Vacation Day 4

Tuesday at about 9AMish, we wake up to lots of noise behind one of our walls. Its the employees area where they keep the supplies to clean. We decide to stay another day in Monterey since yesterday the only thing we did was tour two pubs and the hotel pillows. I call the front desk and ask if they have a different room, which they do. This time it has a view.











No free Internet connection in the hotel, so I figure I will go to the coffee shop and kill two birds with one stone.







Blogging is interrupted by news of an earthquake in Chino Hills, so we proceed to see if things are ok and how bad it was. Turns out to be more nerve wracking than anything.



On with the vacation. Colleen wants to go to the aquarium, so we take the free trolley.















Before we go in to the aquarium, we need to refuel and choose this tourist trap. Food is mediocre, service is a little slow but it does the job.



After a long day of walking all over the aquarium and Cannery Row, we head back to the hotel. Feels good to sit down for a few minutes.

Vacation Day 3

Monday morning, woke up at 4:30AM and watched the birds eat breakfast on the beach. 2 hours later, we decided to get a jump on the day and left Pismo. On to the 101 until it splits off again as the 1 and along the coast for many miles. We stopped by Hearst Castle, but since it was so early we would have had to wait to get a tour...and we hadn't showered so we spared the rest of the tourists. We stopped at a couple of camprounds in San Simeon, but they were kinda lame. Not enough trees and no view of the ocean.







At first I joked, and thought it impossible, but yep they closed the forest! Due to the fires, all the campgrounds between San Simeon and just south of Carmel-by-the-Sea were closed. So we drove for many miles up the coast with just a few "vista points" to stop and look at the same ocean with the same kelp beds. It was relaxing at least.



We stopped for some gas in Big Sur.







And they had a little diner, so we ate breakfast.







And then continued north, next stop Carmel-by-the-Sea. Which as it turns out creeped us out, like Stepford Wives. So we got the car washed since it was making it difficult to take pictures with the windows being so dirty.



Back on the road, getting close to Monterey according to the nav.







So its about 1PMish Monday and we found a Marriott close to the wharf in downtown Monterey. While its decorated in what I call "Encino grandma" it will do.







Later that afternoon, score some cigars for later.







And then Shepards Pie and Old Speckled Hen.







Then back to the hotel for a nap







Later that evening we check out the other British pub, which is right next to the hotel.

Vacation Day 2

Got up Sunday morning, showered and packed up. Headed north to the Ralphs to grab some ice and munchies for the day trip back to Pismo. Hey, if I am going to have a red neck I am going to use it. Its actually Oceano Dunes, which is about 1 mile south of Pismo. After Ralphs, south to Pismo, drove through the downtown area looking for a cigar store, but didn't look too hard. Its very touristy here so I figure there would be cigars for sale at most liquor stores.



We entered the beach after paying $5 for a day use pass, and its a perfect 69F all day. Driving on the beach is fun and feels so California.











So after driving down the beach about 3 miles through what I would describe as 'civilian maneuvers' we decided to go grab some lunch at the restaurant at the entrance. We paid the additional $5 for overnight use, and drove down the beach until we found a spot.







Yep, that is a rebel flag flying.



After two cigars and some scotch, we hopped in the car to grab some sleep before we head out for another day on our tour.

Vacation Day 1

We were on the 10 heading West to Malibu by 9AM Saturday morning. After eating breakfast at Paradise Cove we took a walk down the beach. After about 45 minutes in the sun with no sunscreen I got burned. Good, glad I got that out of the way on day one.







We headed North on PCH and checked out all the campgrounds along the way until the freeway veers East away from the coast(naval base) and towards Oxnard. Oh boy. Next stop was north of Goleta at El Capitan and then Gaviota, both full. The 1 is now the 101 until you get to the turn off for Vandenburg AFB/Lompoc and once again you are on the 'scenic tour' route.



About 4 miles after the odometer turned 10,000, I got a speeding ticket! In Santa Maria, doing 70 in a 55...and the only spot I could pull over was in an agriculture field of some sort. Needless to say, I was not amused and felt like I was targeted since I was not driving a tractor. If you zoom in on the map while in satellite view, you get the idea.





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Several miles later and we were in Pismo Beach, which had a very 'spring break with huge trucks and ATVs' vibe. I imagine sales of Coors Light is only threatened by Bud Light being on sale. So we continued north to Morro Bay, which was the polar opposite of Pismo. Since it was about 5:30PM and we hadn't found a campground with any vacancies yet, and Inn on Morro Bay had no vacancies, we headed back to SLO to find a room.



Looks like Madonna Inn has a vacancy! Unfortunately after checking with the front desk, they forgot to turn on the neon "Sorry No" above the Vacancy part on the sign.







So we ended up staying at a Courtyard Marriott which was very new and clean, but not very well stocked in the Scotch department. We finished off the only bottle of Glenlivet 12 they had and went back to our room which was fully stocked with Scotch, courtesy of BevMo and Sigg