June 30, 2013, Monterey CA - Garberville CA

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8.45 AM off to have  Pete's Coffee which we love and some breakfast.

On the Road Again...towards the land of the Red Woods.

We started early as we had to cover along distance today (340 miles), we passed through endless fields of strawberries and by Castroville the land of artichokes.

We stopped by a very old town, Saint Juan Bautista, established in 1702, the population is 1,860, we went into the mission
church which was just as old for a little while, the mass was taking place as we heard  angelic voices were being heard around the small town, it was wonderful. This town is also along the rift zone of the San Andreas Fault.

One could not help but notice such kindness in the people's smiling faces, weathered from working out in the sun drenched fields, all coming in for the Sunday mass.


I just want to share the sign at the church graveyard.

We continued past Gilroy were most of our the garlic comes from...and as suggested by a friend in S. Francisco we bypassed our main route and went to an alternate as the city of San Francisco was celebrating the latest Supreme Court ruling on same sex marriage.  The entire city was packed with people and highways were parking lots.

 So this is the Smog of this beautiful city welcoming us!














The Golden Gate Bridge was appearing through the mist and fog by the time we had almost crossed it.

On route we also stopped in Santa Rosa for some lunch and a superb cup of coffee at "The

Flying Goat" where they make a cup of coffee with so much care and attention.

Smiling faces every were .

We also went to check out a wonderful town called Healdsburg,

 with a spectacular square (green )

and wonderful shops surrounding it.

We crossed the Russian river while traveling through the mountains and hills

while the river sparkled bellow under the hot sun (98F) at each turn we took. Some hills still were dressed in golden hues while the beautiful vineyards were stitched in between.

Soon the the rich viridian green trees were starting to take over and show their grandeur, we were approaching the beautiful Red woods, their canopy was covering us as we were traveling closer to their forests.

We finally arrived at the famous Chandelier tree, where one can actually drive through!

So Ron and our VW Passat came right through this 2.400 year old, 315ft high & 21ft. in diameter

Tree!

This was on the way back to the highway ...

We are staying overnight in the beginning of the Forrest. We went to dinner at the ONLY place in town that was open on a Sunday, unless we felt like going to the local Saloon...

Would you believe, a great Greek Salad as fresh as can be with delicious chicken!

June 29, 2013 Carmel by the Sea, CA

Early morning we left to visit the most important of all California missions, also known as San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, the home and headquarters of the Franciscan priest who established the Carmel Mission along with another 20 throughout the State.

It is beautiful, a very popular place formal weddings and gatherings.

I was surprised to see many Greek Icons.


They say that Marie Antoinette would feel at home here, Carmel is truly a delightful town, throughout the residential area, there are no sidewalks,  gardens extend up to the road.
Architecture is out of a storybook. One would think they are walking through another  era.
Fantastic galleries, restaurants and shopping.....




Plants and trees love this environment ,  

We went to the beach to enjoy the beautiful afternoon sun along with everyone else. it was wonderful.

June28-29, 2013 San Luis Obispo - Monterey, CA

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A wonderful clear morning, perfect temperature, we took off in order to start our ascent up
the beautiful coast of this great state.
We passed Morro Bay, the rock resembels the rock of Gibraltar, we had to walk to it so we could feel the sea air, it is a peregrine Falcon nesting site as well as a fishing harbor, we watched a man wearing his kimono ... early in the morning painting his boat! I wish I could have taken the photo, it was so unique!

We went on to San Simeon to the Hearst Castle, unfortunately we did not take the Tour as we

knew we did not have 2 hours to spare and this was one of the sacrifices in order to keep our schedule.

We did drive up though and it is an incredible business, they even sell meats from their stock of steer.at their 

Information center. To our surprise we also saw this which was adorable and unexpected.

We arrived at the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and took a walk by the path created just over the rim of the rocks, in order to admire the only waterfall in California that falls into the Pacific ocean.

It was magnificent as it fell right into this cove that was the most beautiful turquoise 

color sparkling in the sun, above us were huge eucalyptus trees who's fragrance spread in the warm air.

The white sand and the dark tall dark green pines on the rocks mad a perfect palette.

After this great stop we continued North until we reached  the stop I saw longed for, Nepenthe, a place we have visited in the past and could not wait to see again.

The Nepenthe, comes from Homer's Odyssey, it was a drug that made people forget...

A wonderful place high on the rocks over the cliffs, where one can have a drink, for us it was a perfect iced coffee, overlooking the great Big Sur, on the upper level is a wonderful restaurant with marvelous food, along with the unforgettable vistas.

This little guy came by our table to see what we were doing, he was so blue and beautiful, I should have asked what kind of bird he was??? 

We continued on to Carmel and then Monterey and as the June fog came in the temperature dropped 30 degrees it was incredible, 

and it left just like that bringing behind the  cerulean sky we so hoped for.

We crossed the famous Bixby Creek Bridge which once was the largest concrete bridges when it was built in 1932.

We checked into our hotel on Monterey Bay and went to Fisherman's  wharf to a wonderful Italian restaurant for fresh fish and pasta as the sun set over Monterey Bay. More to follow on Saturday as we explore Carmel and Monterey. 

 

June 27, 2013 New Port Beach - San Louis Obispo, Ca.

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We left Newport Beach at 9.30AM, the traffic was absolutely crazy, a true parking lot, just as it has been described by all who have experienced it. It does not matter what time of the day it is.

after an hour or so  it lightened up and we started on 101 along the water, only we could not see the water, the June fog had started taking over as the ocean is still so cold and this cloud laid over it
stubbornly.  Yet on our right the bright blue sky started peaking through.

