Travel Journal 2019
We started off the new 2019 by working at the Lake Cahuilla
kiosk. We also completed the new guest-bed that we added to the slide-out.
Additionally, we organized and prepared for our two-week trip to Pacific Grove.
On Sat. 1-5, we picked-up Rose at the Palm Springs airport
and made final preparations for our Pacific Grove trip. We worked Sat. at the
Park kiosk and finished record-keeping for the period.
Sunday 1-6
We hooked-up and headed west to LA where we followed the
I-210 (Foothills Freeway), and had a picnic lunch near Pasadena. We then pulled
on up to Santa Clarita and Castaic for a night at the Valencia Travel Village. This
Park is adjacent to Six Flags and numerous operating gold mines. Originally,
Castaic was a Chumash Indian camp, then home of the Tejon Ranch, a stagecoach
stop, and later a railroad station. It was also the location of William
Mulholland’s, St Francis Dam, an LA Aqueduct impound lake, in San Francisquito Canyon, which failed
(1928) and claimed the lives of over 400 people down the canyon.
Valencia Village, nestled in the canyon, just west of I-5,
had large trees, and nice amenities. The RV Park was quiet, clean, accommodating,
and a light rain provided for a cozy overnight rest.
Monday 1-7
We cruised over the “grapevine”, north into the San Joaquin
Valley, to Buttonwillow, for a picnic lunch. The ”grapevine” is a steep grade
in the Tehachapi Mountains between Tejon Pass and the San Joaquin Valley. I-5
bypasses many of the once-winding, narrow sections of road that were the
inspiration for a popular song known as "Hot Rod Lincoln".
The San Joaquin
Valley is the southern part of the California Central Valley, among the most
fertile and productive soil in the world. The San Joaquin Valley is contained
within the Tehachapi Mountains in the south, the California coastal ranges on
the west, the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in the east, and the Sacramento
Valley in the north. Referred to as the “food basket of the world”, it produces
a virtual smorgasbord of crops. It is just amazing to see the enormity and
agronomy of the valley. Descending into the valley, you immediately observe the
enormous expanse of the flat valley, nestled between the distant mountains.
Continuing north, we took CA 46 west to Paso Robles, on US
101, and a night at the Paso Robles RV Ranch, a very picturesque park
overlooking the Salinas Valley.
Ca 46, at Blackwells Corner, is the site of James Dean’s (1955)
fatal crash and is now signed as James Dean Memorial Junction. We popped-in at
the local roadside market, which has all things “James Dean”.
Paso Robles is known for its hot springs, its abundance of
wineries, its production of olive oil, and almond orchards. Situated in the
Salinas River Valley, the area is primarily a wine-producing region and it is
worth the trip to experience it. Many tourists come here just to tour and taste
the abundant wineries, enjoy the hospitality, comfortable weather, and picturesque,
rolling hills. The vineyards literally stretch across the undulating hills as
far as the eye can see. It’s worth the trip to experience this unique resort. We
enjoyed a quiet, peaceful nights rest among some friendly fellow-travelers.
Tue. 1-8
Continuing north on US 101, following the Salinas River
Valley, we stopped for a visit at the San Michael Mission, then continued to
Marina, for a 1-week stay at the Marina Dunes RV Park.
The 1797 San Miguel Mission, remains as the most intact of
all the California Missions. The sixteenth in the chain of missions, San Miguel
was founded on July 25, 1797 by Padre Fermin Francisco de Lasuen, who was a
successor of Padre Junipero Serra, as Presidente of the missions. We enjoyed
seeing this special place and it was like going back in time. One can easily
imagine what early mission-life was like in the Spanish Alta California.
Marina, California is wonderfully diverse, teeming with
options for food, culture, and adventure. On the north side of Monterey Bay,
its scenic trails and seascapes afford endless possibilities for fun and
exploration, attracting bicyclists, hang-gliders, paragliders, kite enthusiasts
and admirers of Mother Nature. Vast stretches of dunes and rolling sand-hills,
ethnic cultures and cuisines, and historic and renowned attractions make Marina
a perfect destination for our base-camp on the Central California Coast. Marina
Dunes RV Park is snuggled in the massive coastal dunes, between the ocean and
the Pacific Coast Highway. We had a convenient access trail over to the Pacific
Ocean, a beautiful stretch of pristine beach.
