On the Road in the Left Whale: March 2024

Gene in a frenzy on Morro Bay sand dollar beach

So the first week with Gene was spent going up the southern side of Big Sur with Greg and Loretta. They are heading off to Texas around the 6th to see the eclipse and wanted to do a 'shake down' run to check their RV and o/newld Jeep Wrangler that they want to pull behind to Texas.

Greg grew up in Lompoc and went to college in SLO - San Luis Obispo, so lots of local knowledge. Had a great time with a brunch on Sunday in SLO and listening to Mass in the courtyard of the Mission.

Gene, Greg and Reilly

With Loretta and Reilly in the back of the Jeep

Brunch in SLO on St Patricks day. In downtown SLO the bars had opened at 6am, so it was chaos

Dinner in Morro Bay

So, new to me (I did know some of it, but did not understand the sequence).... California belonged to Mexico, then in 1846-48 the Mexican/US war was fought and 'won' by the USA. They 'took' California as compensation for the war. In 1948, gold was discovered in California and the great gold rush to California starts. Then the Civil war breaks out in 1861 and luckily the Union has enough gold to pay for it all, else the outcome could have been a lot different...

Lunch near Hearst Castle

The walk down to the beach from Plaskett Cove state park

The end of the road. Just across the bridge the road was blocked by a slide - where the mountain basically slides over the road. Apparently this road had only been open continuously through any year for very short periods. I can believe that.

Elephant seals doing what they do best...

Checking out the surf

Sundowners and dinner at Morro Bay rock.

After 1 night at Plaskett Creek State Park we decided to leave early as we had no communication with the outside world at all and Gene had to work. We ended up in Morro Bay - which on our last trip was one of our favorite stops. Greg and Loretta had to head home so we spent two nights of bliss in Morro Bay and Gene saturated her sand dollar cravings for the next few months (I think it is going to be very difficult walking on Long Beach looking for sand dollars going forward).

The affect of wine tasting at 2pm

Tasting Central Coast California wines

Sand$$$$$ everywhere...

Gene in her office

After Morro Bay, we headed to Pismo beach for one night - real suprise stop with a cycle on the beach of about 5 miles.

Pismo Beach pier, cocktails and a beauty..

Great little town of Pismo beach

Last lunch in Morro Bay

My people at Morro Bay

Weird Sisal plants

Sea otters being laid back

The warning at Morro Bay

Then back to Burbank to check what could be done with the Barbi jeep. Unfortunately any new positive thoughts were quickly dampened as it was still not drive able and needed some additional TLC.

Stop for lunch in Santa Barbara

Back in Monterey after 16 years. Great town, but lots of squatters/homeless (see in the background on the main beach). Really a problem that will have to be addressed soon.

Monterey tourist pier

Gene taking a call in the Safeway parking lot

Also in the car park - someone who lives in his car. Not the same view as living on the beach, but...

We left it with Greg and Sal (the local mechanic) and headed up to the northern side of the Big Sur along US101. All I can say is stunning. Definitely more commercial than the southern section with hotels and shops and private campgrounds, but beautiful bridges and crazy drops down to the ocean. The campsite was one big mud bath when we arrived. It had been raining for days, but luckily while we were there, we only had the odd shower during the night. Luckily we had some level of internet access at the campground - just enough for Gene to do her calls, but not enough for video chats.