We never meant to stay in Monterey.
But it almost seemed as if we were meant to stay there.
We left San Francisco in the morning, driving down the Pacific Coast Highway. Destination: Los Angeles. It’s a long, beautiful, scenic, LONG drive. We stopped at what I thought would be the half-way point, in beautiful Carmel. There was a beach: just there, on the side of the road. Surf crashing and sun shining…”Mom? Can we?” It was one of those wonderful and sometimes too rare moments when Mom can unreservedly say…”YES!”
After a sandcastle and lots of splashes, it was time to hit the road again. I figured we had another four or five hours to drive before we reached LA. And what a drive! Not too long after we left Carmel we entered Big Sur, with towering redwoods, quaint cabins and winding valleys. Then we hit the part of the Pacific Coast Highway that is so famous – you see it all the time on car commercials, maybe without even realizing it. Mile after mile of winding road stretches ahead of you, while outside the window is a dizzying drop to the rocks and crashing waves below.
After driving two hours, we were nearing San Juan Obispo, where I had planned to get off the highway and head inland for a quicker, easier approach to Los Angeles. But before we could do so, we hit a roadblock. Literally.
The road was closed due to heavy rains over the previous days. And like many scenic, isolated drives, there are not many alternative routes. Well, not any alternative routes. When we hit the roadblock, we were advised that the only way through was — well, not through at all, but back. All the way back to Monterey. At that point, we would be able to head inland and drive to LA. Two hours back to Monterey, plus another six to Los Angeles? Not going to happen.
But staying in the cabins at Lucia, where we were stopped, or in woodsy Big Sur was not likely either. I decided our best bet was to at least head back to Monterey, which is a relatively big city with lots of hotels to choose from. Sigh. Back into the car. Back along the windy road (at this point I had to give my oldest daughter some Gravol for her carsickness). Spend the night in Monterey and drive to LA tomorrow.
Once we arrived back in Monterey, I pulled off the highway and used my iPhone to Google “beach hotels Monterey”. The top result was the Best Western Monterey Beach Resort. I plugged the address into the GPS, drove the short distance there and made up my mind. This was where we were going to stay.
And we did.
It wasn’t planned, and it meant we had to cancel our planned visit to San Diego. But that being said, it might just be the most wonderful detour I’ve ever made.
All of which just goes to show you…sometimes wonder is found when you aren’t looking for it.
WHOA!! Amazing! So well said KAth about beauty in the detour. Thanks for reminding us to just go with it somedays. Holy crap those shots are amazing!
And so this is life. One of the best things I’ve read in a long time. Beautifully written and illustrated.
how could you unreservedly say “no”? what a detour! what a day! sorry about the roadblock but i hope that the views and the beaches put all of that out of your mind!
Awesome detour and awesome photos! What kind of camera is that? Gorgeous gorgeous pics.
Wow, Wow, Wow! Not only are the photos fabulous but what an incredible place to stay. Those are always the best the just pop up and surprise you.
Breathtaking photos. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, Kath you are one talented woman!
I agree with Jen. Definitely make a photobook of some sort with those photos (and include this blog post). Or frame them somewhere now…you’ll appreciate them around January.
Gorgeous photos and a great story.
OMG, Kath! Your pics should be a book! You really, really need to do a coffee table book out of these. They are gorgeous. I actually had tears in my eyes from a few of them.
I love the whole unexpected element to this!
Love the Pacific Coast Hwy route and your pics are truly breath-taking. We did all the same stops several years ago. Now I want to go back! sigh!