California Dreamin’ – The Mamas & the Papas
On the way from Sequoia National Park to Morro Bay, CA we passed the James Dean Crash Site Memorial as well as lots and lots of agriculture (oranges, olives, avocados, lemons and more). Access to Morro Bay was over many rolling hills and windy roads. We stayed for two nights at a small RV Park right in the center of Morro Bay and in walking distance to everything. Once settled in we cleaned Stargazer, did a load of laundry, and took Otto to a local pet shop for a bath (and of course a few tasty treats).
We acted as tourists while in Morro Bay. We walked the docks (where we saw a cool memorial to the greatest mechanic ever) and the beach, marveled at Morro Rock, were amazed by what we know in NH as house plants serving as hedges, went out to dinner, watched Otters swimming, did some shopping (the Otter Store was visited with a tip of the cap to our pal Otter Brown), and went to the movies where we watched Wicked Little Letters with Olivia Coleman (worth the viewing).
From Morro Bay we drove as far as we were allowed up Route 1 along the water and then turned inland and headed to Pinnacles National Park. We entered on the west only to discover our campsite was on the east and required driving an extra 90 minutes, but this allowed us to finish listening to The Thursday Murder Club which got better and better and we recommended the book to my mom, Jane, and now there are three more Murder Club books to listen to.
We are in a great and surprisingly very busy Pinnacles National Park campsite. Pinnacles is a gem and should be visited by anyone wanting hiking, condors and more. Today I hiked 15 miles deep into the Park and to the top of the Pinnacles (including climbing steep stairs built by the CCC in the 1930’s). At the top I watched multiple condors swooping and gliding. On my way down I bumped into two women hiking who had an extra pair of solar eclipse glasses that I used to watch the 30% eclipse; of course jealous that Jackson is at 95%.
Melinda has been taking lots of amazing pictures of flowers. Tomorrow we head to Yosemite National Park.
5 thoughts on “California Dreamin’ – The Mamas & the Papas”
Grew up in CA and have traveled many of those roads but never to Pinnacles. I’ll have to go sometime. Enjoy Yosemite and hope it’s not crowded. Is Tuolumne Meadows open yet? Where do you head after that? There’s a very cool railbike adventure in the Gold Country north of Yosemite. https://www.railexplorers.net/locations
Thanks for taking us along with you!
You are both so talented and adventurous. Otto looks awesome. (Uchi had his summer de-shedding spa day yesterday.) Be glad you were not in PDX for the eclipse. We got to see the underbelly of the cloud layer–as always. Keep rollin…
Nice hike Greg!! I had the same thought about the eclipse. Tiverton was going to be 85-90%. Oh well. Must wait til 2044.
wow… it all sounds so great! love hearing the details… and
im quite impressed with a 15 mile hike!
im lookin so forward to seein melinda’s pictures!
Otter says, “Wait for us! We’re only a few months behind you! Can’t wait to get all of your tips.” Also says, “Thanks for the shout out!”
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