We met Jim and Maureen for dinner at the Beach House, at
Lovers Point. This spot on the Monterey Peninsula is an enchanted and romantic
dining destination and we enjoyed a nice evening together. We made plans for
the next day, so we could enjoy the day together. On the Monterey Peninsula,
we’re looking forward to exploring Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, and
Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Wed. 1-9
We met Jim and Maureen at the Pacific Grove Museum of
Natural History, a 3-D field guide of the California Central Coast, showcasing
local native plants, animals, geology, and cultural histories. We enjoyed a terrific
visit and quality time together. Central Coast “birders” should come here
first!
Next, we visited the Pacific Grove Monarch Butterfly
Sanctuary. We enjoyed watching the Monarch’s flutter around the pine, cypress
and eucalyptus trees in the Sanctuary. We also enjoyed some bird watching and passed
a real fine time together.
Later, we went out to Pinos Point to surf-watch and
bird-watch, as the Pacific was crashing giant waves on the rocky point. Very
exhilarating and refreshing!
Our farewell dinner was at the Vivolo’s Chowder House, a
favorite of locals and visitors alike. Saying goodbye to Jim and Maureen, we
were left with warmhearted memories of our Pacific Grove visit with them.
Friday, January 11, 2019
Our tour plan today began at the Monterey State Historic
Park in “Old Town”Monterey, Alta California’s first Capital. The old buildings
and adobe houses mark the birthplace of California beginnings to statehood. It
was a “walk on the path” of California history!
Next, we toured the “17-mile Drive” in Pebble Beach, one of
the most scenic drives in the world. We learned that Pebble Beach is a vast
collection of elite country clubs and golf resorts. We admired the rugged
coast, ancient groves, stunning ocean views, wildlife, exclusive clubs and
spas, and extravagant estates and mansions. Pebble Beach is an iconic championship
golf venue, both for its spellbinding beauty, and its inspiring challenge. It
is one of the most beautiful places we have ever seen!
We ended our touring with an early dinner at the Fisherman’s
Wife seafood restaurant, a cozy spot in Pacific Grove. I couldn’t resist the
“fish and chips”, a superb Pacific Coast lunch. Rose and Terry had chowder and
seafood entrees that were just as good!
Saturday, January 12, 2019
Today, we visit Carmel by the Sea.
Mission San Carlos Borromeo del río Carmelo or Misión de San
Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, first built in 1797, is one of the most
authentically restored Roman Catholic mission churches in California. Located
in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, it is on the National Register of Historic
Places and is a National Historic Landmark. The mission was the headquarters of
all Alta California missions from 1797 until 1833. It was headed by Saint
Junípero Serra from 1770 until his death in 1784. It was also the seat of the
second presidente, Father Fermin Francisco de Lasuen, who was in charge of
completing nine more mission churches. We got to see where they are interred in
the Church. It was good to see this historical Mission after having read so
much California history.
The stunning natural beauty of Carmel-by-the-Sea has
inspired artists, sparked romances, and attracted world travelers. Situated on
the California Central Coast, just south of Monterey Bay, it gets awesome surf
action on the rocky basalt shore. A fantastic destination, Carmel-by-the-Sea is
a unique, European-style village nestled above a beautiful white-sand beach
where everything is walking distance. From performing arts to hundreds of
shops, art galleries, and restaurants, you can do everything or nothing at all.
We’re glad we came to visit! At Carmel, we saw the gorgeous beach and charming
downtown. Carmel by the Sea was crowded and parking was scarce, so we did some
drive-around shopping. We took lunch at a cozy deli, in the Barnyard Shopping
Village, just off the Pacific Coast Highway.
Point Lobos and the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is the
"crown jewel" of California’s 280 state parks. This is a place that
offers stunning views every time you visit! It was very crowded and parking was
impossible but we did get to see the beautiful setting. We had another
delightful day on the California Central Coast!
