Road Trip Tuesday 17 June 2014

San Bruno, California

So, having  flown from Seattle and picked up our Alamo Rental we had breakfast at the Motel and headed south.

San Bruno is still in metropolitan San Francisco, but felt quite and there were lots of modest but comfortable looking homes.

So down Highways 85 and 17, which were moderate despite being late commuting time.

The road took us through rolling hill country which ended when we came back to thye coast at Santa Cruz. Which was a lovely seaside town, but with a Northern California feel. Lots of low rocky bluffs separating the houses from the sea.

But down town Santa Cruz has a massive Boardwalk which appears to stretch for a mile or so along the beach. Very impressive

So, we travelled along the beach side suburb and had lunch at a really cool dinner for lunch. 

Betty's Burgers, which captured the American Dinner at the Beach feel. They were really nice young staff who just loved to help you.

Cabrillo Highway through the Market Gardening area around Watsonville ,Castroville and Marina, which we actually skirted on Highway 1.

Right on the beach now through Sand City with the amazing dunes and then onto the outskirts of Monterey and Carmel where the free-way really became a suburban street. cutting across the base of the peninsular which contains Monterey, Pebble Beach and Carmel.

Now back on the Coast and on the famous Coastal Road. What we  would consider in New Zealand no big deal, here it is narrow and winding. But great views all the way down. are impressive. Lots of people stopping on the side of the road taking photos.

This a photo I googled of the Bixby Bridge:

This is one that I took:

From the other direction

Yes it is a long way down

There are a few houses,  but like the view, they are far from ordinary

Drivers in California are great, no silly stuff and courtesy is everywhere.

Our plan had been to divide the drive from San Francisco to Los Angles into two days with a break in San Luis Obispo, having done this drive now, the break should have been closer to San Simeon or starting earlier. The plan had been to tour the Hurst Castle, but this was closed by the time we got there.

So, we just had some time at the Hurst Visitor Centre, but still got to see the Castle from a distance.

The Hurst Castle reminded me of the Eagles Hotel California as it arose from the Mountains. Hurst built the Castle because having made his own fortune in 1919 he inherited the huge estate and his parents fortune. So, hirer a lady architect who had been a friend of his mother and just poured money into it. From 1930, Hurst moved there, possibly because the road we have just travelled on was being built. He had wild parties there and it became an outrageous venue.

Then an hour later we arrived for the night at San Luis Obispo.