June 26 2013-Wednesday--Point Sur, Point Pinos, Arrival in Santa Cruz

June 26 2013, Wednesday---167761 Odometer Reading

        Back tracking today after a day and 2 nights in Monterey at a motel.  A needed respite for all of us..

        We are off to Point Pinos Light in Pacific Grove, home of the Monarch butterflies and the 17 Mile 

Drive. We arrived, and it is not open today. However, an employee was coming out, and allowed us to go on to the grounds to get a few shots without the fences being in the way. We talked to her a bit and found out some very interesting history and goings on about the light.

      The US Coast Guard “gave” the lighthouse to the city as they didn’t have funds to maint it, but a bit of an albatross for the city too, as they have limited funds also. She told us that a foundation was set up, with entry fees and donations helping out, plus many very skilled artisans and trades people gave their labor free. That still left plenty of costs for materials. She said the special paint for

the chimney was $300 a gallon…and one of the workers accidentally spilled one of the gallons!  Tours were Thursday through Monday, so we couldn’t go through the building itself, but still gave her a donation toward the restoration and maintenance. I want these wonderful lights to be around for my grandchildren and others to be able to see them, and they are going by the wayside faster than I thought possible.

        After a bit of a drive around Pacific Grove, we headed south for the Point Sur Lighthouse and gorgeous coastal drive that we had missed in the fog and drizzle of two days earlier. SO much better today then on Monday. The sun is out, the fog is sparse, and the waves are high, so we’re able to get some of the classic Big Sur coastal photos…Bixby Bridge, Big Sur coast, Rocky Creek, and various beach/rock/coast photos.  These amazing feats of engineering, the bridges crossing the ever-sliding Highway 1, were built in 1931 and 1932. They are continually being worked on, and the road between them is continually sliding into the ocean and having to be redone.  We came through three such construction sites, one of which is being built with a huge edifice going over the road, like a tunnel but with the West side open to the view, and made to look like rock work. The end result is that the slide will go over the edifice and not destroy the road each time it slides….and believe me, it will.  

 

  

   

        As we approach Point Sur, the fog has decided to come in again, and it was quite surreal…it looked like a giant wave between the rock of Point Sur and the coast.  Of course our luck…fog covered the lighthouse and the gate was locked as we’d missed the tour time. Oh well, we decided to travel further  along 1 south and see what we could see.

        We proceeded to River Inn and grabbed a bite to eat at the general store, some nice cold water, used the facilities, and made a purchase of a tie dyed hippie t-shirt!! 

     
      There were so many beautiful flowers, and I got so many great ideas for gardens back home...I am collecting photos and ideas for redoing the backyard at home and putting in more flowers, more plants, and just more ideas and beauty.  It makes me want to run home and get busy...almost!
 
  

        Turning back north, we lucked out...the fog lifted and we were able to take wonderful photos of Point Sur Lighthouse. 

Photo taken by Dale Ditsler on tour earlier in 2013

       Once back in Monterey, we stopped at the hotel where we had left the Teardrop in order to avoid turn around and parking problems for the day. On the way south earlier that day, we joked about not forgetting to pick it up and then having to drive all the way back from Santa Cruz!  

       So we hooked her up,headed North, and by late afternoon we arrived at our wonderful friends’ Iris and

Dave’s home in Santa Cruz, parked in their backyard (with help from Dave who could back up the Teardrop just fine).  It is the Garden of Eden with everything bearing fruit, blooming, and in rows and throngs of beauty.           

       Plus Donna and Henry heard we were going to be there, and dropped by to give a quick hello, and Iris' sister and girls, along with Ty and Nick are also there. It's so wonderful seeing everyone again!! This will be a wonderful stop over in so many ways!