Corning to Monterey

Pacheco Pass

Day 4, 1/1:  Happy New Year!  Next stop Monterey.  This was our longest day of driving, a little over 6 hours.  It was also the beginning of new territory for us.  Rather than leave I-5 north of Sacramento and head to the Bay Area, we continued south on I-5.  It was a pretty drive through lots of farmland and vineyards and the sun came out about Sacramento.  Hallelujah!  Had to get out the sun glasses.  At Los Banos, we took Hwy 152 west over Pacheco Pass.  The road climbed over beautiful grass covered hillsides and followed San Luis Reservoir for about 10 miles before the ascent up the 1300’ pass.  The climb wasn’t bad, but the wind was very strong.  We were glad to get to the other side of the pass where the wind died down.  We followed the river to the intersection of Hwy 156 heading south to Hollister and San Juan Bautista.  At San Juan Bautista we caught Hwy 101 south to the coast where we picked up Hwy 1 into Monterey.  Skies were overcast and it looked like we might need to set up camp in the rain, but we lucked out!

We stayed 6 nights (1/1-1/7) in Monterey at the Monterey County Fairgrounds.  This is not the best RV Park we’ve stayed in and we most likely won't stay here again, but it’s inexpensive in comparison to some other RV parks in the area and right in the middle of town.  The RV park looks like it might have been an afterthought for the fairgrounds.  The entrance had a very narrow gate with quite a deep curbside drainage ditch to navigate.  The camp host recommended we disconnect the car before entering and we’re glad we did that…very easy to drag bottom.  The lower area we camped in sits adjacent to the horse corrals (no, there were no horses and no odor).  It’s a grass/dirt area that has been barked to keep down the mud.  The upper area sites seem to be more suited to smaller rigs and back up to the fence alongside the golf course (no golf balls, thank you...don't want those sites).  The camp host told us there isn’t a level site in the park.  We're believers.  We had difficulty getting our motorhome level.  Once we got what we thought was level and the slides out, we couldn’t get the door open.  Pulled up the jacks and started over until we could get the door open.  It never got 100% level, but we did the best we could.  At least we were able to in and out and lock the door.  In addition to the golf course behind the park, there is also the Monterey Airport.  We’re early risers, so the first flight at 6:03 didn't bother us.  Think the last flight might be about 8pm.  Not big jets out of this airport, so commuters and private jets aren’t too noisy.  Though I’ve painted a bleak picture, this really isn’t a bad spot for the price and we weren't at our site that much anyway (notice how close the fellow on our right is….he pulled in after we did….geez, he had lots of room…not sure why he’s sooo close…must be a newby). 

After we got all set up, we went into old town Monterrey to a brewpub recommended by the campground host.  Peter B’s had a huge selection of beers, many of them their own.  It was happy hour til 6:30, so I had calamari (excellent…not the rings, but calamari fingers) and Dave had a chicken quesadilla and a cup of clam chowder.  Food and brews were very good.  There’s a lot of construction going on in the old section of town for a new conference center, so detours for pedestrians and traffic.

Mon, 1/2:  Dave was dying to go to the driving range, so headed to the golf course behind us while I stayed back and did the laundry and puttered (I’m good at puttering).  It was raining. Who wants to go to the driving range in the rain?  I can do that at home!  In the afternoon we drove to Pacific Grove for some sightseeing.  This is a cute little seaside town with lots of shops and restaurants occupying old houses, streets with cottages covered in weathered shingles and years of sea salt next door to magnificent Victorian homes now converted to B&Bs.  

There was a picturesque walking/biking trail along the rocky coastline, so we stopped for a short walk.  As we were crossing the grassy area to get back to the car, I spotted a folded $ bill in the tall grass.  Wow!  It was $50.

We stopped at Cannery Row on the way back home.  Cannery Row is the waterfront street in the New Monterey section of Monterey.  It is the site of a number of now-defunct sardine canning factories.  The canneries failed after the collapse of the fishing industry in Monterey Bay in the mid-1950s.  The last cannery closed in 1973.  The street name Cannery Row, was officially designated in January 1958 to honor John Steinbeck and his well-known novel, Cannery Row.  Cannery Row is now a tourist attraction with many restaurants and boutique hotels located in the former cannery buildings.  The Monterey Bay Aquarium opened in 1984 and is located in the north end of Cannery Row.  We found Cannery Row to resemble Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, with lots of trinket and souvenir shops, ice cream shops, arcades and over-priced restaurants….but it’s a must stop while in Monterey.  

Cannery Row Brewing Co

We stopped for a beer at Cannery Row Brewing Company, located in one of these old brick buildings.  They offered over 70 beers, none of their own, but many California Beers.  Watched part of the Rose Bowl Game and then went home to see the last exciting minutes.