Claire L
<font color=blue>Enjoys a good broadway show<br><f
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2002
- Messages
- 10,782
Days 9 to 10
Days 9 to 10 Big Sur and Pismo Beach.
Cast -
Me - 29 and America/Disney nut
DH - 27 and also caught by the America/Disney Bug
Day 9
We left Carmel fairly early and headed down Route 1 towrads our next stop which was to be The Shore Cliff Lodge at Pismo Beach for the next two nights.
Soon after heading off we hit Big Sur and wouldbe on it for about the next 120 miles if memory serves me correctly. Now this is some of the most twisty of roads I have seen in the US and right on th cliff egde!! DH wished he had his Scooby for all the tight turns as the Chrysler really did wallow in them. We stopped off a various poits to admire the scenery and take photogaphs. We had been warned in a travel book not to use the beach toilets but DH had to at one point and reported back saying there was a toilet but it had no bottom and went straight down into a big hole and smelt needless to say I declined to use it!!! Only to wish i had a few miles later so we decided to try and find a suitable toilet which was not easy. Firstly decide to try a local park/campground but I said there was no way I would pay $6 just to use a toilet so we continued with our mission to find a more suitable toilet. I then saw a picnic area and we drove down a narrow road to a cove where several SUV's with surfers were parked and I used the toilet there again a hole in the ground what an experience!! I felt much relieved after this a we contiued on our way.
We then stopped shortly after ending the Big Sur part of the drive as it was lunch time and ate some bread, cheese and meat slices that we had picked up in Carmel and put in the small cool bag, which I always take with me so useful for picnic lunches.
After a pleasant half hour or so sitting in the car park overlooingthe coastline we headed of to find our Hotel.
Well Pismo Beach was quite different to what I expected our hotel was just off Route 1 and we had a huge room overlooking the cliffs which were about 30 feet away. So as soon as we had checked in and got the luggage to the room we went walk to check out the swiming pool. The swimming pool was lovely looking over the cliffs towards the Pacific and it had plenty of loungers,chairs etc great we thought. Decided against a swim today and had a rest in the room before driving into the main 'downtown' area of Pismo Beach finishing up at Marie Calendars for dinner. I must say that Pismo Beach seemed quie like nothing else we had come across before and DH described it as being like a Cornish surf town where there is alot of caravan/caming parks and streets just leading off the main beach area.
Day 10
Today we went to Hearst Castle so drove for an hour or so back North to get to it. Parked in the visitors ot and then boked our tour as it is the only way to see the castle. After a sort debate went for tour 1 which is for newcomers and includes the pools and main areas of the castle. After a long ride in a bus up the steep hillside road we were there and wow what a place and what a spectacular view over towards the Pacific. We were then lead around on the guided tour. Our favorite area has to be the outside pool who can imgine swimming in that!! We were told employees of the catle and Hearst family members can swim in it and had ony done so the previous evening we were so jealous by this point!! The tour then continued through the main areas and wow what a lot of items from different centuries all on dispaly together. The last place we went was to the indoor pool before going back to the visitor cemter and heading back to the hotel.
Although the weather had been cloudy,windy and quite cool up until now upon arriving back it was sunny and wam so we went for a dip in the hotel pool. The pool was lovely so warm it took the chill out of the wind.
After sorting ourselves out went out for dinner to a local Italian restaurant recommended by the guide book and what a meal it was lovely I had meatballs and DH had lasagne very filling!! Back to our hotel for a good nights sleep and off again the following morning.
Claire
Days 9 to 10 Big Sur and Pismo Beach.
Cast -
Me - 29 and America/Disney nut
DH - 27 and also caught by the America/Disney Bug
Day 9
We left Carmel fairly early and headed down Route 1 towrads our next stop which was to be The Shore Cliff Lodge at Pismo Beach for the next two nights.
Soon after heading off we hit Big Sur and wouldbe on it for about the next 120 miles if memory serves me correctly. Now this is some of the most twisty of roads I have seen in the US and right on th cliff egde!! DH wished he had his Scooby for all the tight turns as the Chrysler really did wallow in them. We stopped off a various poits to admire the scenery and take photogaphs. We had been warned in a travel book not to use the beach toilets but DH had to at one point and reported back saying there was a toilet but it had no bottom and went straight down into a big hole and smelt needless to say I declined to use it!!! Only to wish i had a few miles later so we decided to try and find a suitable toilet which was not easy. Firstly decide to try a local park/campground but I said there was no way I would pay $6 just to use a toilet so we continued with our mission to find a more suitable toilet. I then saw a picnic area and we drove down a narrow road to a cove where several SUV's with surfers were parked and I used the toilet there again a hole in the ground what an experience!! I felt much relieved after this a we contiued on our way.
We then stopped shortly after ending the Big Sur part of the drive as it was lunch time and ate some bread, cheese and meat slices that we had picked up in Carmel and put in the small cool bag, which I always take with me so useful for picnic lunches.
After a pleasant half hour or so sitting in the car park overlooingthe coastline we headed of to find our Hotel.
Well Pismo Beach was quite different to what I expected our hotel was just off Route 1 and we had a huge room overlooking the cliffs which were about 30 feet away. So as soon as we had checked in and got the luggage to the room we went walk to check out the swiming pool. The swimming pool was lovely looking over the cliffs towards the Pacific and it had plenty of loungers,chairs etc great we thought. Decided against a swim today and had a rest in the room before driving into the main 'downtown' area of Pismo Beach finishing up at Marie Calendars for dinner. I must say that Pismo Beach seemed quie like nothing else we had come across before and DH described it as being like a Cornish surf town where there is alot of caravan/caming parks and streets just leading off the main beach area.
Day 10
Today we went to Hearst Castle so drove for an hour or so back North to get to it. Parked in the visitors ot and then boked our tour as it is the only way to see the castle. After a sort debate went for tour 1 which is for newcomers and includes the pools and main areas of the castle. After a long ride in a bus up the steep hillside road we were there and wow what a place and what a spectacular view over towards the Pacific. We were then lead around on the guided tour. Our favorite area has to be the outside pool who can imgine swimming in that!! We were told employees of the catle and Hearst family members can swim in it and had ony done so the previous evening we were so jealous by this point!! The tour then continued through the main areas and wow what a lot of items from different centuries all on dispaly together. The last place we went was to the indoor pool before going back to the visitor cemter and heading back to the hotel.
Although the weather had been cloudy,windy and quite cool up until now upon arriving back it was sunny and wam so we went for a dip in the hotel pool. The pool was lovely so warm it took the chill out of the wind.
After sorting ourselves out went out for dinner to a local Italian restaurant recommended by the guide book and what a meal it was lovely I had meatballs and DH had lasagne very filling!! Back to our hotel for a good nights sleep and off again the following morning.
Claire
Good to see you are back with your trip reports.
