Another spotlessly blue day greets us as we breakfast at a little grill on the Santa Barbara beach. There we see small dogs whose hair has been clipped into mini-lions as well as Hulk Hogan and Bill Murray look-a-likes soaking up the sun. Yup — we're in California!
We feel a bit lost (and although barely having started out) we are questioning whether we've rented our car for too short a time. There is so much to do here and although we logically know that we will not be able to do it all, our ambitious nature gets the best of us. Big Sur! Monterey! San Fran! Napa! Yosemite! Sequoia National Park! How can we fit it all in!?! We just can't. Getting our heads around that is going to take some adjusting. We both get ahead of ourselves in the planning and have to remind ourselves to take a step back.
What will happen, will happen. Where we get to, we get to. Start with the Now.
So, local we go. We decide to visit the Santa Barbara mission — that should put us in a calm state of mind!
The mission is one of the string of missions that weave up the coast. This one, built in 1786, was the 10th in California and is considered to be the queen of the missions. We wander through the grounds, including the cemetery and the old church, and indeed leave feeling calmer.
We even saw a monk and monk-in-training!
Back on the road, we take the long way out of Santa Barbara driving alongside the waters edge through the hopelessly wealthy Hope Ranch neighbourhood.
Joining up with Highway 101, we head into strawberry territory, passing by fields and fields of berries and pickers. Visions of Steinbeck play through our heads and we feel somewhat transported back into the Depression Era knowing that this is grueling and demanding low paying no thanks work.
When we stop to buy a pint of the ruby treats, we profusely thank the gentlemen at the sellers stand for all the hard work that has gone into our purchase.
At long last the Hwy heads back towards the water. We stop in Cayucos for
some smoked fish tacos in the coolest town we've visited so far. There is a great vibe here and what we find most appealing is that the town is not built up like the many others we've passed. Oh, and the fish tacos from Ruddell's Smokehouse? Smokin' good!
We stop in to a lovely little jewellery store where the kind gentleman there helps us plan a route around the still closed Big Sur stretch of Hwy. 1. He and another fellow make a list for us of eateries to be sure to stop at along that stretch of the coast.
We double back a bit to pick up the main Hwy. and slide into Monterey right at dinner time.
Tomorrow (Friday) it's Aquarium Day!
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