Day 65 - (09/21) Monterey, CA ... day 1

Today we moved from rural, sparsely populated areas to busy, crowded cities.  The day was beautiful, the transition went pretty well.


We started in wine country (Sonoma County).  Here's a view of vineyards in the valley below the KOA Campground.

Above - vineyards in the distance
Below - grapes look really good up close

We left Cloverdale on US-101.  Highway 1 joins US-101 at Sausalito, continues across the Golden Gate Bridge, and separates from US-101 immediately beyond the bridge toll booth

Southbound on Golden Gate Bridge

Highway 1 goes south through western San Francisco

Beach near Pacifica from Highway 1

Cliffs near Pacifica from Highway 1

Pigeon Point Lighthouse
(Between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz)

Shoreline at Pigeon Point Lighthouse

Wind surfers
(From Highway 1, near Santa Cruz)

We're camped at Laguna Seca Recreation Area.  It's between Monterey and Salinas.  It has interesting amenities like ... a Mazda race track, a shooting range, a racing school and other stuff we don't understand yet.  The entrance has a 16% grade for about 1,000 yards as it climbs a hill; you certainly don't get in here accidentally.  Camp sites have water, electricity and phenomenal views.  The campground has rest rooms, showers and a dump station.

This is quite a campground

Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway

Drivers making practice runs

Raceway at turn 6

Site #5 - we're on top of a ridge

Looking east from our site

This was a pretty long driving day.  We went to Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey for dinner.  Our table overlooked the bay.  We watched seals play (show off?)  and the sun set as we dined.  Try the baby spinach salad and clam chowder at Old Fisherman's Grotto.  We did ... they are wonderful.  This was a delightful day and evening.

Fisherman's Wharf - Monterey

Monterey Bay Marina

Monterey Bay Marina after sunset

Map Tracks                                                                                                                                            

Start:  Cloverdale KOA Campground - Cloverdale, California

South on US-101 to CA-1 at Sausalito

South on CA-1 to Monterey

East on CA-68 to Laguna Seca Recreation Area

End: 219 miles @ Laguna Seca Campground - Salinas, California