Day 13 – March 25, 2016Our morning had a perfect beginning, after coffee of course, as we turned onto the 17-Mile Long Road. It’s part of the privately owned Pebble Beach Resort, cost $10 per vehicle and is worth every penny.
17-Mile Drive is a scenic road through Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove on the Monterrey Peninsula in California, much of which hugs the Pacific coastline and passes famous golf courses, mansions and some of the most stunning natural scenes you will ever be blessed to encounter.
We witnessed frolicking seals, huge cypress trees, bird rock, majestic waves breaking upon huge boulders, pebble strewn beaches and more.
Yes, the homes and golf courses are lovely, but I prefer nature above all else.
We met a lovely Dutch couple who were from Terneuzen, Netherlands and Han enjoyed speaking with them. They could also speak English, but oh how I love hearing Han speak Dutch.
I suggest going very slow and making as many stops as possible to really relish in the surroundings of the 17 miles around.
At the end, before exiting through the 17 mile drive gate, there is Pebble Beach Resort, some shops, a post office and restrooms. Go explore, as it was all quite nice too.
The pictures are better at explaining the surroundings, than I am able to convey in mere words.
TODAY’s TRIP
Our next stop was “Carmel By The Sea.” A cute little town with lots of shopping, restaurants and people watching to entertain you, although I found it much too crowded, touristy and pretentious. I cannot deny the cuteness level though.
Our most enjoyable time was getting back in the car (parking is horrible there) and driving along the coast and the back neighborhood roads to salivate over all the charming little homes and mini castles that look straight out of any magical fairy tale. I love the older or more unique architecture and there was plenty to gawk at. The locals don’t seem to appreciate you driving their streets, but then they should not have made their homes and gardens so enticing. lol
Then on towards San Rafael where we will be staying for the next two nights in the home of our dear friend Ken and his roommate Anton. (Ken is actually in Germany vacationing, but Anton along with his two sweet dogs were the perfect welcoming committee.)
We traveled down Hwy. 1, along the coast and could not stop ourselves from pulling over many times for pictures and the seeing of sights. We visited Pigeon Point Lighthouse where there is also a hostel if you are so inclined. The phone booth did not actually work by the way. The lighthouse is no longer operational and I am not sure if they allow anyone to climb it. We would not have had the time anyway. It was very cold and windy but we still awed over the majestic crashing of the waves along the rocky coastline. You could just “feel” the force of the ocean.
This is my first time in California and I became initiated into the madness quite quickly the moment I entered the outskirts of San Francisco, drove through it and over the Golden Gate Bridge to get to our destination. It was quite and experience that I will remember for some time.
Arrived to a warm welcome, a cold beer, nice chat, ordered in pizza and then fairly dropped flat from exhaustion.
I am not sure I even remember falling asleep.
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