KOA, Moss Landing, Monterey Bay, CA:  Spent the morning catching up on e-mails, banking, etc.  We got a break from the marine layer in the form of a nice sunny day.  After lunch we drove over to our little seal and sea otter colonies.  The seals were all asleep on the beach.  The sea otters were all asleep out in the little bay.  In the open sea, the sea otters wrap themselves in the kelp which anchors them and keeps them from drifting while they sleep.  Had dinner at the Whole Enchilada and then back to our park.  Tomorrow we leave for Pacifica which is just south of San Francisco.  We were going to drive up the PCH, but the park where we’re staying at in Pacifica doesn’t recommend we do that.  So, we’re going to have to find a different route (sigh).  Mid-60s today.

The old post office in Moss Landing--the new one isn't much bigger.

Probably a mercantile building at one time.

Nap time at the sea otter colony.

Sound asleep...

There were a bunch of jelly fish in the little bay.

Whale Watching

KOA, Moss Landing, Monterey Bay, CA:  This morning we boarded a 60-foot cruiser for some whale watching out in Monterey Bay.  Only a few miles out we started seeing them.  There were so many I lost count.  Mostly blue whales and a couple of hump back whales.  It was really great!  Then the vomiting started.  There were some big rollers out there as we were idling.  Fortunately, I don’t get sea sick—unless it’s alcohol related.  Unfortunately, Mike does.  He was on the back of the boat most of the time miserable.  At least he never threw up.  Several others did and they just hosed off the back.  And it was a beautiful day for it.  You could actually see both ends of the bay, which is unusual so they tell us. The Monterey Canyon is just off Moss Landing which is 10,000 feet deep.  It’s deeper and wider than the Grand Canyon.  We were back by 2:00, but Mike was wiped out.  Just relaxed the rest of the day. 

Two blue whales--one blowing and one showing its fluke

Another blue whale.

We wake up to these guys every morning.  They've taken over one of the docks at the marina.

Out for a sail on Monterey Bay

Santa Cruz

KOA, Moss Landing, Monterey Bay, CA:  The marine layer gave us a break this morning.  It moved back out to sea pretty quickly.  Still cool though.  After lunch we drove up the coast to Santa Cruz and beyond.  The PCH went away from the coast until we reached Santa Cruz.  And the traffic around that city was terrible.  Once we got north of Santa Cruz we were back along the coast.  Drove north to about 40 miles from Half Moon Bay and then turned around because the temps dropped into the 50s and it started misting.  Drove back and when we got back to Santa Cruz we drove along the ocean on West Cliff Drive.  Pretty little harbor area and a nice beach.  Even though the temps were in the low 70s and the water was probably in the low 60s, there were people out there frolicking in the water, surfing and wind surfing.  These people are nuts.  Back to our little fishing village and relaxed the rest of the day.  We actually had a home cooked meal this evening—pork chops, mashed potatoes, and a vegetable.  Oh, and this weekend is the big event in LA they’re calling “carmageddon”.  This weekend they’re shutting down the 405 in both directions for several miles because they have to demolish a bridge or something.  They’ve been talking about it since we arrived in California.  Glad we won’t be there.  It’s a weekend people—STAY HOME!  Upper 60s today.

North of Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz Harbor Light

Carmel

KOA, Moss Landing, Monterey Bay, CA:  Woke up to the harbor seals again this morning.  And it was really socked in.  Did a load of laundry while there was a washer available.  After the laundry and a quick lunch we drove south again to Carmel.  The drive along Monterey Bay on the PCH is very pretty with huge sand dunes covered with carpets of flowering vegetation.  We’re surrounded by huge tracts of rich farmland and there are little produce stands around where we can buy fresh produce—right out of the field.  Got to Carmel, parked, and walked around browsing the shops.  Stopped at a local watering hole and got talking to a bunch of locals which was very entertaining.  Stopped at the Hog’s Breath Inn which Clint Eastwood used to own.  He doesn’t any more.  Drove around a little and then came back to our neat little fishing village and had dinner at Phil’s Fish Market and Eatery.  Came highly recommended.  It was so-so.  The sun finally came out when we got back.  63 today. 

