worldwidewebsters: It's Chilly on the Coast

Location: Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay

Dates: 25/4 - 26/4
Temperatures: 17, 18

Brrrr, we had become accustomed to the balmy temps of inland Yosemite it was a lot cooler and windier back out on the coast. We decided to start the Pacific Coast Highway drive from Santa Cruz which has a reputation of being a hippy town. We cruised around a bit and thought it would be rude not to sample the local Mexican food. Kiri was alarmed to see a fist fight going on between a plumber and maybe an unsatisfied customer. After burritos we wandered around the beach and tacky boardwalk. It looked like a cool place to hang out with a few mates play a bitta volley ball, swim, play some spacies but on the whole we thought it was just ok. Monterey was where we parked up for the night at the very scenic Veterans park.

Santa Cruz beach in front of the volleyball nets

Boardwalk gondola

Monterey has some great Spanish roots and it’s downtown historic quarter with it Spanish buildings and pretty gardens is rather lovely. Here’s where we got our first parking infringement by a v pedantic parking warden for parking 2 inches over the parking line. Kiri was on the laptop straight away to contest this. Artsy and windy Carmel-by- the-sea 4 miles from Monterey is where the money is, some amazing houses are in this little village. Another night was spent at Veterans Park before embarking on the PCH drive the next day.