Pea soup ended our trip again this year.  After Monterey we were to spend the night in Morro Bay so Roy could finish feeding his cookies to the seagulls. Driving down 101 on Wednesday to head to Morro Bay we got talking.  The original original plan was to drive down the coast through Big Sur to Morro Bay.  So truth be known the weather had it in for us from the beginning.  Check out the landslide.  http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/24/us/california-landslide-scenic-highway/index.html

We decided because the temperatures inland were fairly warm or I should say HOT. So we did not want to cool down and unhook to spend one night by the beach and possible night without hookups inland.  The final deciding factor was late lunch/early dinner at Anderson Pea Soup in Beullton California.  If you haven’t had pea soup or you like pea soup.  You should check it out.  http://www.peasoupandersens.net/mobile/historyBuellton.html

The amazing thing about this whole trip was even though we had to change our plans to avoid the fires and smoke, even coming home early we stayed safe.

In the coming weeks I will be going through pictures and videos and posting them.

Roy says he doesn’t remember fog on the coast in August.  He also has not been with me when I want to take pictures.  Last year when we bought my new camera it seemed every time I wanted to use it it would rain.  We are sitting on the coast and it is extremely foggy so no good contrast pictures, maybe next trip.

Well, we got up on Monday had to wait until our spot was opened moved over then headed to Monterey, SHOPPING. We found a parking spot on Cannery Row and I started walking and shopping.  I stumbled into Bubba Gump Shrimp CO. http://www.bubbagump.com/locations/monterey/?utm_source=Yext&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=Yext

All I have to say is my gift and souvenir shopping has been like a box of chocolates you never know what you’re going to get.  Roy has never seen Forest Gump should I make him watch it when we get home?

It’s funny for dinner Roy and I went to Fisherman Wharf in Monterey and ate at the same restaurant we did last time through about 6 years ago.  The same barker was outside the place trying to lure you inside.  If you haven’t been there are restaurants up and down the wharf each with samples of clam chowder and you can try each one.  This place is famous for getting the crab they sell from “The Time Bandit” of “Deadliest Catch” fame.  I bought a t-shirt from here last time, they had nothing this year.  Here’s the link to the wharf, fun place to visit. http://www.montereywharf.com

Tuesday was 17 mile drive around Pebble Beach.

Sunday morning we get up and figure we will hit Leggitt and set up for the day then head to Monterey.  Then we get to thinking San Francisco + Golden + Gate Bridge + Monday morning = we’ve had better ideas.  This is where open field driving  continues for day two.  I haven’t been as good this trip on walking in the morning but I did this morning.  I was surprised how close to the water this rest area was tucked in the redwoods.  OK, the ocean was through some trees and down a cliff, but, still it was WATER.

Something dawned on me this trip travelling through the hills and redwoods, when you add water to already soaked grounds the earth will move.  Roy and I saw this first hand when we got stopped by every red light on the Redwood Highway.  I think there was at least five slide areas that Caltrans were in the process of repairing.

This was the first time I had been on 101 in this area our last trip we headed up the scenic drive Avenue of the Giants.  http://avenueofthegiants.net  Hwy 101 is curvy and in and out of massive redwood trees.  I am still a water person but these are majestic almost to the point of converting me.  Remember I mentioned heat in my earlier post well, it hit.  Pulling into Standish-Hickey SP it was 88 degrees about 11am. Our campsite had no hook-ups which meant no AC for me. So this cemented the deal we would push on to somewhere near the coast.  

Continuing down 101 we come to the junction of Hwy 1 but stay on 101, that turned out to be a good choice because 1 was closed near Muir Woods.  I am so glad the car had AC because at one point it was 106 outside.  No wonder the car kept giving us heat alerts this area doesn’t see temps like this.  Maybe they were trying to welcome me home.

Once we get to San Francisco we head over the Golden Gate Bridge but, first through a tunnel the Robin Williams Memorial Tunnel (that was a quick name change). I wonder what is was called before.  We stayed on Hwy 1 to skirt going through most of San Francisco I do see a trip back here in the near future.  Being so close to New Brighton SP we pushed on and got a site here and we would move to the reserved site in the morning.

Even though we didn’t dally through the Redwoods I am glad we got out of the heat.