We arrived in beautiful in Santa Barbara in 2.30hours, what an absolutely lovely town, had a wonderful lunch at the oldest restaurant Joe's Cafe openned since the 20s. and walked around exploring. 

I have never been to a more picturesque shopping center by the way, it almost takes away one's ...guilt away from shopping!

Actually this is...Macy's!

Now this is a coffee shop...next to were we had a wonderful cup of espresso.

They were actually roasting the beans right there.

For some reason "Sally" our GPS had us leave 101 and wanted us to take the mountain road 154, it was a wonderful surprise, marvelous hairpin turns with great vistas, we passed lake Cachuma which was absolutely beautiful inside the State Park.

Once we passed that beautiful site, we started going through beautiful golden hills that looked like velvet with trees every once in a while and absolutely marvelous horse farms.

And then the endless vineyards started appearing on either side of the road endless stretches of perfect green rows of future delicious wines. Please excuse the reflections from my car window...

Eventually we arrived in San Louis Obispo, we were told that in town there is a night Market that is
worth visiting. Indeed it was absolutely a great surprise and pleasure to visit not only the lovely
town but also an incredible Market. The produce were exceptional, the colors of the vegetables the freshness and varieties were very impressive.

Their Art Deco movie Theater on the way over and the same movie Theater on the way back.

Just a sample of the Market

We do not want to forget the jugglers..

Jun25-27, 2013 Los Angeles

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We left Scottsdale in an extremely warm morning and started our long trip to Los Angeles,
the trip took us through the dry desert. After 4 hours we stopped at the first town after the California border where we could have some lunch, we ended up at a place that we had no expectations, "The Red Cactus Bar and Grill",  never the less once more it turned out to be so so good. Nothing like unexpected surprises.

That energized us for the last leg of that days trip. We passed the desert through Palm Springs with it's endless windmills.

We arrived in Los Angeles heading towards Newport Beach 

were we would stay with friends.

On route we came across the Google offices.

It was so nice to drive through the beautiful suburbs.

 The view from were we were staying was magnificent, a wonderful sunset welcomed us
in this vast city.

June 26, we visited the wonderful Getty Museum. The highway was as everyone can imagine absolutely filled with a sea of cars, well worth the end result. 

What a sight up on the hills the magnificent visualy structure.

A place that was so very hard to walk away from, so much to see and admire, it's architecture, it's incredible position on the hills overlooking the city and the ocean, all surrounded by beautiful gardens and sculpture.

  

Ending our day with a scrumptious Italian dinner.

June 22-24. 2013 Sedona - Scottsdale

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The next day we toured beautiful  Sedona the next morning staying  through lunch and then departed for Scottsdale to stay with some friends arriving at about 5.

The scenery towards the road to Scotsdale changed dramatically.

 We arrived in Scotsdale around 4.30PM, After a warm and much anticipated welcome  by our friends we had a Marathon long conversation catching up with old and new stories.

June 23rd.

We had a beautiful morning and at high noon my girlfriend and I went to the Phoenix Art Museum

had a great lunch and enjoyed a number of great collections.  

In case you are wondering practically the entire lower level of the museum was covered by an installation depicting moths...

The Grand Canyon June 20-21, 2013

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We could not leave Winslow AZ without going to the corner "Standing on the corner in Winslow Arizona" that the "Eagles" made famous. What you see bellow was a mural on the entire building including the windows and lamp shadows.

The road to the Grand Canyon took us less than 3 hours. It was 85F and very windy, they just opened
one of the roads we were getting ready to travel, due to fire!
There are alerts everywhere because of the high temperatures and winds.

The first lookout we came across  took our breath away, we were at 7,438feet altitude and had plenty of water with us which is a must. Especially if altitude is an issue as it is for me.

We so enjoyed every detail that this raw nature offered us with it's magical colors and graduer.

 Pictures that will stay in our minds for ever.

We were both in awe and so happy we were able to make this tip to this amazing part of our country.

We left the Canyon at 1PM, We left the Grand Canyon just before  2.00 PM avoiding all the fuss and hipe of  Nik Wallenda's practice and  crossing of the Canyon. We took a beautiful scenic road with a view of the San Francisco peaks ahead of us to lovely Flagstaff descending about 2000 feet on our way and stopped for the perfect cup of coffee and viewed several galleries while there. Flagstaff seems like a great place to come back to and spend several days exploring when we have more time. We continued on towards Sedona, via the lush absolutely beautiful Oak Creek Canyon descending another 2.500 feet of elevation driving some great switchback curves along the way.
Oak Creek Canyon has become a very popular vacation spot for good reason, it is so lush and dramatic
with it's winding road, starting from 8.000ft down to 4.000ft over 10-12 miles.

Sedona came into sight soon enough in all it's glory.

We left the Grand Canyon just before  2.00 PM avoiding all the fuss MR. Wallenda's practice and 

We arrived Sedona about 5 and took in some great scenery of the various red rock formations and had a great meal at a fine Italian Restaurant called Dahl and Deluca's. Toured Sedona the next morning staying through through lunch and then departed for Scottsdale to stay with some friends arriving at about 5.

We checked in and went to an amazing Italian restaurant, sat outside in this beautiful garden under a pergola, with fig trees and citrus trees, looking at the almost full moon shyly rising in the twilight sky.

We left and tried to catch what was left of the sunset.

 All the pictures I have been taking from inside the car so please forgive the possible blur or
the endless spots from the windshield of our car which has gone through ...a lot.

You will notice the silhouettes of the rocks on either side and center of this picture and the town bellow.

While the light of the sunset washed the red rocks.

And the moon shyly is peaking through to welcome the evening shadows.