USA Road Trip - Monterey or bust

Day 7 Coastal Caper

Seals at Monterey

Back in the Malibu for another long drive down from the Sierra Mountains towards the Pacific Coast. It started as a pleasant easy run on a quiet road flanked by Pine Trees. The forests are sadly being depleted by a combination of a prolonged drought and a dastardly beetle. Anyway, we were soon on the fertile inland plain that runs the length of California. They can grow practically anything here, everything from Almonds to Zucchini. Spot the fruit was a good game to play as we headed down the long straight roads. We took a Lunch break at Hollister which was a little frustrating. Jerry's looked from the outside to be fast food but it was pretty slow and mega portions. A massive Gammon steak turned up after a delay and alongside were Potatoes, Pancakes etc. Hollister was previously only know to me as a sporty tee-shirt brand from Southern California. From today it will be a mega meal destination with very leisurely service. Eventually we traversed the coastal range and reached Monterey. We stopped at the Stagecoach Inn, a Motel in a decent location, not far from the sea. Bags were quickly dumped and we headed for the bike hire shop in Cannery Row.

Back on the bikes

We managed to get an hour in before the shop closed. We pedalled South along beautiful coastline and then were blown back to Cannery Row. We saw seals, birds and nice but not too posh homes. TW reckoned some of the lawns were artificial? Nice colourful plants but the coastal vegetation is not native having been imported from South Africa.

Our Coastal Bike Route

On the Coast

The native stuff was dominated by Poison Oak which is a really unsociable plant that can put you in hospital. Very nice to get some sea air after the long drive. Cannery Row made famous by Steinbeck and Sardines is a bit tripperish today but otherwise Monterey made a nice stop-over. TW insisted on a break at the Ghirardelli Choc Shop. We dined out on the local Fisherman's Wharf. We were a bit late and the meal was a bit underwhelming but we probably chose the wrong place. We could have done with a wagon and horses to get us back to the Stagecoach but instead it was a safe 30 minute wander.

Wagons roll at the Stagecoach