It was a pretty day for our drive to Monterey Bay, CA, and we drove past so many farms! We were still in the valley and we commented that we have never seen so much farmland! We are talking tremendously larger farms probably run by corporations, like Green Giant, which was stamped on boxes on a truck that passed us. Just field after field and rolling green covered hills right up to the base of the mountains. A person has to see it to believe and comprehend it.
We only had a 2 hour drive today so we were in no hurry. To reach our destination we drove through a the lower part of the Santa Lucia Mountains to reach the Monterey Bay peninsula . I got glimpses of the Pacific Ocean! We are finally really on the coast! We have some great sightseeing planned!
The first European to discover Monterey Bay was Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo on November 16, 1542 while sailing northward along the coast on a Spanish naval expedition. The present name for the bay was documented in 1602 by Sebastian Vizcaino, who had been tasked by the Spanish government to complete a detailed chart of the coast. He anchored in what is now the Monterey Harbor on December 16, and named it honor of the Conde de Monterey , then viceroy of New Spain.
We are staying at Monterey Pines at the Navy Post Graduate School. The campground is a bit old and could sure use some upgrades. The campground is right next to a pretty golf course. Boy! Not a fun parking job today. If you look at the picture below, on the left is a wooden post with boards, a sign, and a rock behind the sign. On the right is another sign and you can barely see a permanent grill beside the RV. Could it be a more difficult sight to back into when you are 37’ long!!?? Geeze! I hate these kinds of sites because frustrations kick in and we have to laugh when it is over because we have such different personalities and we each have OUR OWN WAY of what to do!! But we got set up and it will be MUCH easier pulling out! As I waited for Doug to check us in, this pretty little bird landed on the truck mirror 3 different times, just looked at me, and posed long enough for me to get a picture. I love his pretty colors. Also, this place is swarming with ground squirrels! Of course I have to chase after them for pictures!! Me and my animals!
Since we hadn’t had lunch and it was mid-afternoon, we decided to go to Bubba Gump’s for an early meal. Remember the movie? There is a bench in front of the restaurant with a replica of a pair of Bubba Gump’s tennis shoes he wore in the movie. We ate there 10 years ago when we were here. Monterey is a big tourist attraction and the whole Cannery Row was packed and busy! And it isn’t even officially summer yet! Cannery Row is the waterfront street. It is the site of a number of now-defunct sardine canning factories. The last cannery closed in 1973. The street name, formerly a nickname for Ocean View Avenue, became official in January 1958 to honor John Steinbeck and his well-known novel Cannery Row. Now the street consists of shops, eateries, galleries, etc., with access to walkways along the water. There is a huge marina and lots of expensive boats $$$! There is also a nice park and biking trails by the water. Lunch was good! But VERY pricey! Guess location really is everything!
The temperature will be in the 60s all this week with breezes and blue skies. Beautiful days ahead!!
No comments:
Post a Comment