California Route 1

Saturday, April 19, 2014-Sunday, April 20, 2014 (Easter Sunday)
We loaded up the car and headed west for US Route 1. Two years ago we had ventured from Monterey down this fabulous highway on a motorcycle. We had such a good time, we decided to return, only this time going the northern route.

Traveling from Paso Robles to Cambria was just an awesome trip. The countryside was the most beautiful spring green with mountains soaring up to 17 thousand feet. Wildflowers were abundant. The views were tremendous and that was before even arriving at the Pacific Ocean.

We wandered through the quaint community of Moonstone. The spring flowers were just showing off for Easter...They were absolutely beautiful!

 

 

 

 

Although the sun was high in the sky, the breezes off the ocean encouraged us to have a jacket on. Ocean views were just fantastic.

We stopped again across from Hearst Castle at the Hearst State Park and walked out on the pier.

People were fishing but the most exciting thing to see was this baby sea otter, floating along on its back right next to the pier. Wonder where its mama was?

Next on Route 1 we came to an elephant seal viewing area. Thinking we would see a couple laying on the beach, we stopped. Did we see one? No, we saw hundreds of these huge creatures. The males can weigh up to 5000 pounds...now that is big! Anyway they were wallowing in the sand on the beach barking...WHAT A RACKET! They were fun to watch!

On we traveled stopping numberous times to take pictures of the simply gorgeous scenery until we came to Big Sur. Here we stopped and found the little cafe with the lazy stream behind it. Out back we wandered to sit back and enjoy nature at its best....trickling stream, big red woods in the forest and these nice andirondack chairs to sit out in the stream. What a bliss moment!

We continued on up the highway with drop gorgeous views of rocks and ocean views. The color of the sun on the rocks was stunning.

It was a photographers dream to have so much scenery to take snap shots of and Larry had a grand time capturing each turn in the road. US 1 has to be one the most scenic ocean view highways in the world with the cliffs, bridges, rock formations, and beaches.

 

 We arrived in Monterey in time to get a nice dinner and enjoyed a walk about the town.

Easter morning after breakfast, we headed for the scenic 17 Mile Drive....Pebble Beach...in Carmel. We were surprised to see so many homes along the route...thinking that the area was going to be more like a park.

Once we arrived at the Pacific Ocean we understood why people wanted to own a home in this area. It was so tremendously gorgeous... Fantastic white water waves against the beaches and unusual rocks.

 

 

 

                                                The Famous Lone Cypress Tree on the Bay

We followed many paths along the drive to see all of the sights along the way and finally headed for the Pebble Beach Lodge for a few moments of relaxation. The outside decks of the lodge were tremendous for sitting back and capturing the 18th hole of many of the golfers coming in from a morning round. It was a great Easter Sunday moment to remember for a long time.

                                                                      My Pro

                                                                    Putting Green

                                                         Pebble Beach Winners

We finally pryed ourselves off of the sunny deck and away from all the fabulous views of the bay and the entertaining golfers to head down the highway to our next destination...Lake Tahoe.

                                                    Behind Pebble  Beach Lodge

The highways were loaded with lots of California scenery. We enjoyed the journey, but it got especially nice when we approached the quick curvy road, snow capped mountains, and the rushing stream that lead into Lake Tahoe.

                                                   Yes, that is snow on that there hill!

Before sunset we arrived in South Lake Tahoe at our lovely four bedroom, two bath home with a wonderful gas fireplace, hot tub and gas grill  called the Bear Den. Why? The lake has bear crossing signs along the highways and the house  has numerous bear pictures and rustic furniture that make for a great relaxing mountain atmosphere. What a great place to enjoy the surrounding scenery.

                                                Spring snow in Lake Tahoe

 

Paso Robles, California

Monday, April 14, 2014-Saturday, April 19, 2014 Paso Robles, California
Beautiful sunshine... just another California kinda day...Kristy dropped us off in Hemet, CA to pick up our rental car...a cute little Mini Cooper. Kristy was  on her way to San Diego to take Molly for her final vet checkup.

                                                     Check out my man and his ride!

