DAY ONE
Kevin for once wakes up before I do. It’s Friday and he has to work. While I thankfully don’t, I do have things to do and places to be. Mainly I want to leave the house as early to avoid as much L.A. traffic as humanly possible. I let Kevin get ready first but he’s still running behind, not to mention we take way too long in saying goodbye. I’m only going to be gone for 4 days but we have to go over the drive-safes, don’t-have-too-much-fun-without-mes and call-me-a lot-so-I-know-your-safes. It’s sappy, sure, but we’re used to each other and we don’t normally go on trips alone anymore.
I’m finally on the road by 7 AM. I’m heading north on the 405 to meet up with the 101. L.A. is kind to me until I get to the 101 where it turns to bumper to bumper. 30 minutes it takes to get to the 101, once there, it takes me 2 hours to go 10 miles. I begin to stress as that’s what you’re suppose to do when sitting in traffic. I had no deadline or timeline but sitting there made me think that I did. I’m glad I don’t live in L.A.
By 9:30 I’m finally free of L.A. The 101 joins with Coast Hwy 1 and it’s beautiful. It’s a clear sunny day out and the ocean to the left of me is a color of blue I didn’t think there was outside of the Caribbean. I begin to relax and I begin to smile. The thought of the empty days ahead of me filled with what only I want to do is awesome.
View driving north on Hwy 101\1
When I reach San Luis Obispo, I stop to eat at a place called Mo’s BBQ solely for the fact that they were called Mo’s. As I walk in, a homeless man turns to me and says, “Don’t eat there, they’re terrible.” I ignore him, have a pulled pork sandwich and enjoy it immensely.
At San Luis Obispo, Hwy 101 and Coast Hwy 1 split into two. I take Coast Hwy 1 to Hearst Castle. The terrain starts to become long rolling hills instead of a straightaway path and the endless waves of grass are a tawny color due to the lack of rain.
I saw a couple zebras when I first drive past Hearst Castle. It’s quite literally cow cow zebra cow zebra zebra cow cow. It takes awhile for my brain to process that. It’s not that I haven’t seen a zebra before, it’s just odd seeing one so out of it’s natural environment. Of course, I’ve been to Tijuana before so my first thought is, “those aren’t those painted donkeys now, are they?”
I get my ticket for the Experience Tour 1. Standing in line for the bus I finally get my first sense of being alone on this trip. Everyone is with someone else. On the bus up I share a seat with a father who had his two kids in the seat in front of him. He didn’t talk except to scold his kids for sticking their arms out the window. If Kevin had been there I would have been burying my head in his shoulder when the bus went around the steep corners with no guard rails. Instead my knuckles go white squeezing the seat bar ahead of me. The views are amazing though and I try to concentrate on the overhead speaker telling us what type of foliage John Hearst decided to plant where.
The tour continues. No food, drink, and strangely, no gum. I take pictures and ignore my increasingly dry mouth. It’s hot up there. The first place they take us is the pool. I’m sure I am not the only one who is thinking about getting arrested just for the chance to jump in a wade around a bit. From the guide we learn that Mr. Hearst was a freakishly genius type of guy with expensive tastes and a sense of entitlement. Everything is beautiful and costs in today’s market a billion trillion gazillion dollars. We see the pools, the lounge, dining area, billiards room and the theater. My favorite part is the two pools. Maybe I’m still just hot and thirsty. On the bus ride down I get a seat to myself. I squeeze my eyes shut around the evil turns.
After the tour I head back north on Hwy 1 through Big Sur to get to Monterey. Although this stretch of highway is only 90 miles, the miles are carved through cliffs and drastic turns. It takes me close to 3 hours to do going no more than 40 mph at best. This stretch is awesome though long and I’m glad that I decided to go this way.
View from Coast Hwy 1 almost to Big Sur
I get lost in Monterey. There are three exits for Del Monte Blvd and I take the wrong one twice. I find my way to Cannery Row and stop to have dinner. The first place I try is a Hawaiian\Tiki themed restaurant. Walking in the hostess asked me if I’m meeting anyone, which I respond, “no”. She makes me wait at the bar anyway and it takes me 15 minutes to realize that she wasn’t listening to me at all. I know I look bad and smell bad from being on the road all day and the service wasn’t likely to improve. I finish up my fruity drink and leave. Disappointedly I have a cheeseburger at a chain restaurant but it’s oddly satisfying. I get lost again trying to get to Salinas where I’ll be staying the night. I drove too far and end up driving through Castroville, the artichoke capital of the world. A security guard at 7-11 gives me the directions that I need and I get to the America’s Best Value Inn by the Salinas airport at 9 PM. I’m exhausted, dirty, and a bit lonesome. I fall asleep with the TV on for white noise and light and I don’t bother to set the alarm.