Sunday, January 13, 2019
After a nice leisurely morning at the Marina RV Park, we
decided to visit the Monterey Presidio Museum, where exhibits lead visitors
through Monterey's various stages of military development from the indigenous
period which highlights the area's native populations; through the Spanish and
Mexican periods; and up to present day. The museum grounds have nice
walking-trails, landscaping, monuments, and splendid views of Monterey Bay. Such
a remarkable piece of history!
Next, we visited the Monterey Royal Presidio Chapel, the
1794 Cathedral de San Carlos Borromeo. The building, architecture, history,
artifacts, and grounds, make it a superb example of early life on the
California Central Coast. Loved seeing it!
Finally, we did a self-guided, driving-tour of Monterey and
admired lots of interesting places like Cannery Row, Fisherman’s Wharf,
Aquarium, Lake El Estero, and grocery shopping at Andronico’s.
Another extraordinary day of touring Monterey, California!
Monday, January 14, 2019
Our last day in Monterey included a visit to the Colton Hall,
a historical government building and museum in Monterey. It was built in the late 1840s by Walter
Colton, who came to Monterey as a chaplain on Commodore Stockton's vessel and
remained to become Monterey's first alcalde in the American Period. Built to
serve as a public school and town meeting hall, it’s where California's first Constitution
was drafted in October 1849, leading to Statehood in 1850. Colton Hall is an original
historical landmark in the City of Monterey, once the capital of Alta
California.
A quote from Colton’s book:
“Thursday, March 8, 1849. The town hall, on which I have
been at work for more than a year, is at last finished. It is built of a white
stone, quarried from a neighboring hill, and which easily takes the shape you
desire. The lower apartments are for schools; the hall over them - seventy feet
by thirty - is for public assemblies. The front is ornamented with a portico,
which you enter from the hall. It is not an edifice that would attract any
attention among public buildings in the United States; but in California it is
without a rival. It has been erected out of the slender proceeds of town lots,
the labor of the convicts, taxes on liquor shops, and fines on gamblers. The
scheme was regarded with incredulity by many; but the building is finished, and
the citizens have assembled in it, and christened it after my name, which will
now go down to posterity with the odor of gamblers, convicts, and tipplers. I
leave it as an humble evidence of what may be accomplished by rigidly adhering
to one purpose, and shrinking from no personal efforts necessary to its achievement.”
Walter Colton, Three Years in California
We had a late lunch at Rosine's Restaurant on Alvarado
Street, serving delicious homemade soups, hearty meals, homemade fresh pies and
very tall, sumptuous cakes. It was a fine day and a delectable lunch! We have
tremendously enjoyed our week around Monterey, Pebble Beach, and Carmel, the
heart of the Monterey Peninsula.
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
Saying goodbye to Monterey, we took the US 101 south to San
Luis Obispo. Our plan to take the Pacific Coast Highway was annulled due to
closures (slides), as a result of a rain-storm. On the 101 we had rain but
enjoyed countryside views of the Salinas Valley. We had lunch at Paso Robles
and then cruised on down to Oceano and our campsite at Pacific Dunes Ranch,
situated in the high sand dunes, along the ocean. The rain cleared but we had
strong winds for the remainder of the evening. Our campsite, in huge sand dunes,
is adjacent to the Ocean, and close to Pismo Beach, Shell Beach, and San Luis
Obispo. Regardless, we had a nice dinner, relaxing evening and a good night’s
rest!
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
A warm, sunny morning with more rain predicted for tonight,
prompts us to plan our day with expedience. With a Mediterranean climate, the
temperature remains in a comfortable range day and night. All things
considered, we decided to drive the Pacific Coast Highway to San Simeon and
visit the Hearst Castle.
The Hearst Castle was very impressive, an imitation of
numerous architectural styles that William Randolph Hearst observed during
boyhood travels in Europe. The landscaping on the huge property was a garden experience
in grand proportions. Appointing American architect Julia Morgan to create his
vision, the project went on for many years, with constant changes and
additions. It was an awesome sight but odd in many ways, due to the challenge
of incorporating the many art and construction objects which he imported from
Europe. The Hearst Castle and surrounding grounds are now a California State
Park, with the majority of the vast property still owned by the Hearst family. The
area is situated between the ocean and the western slope of the Santa Lucia
Range, with few opportunities for development, so the original castle and ranch
were one-half-million acres along 14 miles of coastline. The castle is located
five mile inland, along the mountain ridge. We’re glad that we visited the
mansion and learned the fascinating story of the Hearst Castle.
