Chilly's Golden Triangle Roadtrip (with not a lot of road) Day 10 - Road Trip Day 2

[Chilly]

Monday 4th April
Up early and get breakfast at the hotel for speed, its pricey at $15 each plus tax and tip but its freshly cooked to order. We both have some cooked breakfast then I go to get some cereal but put cream on it by mistake so I give up on that idea. We share a waffle and I have some fruit and DH gets a pastry in an attempt to get our money's worth. We head off and stop to get some gas, we pull up at the pump and DH gets out and attempts to pump the gas but it doesn't work so he heads inside the store and they tell him that pumps not working so we drive to another pump which says out of order on it, we try another, also out of order, and the next one, we give up and drive off. We drive round the block so arrive back at the gas station and stop waiting to turn left and see another car doing exactly what we did, we ponder whether it was a hidden camera show seeing how many pumps you'd drive to before giving up. We find another gas station and fill up then head to 17 Mile Drive. We drive along stopping here and there to get out and take photos, we'd been here before and I love it, if I could afford it i'd so live there, this time I saw a lot of for sale signs, a sign of the times I guess as none had been up for sale last time, later on I spot one of the houses in an estate agents window, its priced at a very reasonable $19.5 Million.

Photo overload...

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[Chilly]

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[Chilly]

We exited 17 Mile Drive and entered Carmel where we stopped for lunch. We parked up and then walked around looking for the same place we eaten at 6 years ago, it took us a while but we finally found the correct area although i'm not sure the same cafe was there, we shared a chicken pannini and DH had a smoothie and I got an ice cream afterwards which I ate sitting in the sun before back to the car via a look at the beech to hit the long drive to the hotel.

brilliant treehouse

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[Chilly]

We leave Carmal via the beach road before joining PCH1. We couldn't drive all the way down it though as a few days before we left part of the road had collapsed. If we could have gone direct it would have taken us 2 hours. We wanted to experience as much of the road as possible so we drove up to where it was closed which took about 30 mins there then 30 mins back again. At the road closed sign we could see Bixby bridge in the distance. On the return journey we had to decide which route to take, the quicker route on the highway which brought us out near our hotel or a smaller road the got us back onto PCH1 a lot sooner. As we wanted to see the road we went for the smaller road. It started off ok, it was a normal road, we drove through some farmland, but then in got quite bumpy. After a while the road got really good again because it turned into Army land, DH was worried that we weren't supposed to be there as there was a huge sign as we entered that he couldn't read. We pass a tank which I go to take a photo of but then think better of it. The next bit of the journey though is the really scary bit though as we go up and over a mountain range on a thin twisty road with sheer drops as the sun sets. A points the sun is right in DH's eyes and he can hardly see, when a propane truck hurtles round the corner in the middle of the road my life flashes before my eyes. We finally make it back onto PCH1 and arrive at our hotel 5 hours after leaving Carmel.

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[Chilly]

We find our hotel, its really cute and right on the beach but we aren't able to take advantage of this as we arrive so late. We go into a restaurant up the road, I have steak which comes with a lovely garlic cream mash, DH has cove scampi, and we share some red velvet cake to finish but its huge and even between 2 of us we can't finish it, I get a "Walk" on the beach cocktail to go with it. Back in the room I watch some TV while DH writes his postcards then its time for bed.

view next morning

our hire car, i miss it

UP NEXT: Hearst Castle & Santa Barbara

 

[tony64]

Looks like some fantastic views Claire.

 

[irongirlof12]

Amazing scenery and fab photos. Scary bit of road tho, i would be terrified

 

[strawberry blonde]

Great photos Claire. Isn't Carmel where Clint Eastwood was mayor or something?

 

[Chilly]

Great photos Claire. Isn't Carmel where Clint Eastwood was mayor or something?

indeed he was. Its a funny town, its full of artist gallary's and posh shops but where they buy food i've no idea.

 

[mandymouse]

More lovely pics, and another nice hotel too

 

[Tammy Stringer]

More great pictures Claire - looks like you had a brilliant time

Can't wait to read more

Tam

 

[Claire L]

What a wonderful day, I just love that area and you got some great photos too. Shame about the detour and the smaller road

 

[disneyholic family]

wow - stunning pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! really gorgeous views!!!