Another hike across the hot flat California Valley then across Pacheco Way past the biggest dam we have ever seen. It went for about 5 miles in & out of the mountains as we kept rolling on. As the heat dissipated the fog rolled in and we cruised into Pacific Grove on the Monterey Peninsula. A mix of old California & the cool and rich people but very much laid back & friendly. Our room at the Gosby Inn was not ready so we took the 17 mile drive around Pebble Beach, Spanish Bay, Spyglass & The Lone Cypress all pretty special but those wretched squirrels have followed us back and still haunting my sleep! Saw some houses for sale and Ann thought it was $800m until I pointed out it was the area code and phone number. Still at $4.5M is still a telephone number in most places.
Gosby Inn, our classic old guest house was a nice change with afternoon tea and scones then a happy hour with wine and Hors douvres. I think this was to make up for the smallest room we stayed in. There was definitely cat marks on the walls from the swinging when it was constructed! But beautifully set out place made us feel we could handle it before going out to Mexicali for dinner. Atlantic salmon tacos as a special was too hard to refuse but struggled to get through to the dessert section. All too hard without bursting but couldn't handle the after dinner mint..
Spent next day having a lovely relaxed ride along the Monterey Foreshore checking out the views, the seals and even the local golf course was to die for. Checked out the Redwood forest in Santa Cruz & then down to Capitola which is a mix of Little Venice & Tuscan houses with St.Kilda's Sunday traffic bumper to bumper. Finished off with dinner at Santa Cruz with an old school friend's partner at his local bar. Met a few locals and a really nice night. Off to San Francisco for a bit of Bay area hospitality for next 3 nights
