Day 9 San Francisco to Monterey

0900 start with fuel, sorry gas, first on the agenda. The nearest station had no 89 or 91 octane so we went to one on the way to the bridge vista point where we had a group photo. The weather was cooler today but the sun was out.

The route followed the coast down to Santa Cruz on Highway 1 and provided lovely views out over the Pacific. The scenery changes every 20 miles, going from rocky shoreline to sandy beach and back again while the plants go from deciduous to pine trees to desert shrubs to sand.

Lunch was in a roadhouse restaurant which was busy, but they managed to fit us in. 6 of the group went on ahead to the sea-life centre to do a tour there while the rest of us went to a Steam Locomotion park. Sadly we were too early in the season and it was not fully open. We had a wander around and looked at the various facilities which were housed in re-cycled cabooses, and the station which thankfully had some seating in the shade of the sun to cool off.

Off again the 5 bikes headed for Monterey and the plan to do an advertised 17 mile drive round the peninsula before tea. We stop to take some pics and a woman comes along the beach path with her dog and exits onto the sidewalk beside us. The dog strains over to say hello to us and I bend down and give it the 'well you're a happy dog aren't you'. He wags his tail and is delighted to have a new friend. I make a big fuss of him and his owner says "well thats a scottish accent where are you from?" We meet Mrs Weir and have blether.
Sadly we only managed 5 miles when the route entered a state Park with a security person at the gatehouse. Seems the 'Drive' is for cars only, bikes not allowed. hmm.
Back to the hotel and get set for dinner.

Up the road not 10 mins walk was a large shopping centre with some eating places. Easiest to get to were a chinese and a pizza place. Somewhere was a grill we had been told was good, so off we set to find it. Its friday, its 8pm and its busy with folk, what are the chances of getting seats for 8? Not much you'd think but fortunately we were lucky. They could take us and what a meal. Angus steaks, all round I think, and they were delicious. Lalla's is the place if you get there.

Too late and too tired to do a blog and also with an earlier start next day, I head for bed. Another great day on Highway 1.