Epic Road Trip Day 8

And on our way again, but this time at our speed and with no social obligations whatsoever, if one doesn’t count the elephant seals!

Monday, May 1st after a walk and breakfast at home we left by 9h30 and K says “hey we got off before 10” to which I replied “yes but we were aiming for 9”. Never mind – it allowed us to make a first stop at the Outlets in Gilroy, capital of garlic – they even have garlic ice cream – not that I have ever been tempted to try it.

Then down Highway 101 where I know almost every inch of the road. Upon arrival in Cambria checked in to our hotel the Fireside Inn on Moonstone Beach where we were able to negotiate an ocean-side room for $40.00 more than what we had paid online. No. 101 this time so I have stayed in most of them now.

Same car, same people, new loop

Our terrace at the Fireside Inn on Moonstone Beach, CA

Then top down (of the car that is!) and off to see the bathing beauties: the Elephant Seals at Piedras Blancas just above San Simeon and Hearst Castle. I still love seeing them and could spend hours watching them laze about, flip sand over themselves to keep cooler and jostle with each other. The Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery spreads over 6 miles of shoreline around Point Piedras Blancas on the central coast of California and was probably the fullest that I have seen. Also the first time that I didn’t freeze to death. By the way there is an association Friends of the Elephant Seals and a webcam http://www.elephantseal.org/view.htm

One part of the beach and rookery

I will be heard

Sweet dreams indeed

A little teenage talk

Wake up, there's an ocean out there

Just stretching

Once back on Moonstone Beach we went for an early dinner at the Moonstone Bar and Grill. I splurged and had a beer, the calamari frita, the crab cakes and some salad. We also shared the deep-fat fried jalapenos as a starter. Nothing but delicious. 

fried jalapenos

Calamari frita, crab cakes, asparagus and salad

 

Afterwards we were tempted to simply fall in bed but as only about 18h30 made ourselves take a walk along the boardwalk. When we returned we sat on our porch and watched the sun go down over the Pacific Ocean.

Like the pillow said: In order for the most uninteresting event to become an adventure, one must and needs only to tell the story.