Today was a very laid back and relaxing one. Sort of! Not difficult when this is the view from the patio!
I woke at my usually early 3:30/4am mark, and tried to doze back off. At 5am, I gave up, opened up my phone, connected to the pretty good WiFi and checked up on our building work.
We’re having an extension built, and the work started the Monday after we left, which may sound scary, unless you really trust those doing the work. I do and I’ve (currently!) got a really good relationship with our builder, and he knows I’m more than a bit OCD with regard to the detailing of the build.
That said, I’ve not worried or stressed once, as I’ve been kepy up to date with progress, and been sent regular messages and photos of progress. Its been going really well, and I’m delighted with how the work is progressing.
When we have had anything like half-decent WiFi, I’ve also been able to log in to my CCTV system at home, and take a quick look at whats been done. Its that final bit of reassurance, not that it’s been neeeded in reality.
I had one query today which may have been from the fixed view on the cameras, so I dropped Andy a WhatsApp message. As ususal, its me trying to be too involved, with only one perspective, literally, and Andy sent photos almost immediately that gave me a better understanding. Happy days!
There was one aspect that probably needed a quick call, but as it was 5am, and I was lying next to a very asleep Jane, I postponed that one, until I nipped out of the room. A quick catch-up, a better understanding of progress on my part, and its all good!
As seems the case at this point in the hols, getting Jane and particularly Charlie mustered and out is becoming a harder task by the day. We eventually went for our breakfast, but hit peak service, so had to hang around with a pager, until we were “buzzed”. The complementary buffet-style breakfast was brilliant! Really nice food and a huge selection!
Once I’d finished and the others were finishing up, I nipped to reception to check out of room 408, and immediately check back in to room 408. Its because we ended up with three separate bookings. Only took a minute or so, so no real inconvenience.
From there, we got in the car and drove the 8 minute journey to Fishermans Wharf, Cannery Row, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where we had decided to start the day.
After parking up, we set off towards the Aquarium, although the “retail” lure was effective, and my Shopper co-travellers took their time. As they should. They’re on holiday.
I on the otherhand had realised that I was in a foul mood, and had little patience today. Yesterdays drive and a lack of sleep, the likely cause. I warned the others that for no particular reason, I was a bit of a black cloud.
We had to queue to get in to the Aquarium, but it wasnt for long, and we got in pretty smartish, in reality. However, it was heaving! Really busy, and very difficult to stay together or even see some of the exhibits, displays and aquaria.
I had my “GoPro On A Stick” with me, and more than once I considered using it as a mallet, on one or two of the younger tourists! I really was in quite a foul mood!
Its actually very good, despite my demeanor, and we did manage to get to see everything eventually, the highlights being the Jelly Fish and the Sea Otter enclosure, and then seeing them outside in the wild.
From the Aquarium, we headed back to the car and decided to drive south and do the “17 Mile Drive”, which is a drive of 17 miles (duh!), along a private road (its a $10 fee), that meanders around the Pebble Beach peninsula, and takes in some fantastic views out over the Pacific, and the associated wild birds and sealife. The water is quite nippy, though.
Pebble Beach also happens to take in one of the worlds best and most famous eponymously-named Golf Courses (not that I know anything about that game), and on 17-mile Drive, there are some of what must be the most expensive properties in the USA, if not the world. The houses typically sell for around $30+ MILLION, so just out of our price range! I’ll settle for our extension for now.
A little “play” stacking a few of the pebbles at Point Joe Vista, just to freak out some of the other tourists, and stops at many of the amazing viewpoints, many of which, even if you’ve not been, you may recognise, as they are that well-known. Probably the most iconic is the Lone Cypress.
We stopped off at a little cove at Cypress Point Lookout, and spent 15 minutes or so watching a Sea Otter play, just out from the coastline. It was feeding, so was on its back, with a rock placed on its belly, and lay there smashing shellfish open on its “belly-rock”, and occasionally spinning over to rinse away the left-overs. They are very cute, and very easy to watch!
We eventually got towards the last section, around 6:30pm (at this early evening time, the quality of light had been fantastic, btw). We decided to go back into Monterey and eat at one of the many highly recommended restaurants.
We parked on a meter and pottered back down Cannery Row, and decided to give the Cannery Row Brewing Company bar a try. 72, yep 72 draft ales on tap. We could be here a while! And Jane may have to drive us the 8 minutes back!
Although we didn’t eat in one of the more obvious seafoody places, the food and service here were brilliant, and decent value as well, bearing in mind its prime location.
We all had their exquisite Clam Chowder (just enough, and not too much bacon, and nice and thick), and I went for CRBC Burger, medium rare, which was fabulous. Jane had the Fish Tacos and Charlie had their Pulled Pork ‘Sliders’ (three mini brioche-bunned burgers). The first beer I had was an absolute stunner, my fave so far, and from the brewery down the road. The Alvarado (Negredo?) Street Breweries “Double Dry Hopped Mai Tai-P-A”, was grapefruity, hoppy, and crisp. Yes, please! My second was a recommendation from the server, who suggested the Ballast Point Brewing “Aloha Sculpin”. Although $10.50 plus tax, plus tip, makes it a $14 pint (ouch!), it was also very good, thankfully!
Once finished, we paid up ($92 plus tip, including the drinks) and headed “home” to the Hotel. The sat-nav played up again on the way back, repeatedly locking up and saying its out of battery, even when plugged in to the charger, which created a few minor hassles whilst driving, but we got back without any real issue. I think the 54 degree heat from Death Valley has cooked it, tbh!
Speaking of temperatures, it has been quite a shock arriving here, as we’ve gone from being used to high-30s/low 40s with occasional levels of stupid-hot over the last two weeks, to arriving at the coast, with its fog, to temperatures as low as 12deg C. That’s positively freezing by our standards. But also confusing, given that if you’re in the sun, its also really warm (mid/high 20s).
We got back to the room, and I tried to write this blog, but ended up with my head on the keyboard, I was that knackered. Its now approaching 6am and I’m written up, whilst the others sleep, snore and speak (Charlie holds conversations in his sleep, probably about that bloody Fortnight game).
I’ve now got some sorting out of photos and videos to do, as I’ve run out of space on cards, sticks and hard disks, I’ve taken so many!
After I can get this lot up, I think a mooch around Carmel and a little taster of Big Sur is on the cards for today, so I’ll catch you later!