Vacation 101: Part 3

Yesterday we pounded it out.  Leaving the Town and Country Motel around 10:00 we planned on going all the way to our most Northwestern target.  Just the others side of the Golden Gate Bridge.  That means we'll be in the car for what we figured would be about 3 to 4 hours which like my Mileage and Gas estimates were obviously not located in reality.  To make matters a little worse we would not be travelling on the most interesting of roads anymore.

 

Still we had the California Gold Treasure Keys to keep us occupied.  Our first stop proved unfruitfull at a California Welcome Center in Paso Robles.  The center, well more like a kiosk, was open but was without an attendant and there was no sign of the Treasure Key cards we sought.  Still we loaded up on some new pamphlets and magazines wth Hotel and entertainment discounts in it.  The Budget trip is going off well!

 

We made a stop in a town Called San Miguel, and if you've ever been there it one ups the so called "One Stop" towns with a literal "NO STOP" town.  You exit the freeway drive through town and get right back on the freeway.  If you ever do this please do hit the brakes in front of the San Miguel Mission and through some money their way so they can repair earthquake damage and Retro Fit the main chapel and other important structres and re-open the entire mission to tourists and Historians that travel through.  They have been working on their goal of 1.5 million dollars for the better part of 7 years and are not even half way there.  These missions are a key part of our California history and it would be a shame to loose such a valuable piece of history and architecture.

 

After a short while we finally turned to our electronic media to get through the not so glorious roadside of the 101.  Kari and I each with our individual Ipods blaring and Jacob deeply entranced into a movie in the back seat.  Not to say that the Eucalyptux trees and the outstretched farms aren't beautiful in themselves but they are not the awe-inspiring conversation starting visual stimulae of the last few days so back to our comfortable electronics we go to pass the time.

 

We decided to drop out bags off at the Motel we choose out of the discount book in Santa Clara, we've come up with some loose plans now and once we drop off the bags we are going to drive up through San Francisco and over the Golden Gate, hit Fisherman's wharf and the next morning go to the Winchester Mystery House before heading down the PCH to Monterey.  Whew that sounds like a lot considering we are pulling into Santa Clara, about 95 miles south of San Francisco at 4:00 in the afternoon.  But that's what driving tours are all about.  I think of them as Land Cruises, you only pull into port for a short time, make the most of it.

 

The Drive over the Golden Gate was fine, it's the first time the Jacob had done it so we definetely wanted the experience, it took about an 45 minutes all told on Sunday afternoon and cost us a $5.00 toll.  The next time I'm going to rent bikes and ride over and back, it will be cool to check out the structure up so close.  After the Golden Gate we are on Lombard Street and toy with the idea of finding the area where it goes almost straight up and winds and curves around (as Bill Cosby once said) the flowers where the people died trying to get up it.  I think Bill was funnier.

 

Fisherman's Wharf is fun and typical of any Wharf except for the beautiful views of the Golden Gate and Alcatraz Island.  Every time we've been there we've focused on just a couple of things that we want to do.  1st getting fed; Fis and Chips, Fried Calamari, Shredded Crab and Shrimp Cocktail, and a Beer.  Oh yes how sweet it is.  2nd a trip to the Museum of Mechanics on the wharf where they have coin operated games dating back to the mid 1800's that are just spectacular, almost all work and for 25 cents you can participate in history. 

 

Finally a walk down to Pier 39 and around the Harbor to check out all the sailboats we wished we owned.  This time we made one last stop at Ghiradelli square where just by the happenstance of getting a free parking spot near there we discovered on our way in and decided there's no way we'd miss it on the way out.  Besides polishing off the evening with a chocolate fudge sundae and hot chocoalte is absolutely necessary and the fact that it's made all out of Ghiradelli chocolate just makes it all that more enjoyable.

 

Jacob fell asleep on the ride back to the room, Kari and I real shortly after, Kari didn't sleep well the night before so she took some Tylenol PM and hit the sack.  The next morning we get things together and the Hospitality at the Howard Johnsons was great for a cheap room.  It was about a $90.00 room when you figure we had 2 tickets to the Winchester Mystery house thrown in.  The owner was the one working it, a nice Indian man who provided us with a broadband cord and extra towels when asked, again the parking situation was the best benefit, 3 feet from the room door, I love it.

 

This is the second time Kari and I have visited the Winchester house and the First for Jacob.  I wasn't sure how interested he would be in the tour aspect of the hosue but he was awe-struck over the tour.  He was right up front and listened to every word of the tour.  Kari said he does this a lot on tours and museums he has a passion for learning in this form so I'm glad we can provide him those opportunities.  Matter of fact the whole trip he's been asking to just go home and go to the San Bernardino County Musueum ecause bfore we left that was the first stop we made to get a California Gold Ticket and I told him that I would take him real soon.

 

The house is so much fun, if you are anywhere within an hour of you beaten path to San Jose you must stop by and take the 65 minute tour, it's not a long tour and comes with an options 20 to 30 minute walk around the garden, you won't be dissapointed.

 

We decided to go about 40 minutes out of our way back up towards San Francisco so we could catch the PCH above Santa Cruze off the 92, which is a Mountain road over the mountains.  Again we found a fruit stand and that replaced talk of Burger King for food, which makes me exstatic.  Also theywere selling freshly picked white sweet corn, I bought one to show Jacob you don't even have to cook it, just eat it right there.  He wasn't as excited as I nor did he have the taste for it, but it was all good for me.

 

This stretch of PCH reminds Kari of what she thinks teh Irish Coast would look like, I think most movies that are centered in Ireland were probably shot here so al of our western thoughts of that area stem from seeing our own California back yard.  The coast is beautiful, green covered cliffs to isolated unspoiled beaches, the whole area seems untouched by human hands with a few scattered Coast Side Farms growing Artichokes and other vegetables.  Jacob is getting tired of being in the car so we push on towards Monterey, stopping twice to try and pick up a California Gold Ticket, again with no luck, these suckers are harder than I thought.

 

Once we roll into Monterey we realize that not having a Hotel secured may be a mistake, it's the biggest week in the area with a big race being planned at Laguna Seca a local track. We hit up about a dozen places, either they were out of rooms or way too expensive.  I shot that we had at a budget room proved not there when we pulled up but got lucky at an America's Best Value Motel across the street.  Matter of fact right now we are relaxing about 7:30 pm in Monterey at the Dennis the Menace Park.  A kids play area designed by the artist that created Dennis the Menace.  It's really coool, Jacob is getting his car legs run out.

 

Looking forward to tomorrow, but soon we are headng down to the Wharf for Dinner, equally excited about that.