The road to Monterey

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Today we set off from LA to Monterey. After waiting for ages at Alamo as their computers aren't working, we pick out our Pontiac GT. It's nice, it's very nice and it goes very very fast. The speed is wasted as the speed limit is 65 in all the states we're visiting. We set the Sat Nav for Monterey and drive via Pacific Coast Highway. Kev pulls over in Santa Monica so I can take photos of the pier, it's the one used in the Lost Boys and makes me feel like I'm a teenager again. As we drive up the beach I spot a Taco Bell and as we missed breakfast, it's chicken burritos at 10.30am! We leave Santa Monica, still on Pacific Coast Highway, drive through Malibu and gawp at the beautiful beach side homes. The drive is long, the scenery ever changing. We stop in San Louis Obispo, drive past the famous Madonna Inn. I feel that the Sat Nav hates us as we can't seem to get out of San Louis Obispo! Back on the highway and a couple of hours still to Monterey, as we approach we're met by field of strawberries and artichokes, I hate artichokes! We find the Colton Inn in Pacific Grove. It's old but clean and we have a wood burning stove in our room! We venture out to a Lonely Planet recommended fish restaurant. The service is ok, the specials sound good. I have the world famous crabcakes and Kev has Mahi Mahi. While the food is good, I find it doesn't come up to the review standard, I've had better in Margate! I wish we had tackled the allegedly 'tacky' Cannery Row, which we find the next day, the fish places there seem much more authentic and smell fantastic! I swear to give up on the guide restaurants in favour of what looks/smells good. We have an early night as Whale Watching is on the cards tomorrow. Total driving today six and a half hours and approximately 400 miles.

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Photos

People are strange...
Santa Monica Pier, it's too early for Kiefer to be playing on the big wheel...

If you're going to San Francisco
it's a bloody long way from here!