Still in Los Angeles

Well we didn`t want to leave Pismo Beach it was a lovely place but after breakfast we got on our way. Decided to stay on the coast road as we had plenty of time and we stoped off at Santa Barbara. This was really up market and the weather was getting warmer. Well time for lunch and we found a great cafe by the sea. Very relaxed with some people having a late breakfast and reading the paper while some just meeting for lunch. Oh battery low must finish. We couldn`t get our flight to Fiji due to bad weather report tomorrow bet x x x

SATURDAY DRIVE TO PISMO BEACH

Ok we have been fed and watered and now to fill you in on saturday.Well we were up at our usual time(early),had tea and breakfast and packed the suitcases to get on our way,by this time it was about eight o clock and the sun was streaming in through the bedroom window a bit of a contrast to yesterday where it chose to rain most of the day.Now the place that i had hired the car from was only one block away from the hotel so what we did was take all the cases down to the lobby and left them with reception and betty and i went round to pick up the hire car.That all went well and we came away with a white one (can`t think what make or model but it drove ok),any way young Mike the lad who worked on reception printed me off a map that would get us to Los Angeles where is where we need to be for about 8pm on sunday evening.So we said goodbye to the Chancellor hotel which i must say was an excellent hotel,only small but really friendly and well positioned to explore San Francisco,the street car passed directly in front of the hotel and went up and up Powell street(and that is some gradient).Anyway the drive that we have for the next two days is about 440 miles and the first part of this is something that i was looking forward to,we found our way on to the freeway out of San Francisco on the 101 in the direction of Los Angeles,now we stayed on this road for the best part of 100 miles until we found the sign for the Monteray Peninsula which is the road that we took,and that is where it started to get interesting.Firstly we came on to the sign for The 17 mile drive(look that one up on the internet,interesting).What it basically is is a tour of the Pebble Beach and del monte forest,it is all private roads and each entrance on to the peninsula is gated and that is where you have to pay your nine dollars for the privelege of driving around.Now there are 21 points of interest on this drive but i could list many more,i would think to live in this little area would need a lottery win,it`s not so much the properties in the area although they were nice but the views
on to the pacific. We visited Poppy hills golf club ( only to use the toilets) but that looked an impressive course and then we got on our way around the area,now every corner that you turned you came upon another fantastic view of the ocean,Spanish bay is another golf course there that`s been modelled on a scottish links course,and there was no shortage of people playing the morning was lovely.Now if you ever get the chance to come here do this drive (and walk )it`s a must.So we exited this drive at Carmel by the sea,now this area was really nice the houses and little roads were immaculate and they all sloped down to more stunning views on to the ocean(never got a glimpse of Clint Eastwood,think he was the mayor here at some time).Seriously Carmel is worth seeing.We found our way back on to the main highway and there was a little shopping area ,we visited Safeways and got something for lunch,now this store was no ordinary store it had everything and was just what we wanted.So then it was on our way for a drive down the pacific highway that runs all the way down the coast and when i say down the coast thats what it is ,you are right alongside the water .It is known as the Big Sur and is recognised as being one of the nicest drives in america and we wern`t dissapointed,the views were stunning and the photos that we posted were only a sample of what we saw,now this drive went on for another 150 miles or more all of it hugging the coastline.By this time it was getting on for 5.30pm when we saw the sign for Pismo Beach and this is where we stayed the night at a hotel called the Mission inn, some room this two big double beds and everything that you need (wish we were stopping a bit longer) i could go on and on about this day and i probably have but the views that we saw today will stay with us forever.speak with you tomorrow x.betty and brian.