In front of the fire at the Hog's Breath Inn

Cute little Carmel

Monterey Aquarium

KOA, Moss Landing, Monterey Bay, CA:  Woke up this morning to the sound of the harbor seals barking.  This is such a neat place—a little fishing village with all kinds of marine life all around us.  Went to the world renowned Monterey Aquarium today.  What a great place!  The exhibits are really well done and other aquariums around the world look to the Monterey Aquarium as an example of how it should be done.  It’s very hands on.  We got to handle star fish, crabs, and sea cucumber. There were so many people though.  I was glad to leave.  After leaving the aquarium we walked around Cannery Row looking for a place to eat.  We decided on The Fish Hopper, right on the bay.  I had almond encrusted sea bass and Mike had sword fish.  Really good.  Drove back to Moss Landing.  Relaxed the rest of the evening.  Really tired.

The aquarium is housed in the old Hovden Cannery buildings.

Cute little area of Cannery Row

Spotted eel

Coral Reef

Coral Reef

This cute leafy-looking thing is a sea horse.

Jelly Fish

Monterey Peninsula

KOA, Moss Landing, Monterey Bay, CA:  Woke up this morning, peeked out, and we’re socked in with clouds, fog, whatever.  I love it though!  We are right by the sea. You can smell it.  You can hear the fog horn out there in the bay somewhere.  And you can hear the clanking of the rigging in the fishing fleet and the barking of the seals.  We’re smack in the middle of Monterey Bay.  We couldn’t be in a better location.  I kind of wanted to drive back to Big Sur and hike one of the trails, but when we drove through there a couple of days ago it was only in the 50s.  It’s cooled off since then and gotten more overcast.  We’ll see.  Had my smoothie, showered, and put on jeans and a long sleeved shirt.  And socks and boots!  We were going to go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium today, but the sun started coming out so we decided to go to the Monterey Peninsula instead.  A beautiful drive along this magnificent, rugged coast through an old forest of Monterey Cyprus trees—the oldest in existence are on this peninsula.  Stopped at the Pebble Beach Lodge and had an early dinner.  Drove back through Pacific Grove and Monterey along the coast.  Drove by the aquarium which is in an older area—Cannery Row.  The aquarium is housed in an old cannery building complex surrounded by shops and restaurants. Back to our park and the sun is shining under blue skies.  It was cloudy over on the peninsula.  Go figure.  Low 60s today. 

Pebble Beach--taken when I was out here in 1982

Do you think it gets windy out here?

Some of the ancient Monterey Cyprus trees

The 18th hole--Pebble Beach Links

Monterey Bay

Wine Country RV Resort, Paso Robles, to Moss Landing KOA, Moss Landing, Monterey Bay, CA:  Left Paso Robles this morning at about 11:15.  Took the 101 north—basically backtracking the route we took back from Big Sur.  A non-descript drive out of the hills and into a wide valley planted with all kinds of crops.  Got to Moss Landing and were set up by 2:30.  Moss Landing is a little harbor where all the commercial fishing boats are moored.  The little town is about three blocks long with little shops and restaurants.  Around 5:00 we drove around exploring a little. Drove down Jetty Road where in one of the little bays is a colony of seals and the little bay next to it has a colony of sea otters.  Had a great time watching them.  It’s cold here.  Low 60s, cloudy, and windy.  We quickly changed out of our shorts and tees and donned jeans and sweatshirts.  Had dinner at Haute Café—a little Mexican restaurant.  A very different Mexican restaurant.  Came back and got the little heater out.  Looks like we can put away our shorts and tees for a while (sigh).

One of the seals--there must have been 30 or so.

Sea otter taking a nap.

There must have been 50 sea otters in this little bay.

This boat has seen better days.