On Saturday April 29 we had planned to drive down US 101 to Healdsburg, visit wine country including Patty's favorite La Crema Winery, and then head on to Monterey Bay. However, there had been three landslides within 11 days near Leggett, so we could not go south on US 101. We instead went south from Klamath to Arcata, then east on CA 299 to get to Redding and I-5 to go south. The only problem with this plan is the landslides on CA 299 near Trinity. Even though it was a Saturday, the crews were working. The California DOT website warned that sections of the road was one lane only and to expect possible delays. The prior spots where this happened, the crews were working on one lane, but there were stoplights on either side of the construction and the delay was usually only a minute or two waiting for traffic from the other direction to pass and for the light to change. But not on CA 299 - there was only one lane open and that lane was being used to remove the tons of dirt and rock that had slid down the hill side. After an hour or so stop, traffic came west and then about 15 minutes later our east bound traffic was allowed to proceed. Google maps said our drive to San Juan Bautista would take about eight hours. Instead, ten and a half hours later we arrived at our hotel.
Our hotel was in the small town of San Juan Bautista, about 35 - 40 minutes from Montery. Hacienda de Leal is a "boutique" hotel that is owned and operated by Leal Vineyards. Although the vineyards and winery are several miles away, all around the hotel grape vines are growing.
On Sunday, we went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium - thanks to Ben and Martha, we used their membership cards and got in for free and skipped the line by going in through the members line. It was mobbed with thousands of families. Nonetheless, we saw one of the shows and watched a diver feed the fish in the kelp forest tank. We saw sea otters, seal lions, many types of fish and even penguins.
After several hours in the aquarium, we walked east along Cannery Row (made famous by John Steinbeck's novel of the same name) and came to a beach where we could see dive boats, scuba divers and swimmers. Several groups were in the water including groups of divers getting certified in dry suits. We also saw that there were many dive shops in the area, as well as a busy marina.
We then continued on to the Coast Guard pier where we could see hundreds of Brandt's Cormorants and California Sea Lions, all sunning themselves on the jetty that extends from the end of the pier. A fence keeps people from interfering with the animals.
On Monday, we drove to Indio Springs CA and on Tuesday on to Phoenix - back in our Arizona home for about four weeks.
Our hotel was in the small town of San Juan Bautista, about 35 - 40 minutes from Montery. Hacienda de Leal is a "boutique" hotel that is owned and operated by Leal Vineyards. Although the vineyards and winery are several miles away, all around the hotel grape vines are growing.
On Sunday, we went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium - thanks to Ben and Martha, we used their membership cards and got in for free and skipped the line by going in through the members line. It was mobbed with thousands of families. Nonetheless, we saw one of the shows and watched a diver feed the fish in the kelp forest tank. We saw sea otters, seal lions, many types of fish and even penguins.
After several hours in the aquarium, we walked east along Cannery Row (made famous by John Steinbeck's novel of the same name) and came to a beach where we could see dive boats, scuba divers and swimmers. Several groups were in the water including groups of divers getting certified in dry suits. We also saw that there were many dive shops in the area, as well as a busy marina.
We then continued on to the Coast Guard pier where we could see hundreds of Brandt's Cormorants and California Sea Lions, all sunning themselves on the jetty that extends from the end of the pier. A fence keeps people from interfering with the animals.
On Monday, we drove to Indio Springs CA and on Tuesday on to Phoenix - back in our Arizona home for about four weeks.
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