Afterwards, we stopped off for lunch at San Simeon and then
enjoyed the Pacific Coast views on our return to San Luis Obispo. San Simeon
grew up around an 1869 whaling wharf, which was later improved by the Hearst
family. The whaling is gone but a large rookery of Northern Elephant Seals
remain.
Along the way, we stopped off at Morro Bay and viewed
581-foot Morro Rock, a huge volcanic rock and historic landmark, just off
shore. The rock is a refuge to marine birds and animals and a prominent landmark
for ancient mariners and a curious attraction for visitors.
Thursday, January 17, 2019
Experiencing better weather today, we grocery-shopped, had
lunch, visited San Luis Obispo downtown, Mission, and California Polytechnic
State University.
The highlight was (1772) Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa,
with its historic grounds, architecture, and museum. Situated just east of the
Ocean and in the foothills hills of the Santa Lucia Mountains, the area is an
enchanting place.
We made a driving-tour of California Polytechnic State
University and were impressed with the campus size, scenic location, various
Colleges, academic and residence buildings, Greek life, and elegant assembly
facilities. The campus is situated in Poly Canyon, adjacent to downtown San
Luis Obispo, and is a very attractive landscaping, trees, architecture, and
grounds.
We had lunch at In-N-Out, a good California burger place. Today
was fun and nice weather too!
January 18, Friday
Departing San Luis Obispo, we drove the Pacific Coast
(US101/PCH1) admiring some marvelous views. The surf was high, a result of the
recent storm, and this made for an awesome display of the power of the Pacific
Ocean. At Santa Barbara, we had a nice lunch and then headed south.
Arriving in Los Angeles, we went into our campsite at Hollywood
RV Park, made dinner, and spent the evening planning our day-in-LA. Hollywood
RV Park is a compact and convenient campground on Balboa, just north of the 101
(Ventura Freeway) and just west of the 405 (San Diego Freeway), in the San
Fernando Valley. It’s a good location for visiting L.A.
Saturday, January 19, 2019
In L.A., we visited the Gene Autry Museum and had lunch in
Sherman Oaks.
Gene Autry was an actor, businessman, and humanitarian, who
fashioned a mission to promote art, history, and cultures of the American West.
The Autry Museum, located in Griffith Park, is an extensive collection of paintings,
sculptures, costumes, textiles, firearms, tools, toys, musical instruments, and
other objects. We were very impressed and enjoyed this colossal museum!
Lunch at Marmalade Café was a “full dining experience” with eclectic
California inspired food for busy Angelenos. It was sooooo good!
Sunday, January 20, 2019
It’s a cool, cloudy morning in L.A. and we’re having coffee
in preparation for traveling back to La Quinta. Deciding which route to take
through L.A. depends on the traffic when we get ready to travel. The preferred
route takes the 101 to the 5, to the 10, if the traffic is manageable,
otherwise we’ll take surface streets Balboa to Victory, to the 405, to the 101/134,
to the 210 to the 10. What we did was take was the 405(San Diego Freeway) to
the 118(Ronald Reagan Freeway) to the 210 (Foothills Freeway) to the I-10 at
Redlands then La Quinta. So, the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry,
especially on L.A. freeway driving!
We had a pleasant drive today, with a nice bar-b-que lunch
at Banning. It was good to return to Lake Cahuilla and a warm welcome from our
friends and associates. Settling back into our site at Lake Cahuilla, we began
to experience high winds from a front moving east. Overnight, we had the
highest winds we have experienced in La Quinta. It was unnerving but we had
prepared and thankfully had no damage.
1-23-19 Wednesday
After a couple days at the lake, we had an early morning to
get Rose to the PS airport. We sure enjoyed her visit and our trip to Monterey
Bay, Pacific Grove, and the California Central Coast. We had a good time and
were sad to see her leave!
