Drive along
the Pacific Coast Highway

It is now time to leave the LA area. It has been fun. We left the hotel at 6:00 AM, deciding to skip the breakfast at the hotel and go to Starbucks for hot chocolate. We got onto the freeway, and headed towards the 101 which would take us up the coast to Santa Barbara. We drove through some hills, and saw the remnants of some of the brush fires. Charred wood, charred brush. The road was windy through the hills, and we encountered a work crew doing repair work on one of the bridges that had suffered some damage. It was so different from New England. The hills were more jagged than New England hills, since these were newer and had not had so much erosion. They also get less rain than New England does. We were treated to some really nice vistas as we drove through the hills, since it was also a nice, sunny day.

We saw miles of vineyards. Also, there were miles of farms, with migrants out picking in the fields. I see why they can produce so much food, as they have a lot of land to plant. But they also need a lot of water, which is why the West has always had issues with water.

Breakfast would be in Santa Barbara. We found the Savoy Cafe & Deli, a short walk from the garage that we parked in. Great food. Walking through the back entrance, you passed tables that you could dine on, under the roof, but still open to the outside. Sitting at the front of the restaurant, the sun streamed in, and it was nice and warm.

After breakfast, walking back to the garage, we looked at the shops and the architecture. Very pretty here, and so different from the hustle that is south of here. Stearns Wharf was not far, so we drove down and parked, spending about a half hour walking around. The pier had a fire a few years ago, but was now completely rebuilt. Very nice looking out on the bay on this sunny day. We heard a train whistle in the background.

Back on the road, and we looked for a gas station. We stopped at a Chevron just outside of Santa Barbara, then back on then onto Route 101. Driving by Pismo Beach , we finally started to see the ocean. It was really neat seeing the ocean’s waves breaking on the rocks against the beach.

In San Luis Obispo we turned onto Route 1, the Pacific Coast Highway. From Morro Bay we could see three oil rigs off in the distance. We were getting hungry, so a point on the map that I had pinned was Cayucos, where the Brown Butter Cookie Company was. I had read about it, and if we were in the area, it looked like a good place to stop. And it was! The samples were delicious, and they even had gluten free cookies! But first, we needed lunch. The Lunada Garden Bistro was great. We sat outside in the back cafe in our shirt sleeves, while the locals had on their winter coats. The food was wonderful. After that, we walked back to the Cookie Company, and purchased some cookies and shirts. I bought Gwyn a small bag that she wanted. After that, we went over to an antique shop that had multiple vendors. It was fun pawing around in there. I found a poster with the Johnnie Walker black race car from the 1970s. I will hang it up at work with my other posters.

Back on the PCH, heading towards Monterey. We saw a spot to take a look at the ocean, Ocean Vista Point. We got out and looked. Just beautiful, seeing the ocean waves coming in, hearing them crashing on the shore.

Driving on the PCH is fun. The speed limit is 50 miles an hour, but the roads are very twisty, and there are no guard rails during stretches of it. We were heading north, so we were on the inside against the hills. It is a very beautiful ride. We saw a number of convertibles driving it, and I would have loved to have Charlotte out there! And you would drive through national forests, and also right along the cliffs that showed breathtaking views of the ocean. It is something to experience.

The Centrella Inn was awaiting us in Pacific Grove, and we pulled in about 5:00 PM. Checked into the inn, unpacked, then headed to Old Fisherman’s Wharf for supper with my good friend, Steve Johnston. It had been decades since I have seen him. Supper was wonderful, and both Steve and Gwyn had a good time, since Steve lived in Boston for part of his life, and Gwyn grew up in East Cambridge. And we got a spot right in front of the inn when we returned for the night!