Twenty-three years ago, we drove down Pacific Coast Highway on our honeymoon in a small rental car. It was a real adventure. We figured we’d do it again in the RV, so we could reminisce some more about our first trip and see how much it has changed.
We left Gilroy after a fast breakfast at JEFFREY’S. My allergies have been very bad for the past 2 days, so I took another Drixoral, which makes me drowsy. I’m pretty good if we’re doing something (like the museum and wharf yesterday), but if I’m in the RV, I’m as good as out. I fall asleep so easily in a moving vehicle (be it train, car, bus or RV), so I knew I’d be sleeping for a while.
We took the same route to Monterey, then stayed on Pacific Coast Highway. Also known as PCH, this road is designated as an “All-American Road.” It is also known as State Route 1, Highway 1, Cabrillo Highway, and Shoreline Highway, depending where you are in California when you are driving on it.
I wasn’t thrilled with the idea, because I knew we were going to be on the outside all the way down, near high cliffs, and even after surviving my recent experiences, I’m still afraid! Eric insisted, and he was driving, so I figured I’d “go along for the ride.” It really wasn’t bad for a while, and then we saw a sign that said “Curving Roads next 60 miles.”
It started to get really hairy. I was so sleepy I fell asleep in my seat. I woke up and Eric wasn’t enjoying himself quite as much. It was really hard in the RV and he wasn’t really able to enjoy the views, since he was trying so hard to keep the rig on the road!
We DID find a place where we had breakfast on our honeymoon and pulled in to take a look around. It has changed so much it was almost unrecognizable, but we saw the same stream running behind the restaurant and remembered the fabulous eggs and rainbow trout we had enjoyed there years ago.
Eric kept pointing out things he remembered, and we also noticed how much towns have grown in the last 20 years. Where there were just a few small buildings, now stands a STAPLES, and a COSTCO. It’s kind of depressing, but that’s progress!
Eric woke me to ask if I wanted to see the ELEPHANT SEALS. I thought he meant that they were swimming in the ocean, or sunning on a distant rock. We pulled into a parking lot and walked about 20 feet and there they were – down on the beach – with only about 10 feet and a rope separating us. It was amazing.
There were thousands of them – up and down the beach, most sleeping or resting in big clumps – almost on top of each other. Others were waddling across the beach in the awkward, “swimming on the sand” way that they move on land.
Some are almost white; some gray; some brown. They’re all fat, I can tell you that! I have learned that this area of the beach is called a “Rookery.” The seals spend 8-10 months of the year in the open ocean and then migrate thousands of miles, twice a year, to their land based rookery for birthing, breeding, molting and rest.
We felt so lucky to have been there at the right time of year to see these amazing animals.
We got back on the road and I managed to stay up for the rest of the ride to PISMO SANDS RV PARK, which is in Oceano, outside Pismo Beach, just a little south of San Luis Obispo. By now, Eric had a headache and a neck ache (just like in Las Vegas) and I was still stuffed up and sleepy from the pills.
We pulled into our site and Eric hooked up the electric, water and cable. I made up the bed. All we wanted was so lie down and take a nap for a few hours. I woke up a little after 8:00pm and watched PRISON BREAK for the first time since last season. I have no idea what’s going on, but I watched anyway and it’s pretty exciting. After that was over (10:00pm), I turned the channels and found a special about THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW, with lots of people talking about their experiences on the show. That show was one of my favorites when I was growing up.
Eric was still sleeping, but he woke up to take a few Advils. I’m feeling better, but unfortunately, Eric is very sick. His head and neck are really hurting and I feel so helpless when this happens to him, because there’s nothing I can do. I don’t know why he didn’t have a headache for 10 weeks and now has two in two weeks. I told him I thought it was the stress of driving along the coast all day, because he had to concentrate so hard and it must have been hard. He insisted that it wasn’t so bad and he doesn’t know why these neck aches and headaches happen.
I just pray that he feels better when he wakes up. We were planning on driving down to Santa Barbara tomorrow, but if he’s not feeling well we may just stay here another day, until he’s feeling better. I could drive, but he’s just as stressed watching me drive as when he’s driving, so it really doesn’t help him much. I think he likes it better when he’s driving, because he’s in control, rather than watching me and worrying.
Sorry I don’t have a happier ending for this blog entry today. Some days are just better than others. Oh, and one more thing – there’s a train right near by (I’m already hearing the sounds). There was a train nearby in Gilroy, too, but it wasn’t very loud. This one’s a doozy!