 

After hugs and quick farewells, we headed north toward LA and our next destination, Paso Robles. We had decided to venture a different route since a couple years back, we had taken a motorcycle trip up Route 1. We enjoyed a stop at Pyramid Lake before heading the car over the Tehachapi Mountains through the Angeles National Forest and into the irrigated plains of massive  California crops. on the Carrizo Plain. Then we headed west through this dry, arid, mountainous area of zero population. It was a very different kind of scenery that twisted through the mountains and then into flat, brown, dry, arrid, plains of miles and miles of solar panel ranches. What a great idea for using totally useless land! The land slowly turned green and began showing vineyards to the horizon on both sides of the road.

Entrance into the Merrill's Estate 

Dana and Marsha's Home and Vineyards

Finally reaching our destination, we entered a code at the tall gate and wandered into the Pomar Junction Vineyard. Our home for the next week was the guest house to the home of the owners.

                                                   Floral gardens surrounded both homes.

This cute little cottage must have been the original home of the owners way back when the vineyard first started...it had high ceilings and a large open room/kitchen with two bedrooms and two baths off to the sides. It was completely remodeled with an extensively modern electrical system...Each electical plate had four to eight controls over lights, fans etc. The cottage was decorated with the neatest antiques....lots of oaks and the kitchen had all blue glassware...I just loved it!

The landscaping was so beautiful...you could just relax right here without going anywhere!

 Did I mention the main house was 4000 square feet upstair with nine bedrooms, 4000 square feet downstairs with an additional bedroom,a expansive wrap around porch that incompassed the whole house, a 10 car garage, heated endless swimming pool, hot tub, tennis courts, a tremendous  barbecue, 10 stall horse barn, gated riding ring and flower gardens that had to keep a full time or two gardener busy....vineyards expanding beyond the green grassed property line as far as the eye could see. Larry and I thought...."Whoa!....This is place is gonna be ALRIGHT!"

                                                              The Main House

The Pool

                                                   Roses and Iris were in full bloom!


That evening we had a nice ice tea out on our private front porch and would you believe it....a bobcat came strolling between the pool and our little nest. We were in AWE of this magnificant creature. Each day we strolled around the property and found all kinds of wildlife...rabbits, parrie dogs, antelopes, deer, squirrels, chipmunks, and yes a ....Jackalope....a huge rabbit with super tall ears. Reminded us of the kangaroos in  Australia except it had larger ears.

One day we enjoyed exploring Paso Robles, a nice western town with a great city center park surrounded by quaint cafes, restaurants, and shops. The people were very friendly.

                                      On the way to Pismo Beach...a fabulous beachside park.

We also drove down to Pismo Beach for a day trip. It brought back memories of long ago when Larry and I camped out on the beach for free. It was amazing then to pick up all the sand dollars that you could ever want. Today teens were surfing and boogie boarding the waves....in wet suits. The water was quite cold and the air was chilly. Horseback riders meandered up the beach. RVs, campers, and cars were still allowed to drive out there and spend the night for a fee of $ 10.00. There were many there already since it was Easter holiday weekend ahead.

                               South of Pismo Beach...another entrance to drive on the beach

We also enjoyed the little town of San Luis Obispo. Clean and quite with the neatest artistic pictures drawn on their telephone contector boxes. What a great idea for making your town look more artsy.

The final night of our visit, the vineyard owners, Dana and Marsha , invited us to their monthly Pomar Junction Vineyard Friday Night Wine Festival. The blues music was great!

People from all over the area brought their own chairs and extravagant picnic baskets of cheeses, crackers, and other delights and were having a super time dancing and just getting ready for the holiday weekend out on this gorgeous hilltop with two of the tallest California oaks surround by miles and miles of vineyards.

Barbecue was served and everyone had just a fantastic evening. We enjoyed getting sunset pictures of their winery with the train theme.

                        Two old boxcars were anchored close to the old homeplace cellar.

                                     People wore t-shirts stating "I survived  Train Wreck Friday".

It was just a great way to end our stay in Paso Robles.

Sunset at the vineyard!