We decided to forgo the direct freeway route in favour of the coastal Route 1, which roller-coasted alongside the sea. After about 25 miles it began to feel really wild and 20 miles further we had a picnic lunch and our first wildlife spotting – Elephant Seals. The Año Nuevo State Park was very low-key but very well staffed and managed. Also practically deserted – no more than 10 cars in the huge car park. A mile’s walk from the car park through the dunes took us to an overlook where we looked out over about half a dozen huge males, about 50 metres away. On the way back through the dunes we also encountered deer, rabbits, lizards and many different types of dragonflys. All to the soundtrack of hundreds of sea lions barking away from the nearby island. Lovely visitor centre in old wooden clapboard farm buildings. Not bad at all for 10 bucks!

Those lumps in the distance – Elephant Seals!

Back in the car again for an hour or so down to Monterey. The Monterey Plaza hotel was our one five star luxury stop: valet for the car, bell hop for the cases, the works. The whole complex was on the site of an old cannery, built out over the water. From the balcony of our room we looked out over a kelp bed and a group of 5 resident sea otters. Just there – 100m or so away.

View from the balcony. Kelp beds, and if you look carefully, Sea Otters!

We took a stroll down Cannery row – a mixture of luxe and tat – to check out the aquarium. Then for supper we had Chinese takeaway. It was important that these had to be in boxes – just like you see on the TV. We crossed the tracks to the centre of town and were not disappointed. Rounded off the day with a movie in our room.

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Life, travel and perhaps some work type things

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