The link that follows is FYI I just wanted to share what Caltrans is thinking of doing to part of the redwoods in the name of progress  http://www.saverichardsongrove.org

So we have Monday and Tuesday in Monterey and Wednesday in Morro Bay then another trip put to bed.

that is what the last part of the trip has been.

We left Camp Rilea OR on saturday morning had all intention to drive to Coos Bay OR (224 miles) spend the night, then, head to Standish-Hickey SP (305 miles) near Leggett CA spend the night, then, head to New Brighton Beach SP (295) near Monterey CA.  Not a bad plan. 

BUT 😉

Fire, mudslides, and construction have not been our friend this year, oh add some heat too.  Just by accident we hear of a fire that is burning near Brookings OR which is below Coos Bay OR but above Leggett CA.  There was a chance the road could get closed, so Saturday we played by ear.  I’m good with driving once we get on the road and don’t stop (except to use the towable potty).  

On the way to Coos Bay ran into construction controlled by a red light.  You guessed it first in line and yes I grabbed a photo.  Once we get to our campsite which was early in the day staying one night we didn’t want to drop found out the beach was not in walking distance we moved on.

Next stop maybe the trees of mystery above Leggett CA  we could do the tour in the morning before heading to Leggett.  We get to that spot and the lot is empty and there’s a hotel across the street probably not a good idea.  Onward!  

It’s getting dark and I remember from years ago when we went through here there was a herd of elk that hung out.  We had seen some earlier in the day.  Yes still a few animals showing themselves.  So in my mind I’m thinking no elk no elk.  There was none we saw.

Funny how California won’t let you park in unofficial rest areas, but, the official ones are so far apart.  We stopped for the night about 100 miles north of Leggitt in the only rest area in say 300 miles.  Sunday will be day two of open field driving. 

A Watched Pot Never Boils…. Time Flies When You Are Having Fun…….

These two are perfect for this morning.  This is our last day in Washington and I’ve been watching my stovetop coffee maker make coffee forever (ok 10 minutes) and it’s at 5 cups.  

Why you ask a stovetop coffee maker instead of the Kuerig?  You have to make sacrifices for beach front living.  We are at a state park in Washington with no hook-ups, and it’s to early for the generator. (Side note it works as a heater too).  So being self contained has it’s advantages.  BTW I’ve stopped watching while writing and we are up to 9 cups out of 10. (5 minutes).  Once I got a handle on the pot making sure I close the filter compartment before placing the pot in I don’t mind making it. 

Time sure does fly.  I can’t believe we will be home this time next week.  It seems like yesterday we were leaving the states and entering Canada.  If I haven’t mentioned this I will now, this year has been all about LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION.  

This evening we are sitting at Camp Rilea OR.  listening to range fire.  Just the noise and uniforms are bringing happy memories back.  Tomorrow on to Coos Bay OR.  Hopefully we will be able to avoid the fire NE of Brookings OR.  The fire has been burning since mid July.

Editor’s note:  No whales or humans were harmed during the telling of this tale. Although both were wet.

Yesterday we left Whidbey Island and Ammo Chief (Ken) and his wife Kay.  It was enjoyable grabbing grub at the Chief’s club.  The Navy sure has so many differant versions of it’s uniform, glad I joined the Army.

Ok, I confess I talked Roy into buying a few quick picks.  I am writing this because we did not win. Five ticckets netted us one number.   The drive down 101 to 112 to 113 back to 101 was very green.  I know it rains here by the amount of moss on the trees reminds me of northern Wisconsin.

We arrive at Kalaloch State Park to drizzle and check-in station closed it’s about 3 no problem.  Find a volunteer who tells us about Gray Whales milling around the beach.  Ok I have blonde roots!  My mind is thinking why are they on the beach.  Rest assured they were in the water.  I did say it was drizzling, so a group of us are standing looking out on the ocean, when the guy next to me goes there’s one.  I can barely see it, he was convinced it was an Orca.  He knows because he watched nature shows.  I started to buy it until I cleaned my glasses.

Once we got set up in camp, the weather cleared and we were able to see more of the pod, and follow them for a time.  Today we are headed into the Hoh rain forest. BTW we have ocean front property again.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DALE AUGUST 24.