An eventful journey to San Francisco airport began inauspiciously. We breakfasted, cleared up and packed relatively easily.
We set off from our cabin in the morning mist just after 9. The low cloud made it much chillier than yesterday. We needed fuel, but it took three petrol station visits before we had any success.
On route 1 out of Monterey the road begins as a dual carriageway through the sand dunes near the coast. The highway then reduces to single file with no overtaking opportunities still relatively close to the ocean, but the dominating view is of the flat fields on either side of the road. Gangs of workers, probably Spanish speaking from Mexico and countries further south, work picking the crops.
We passed Moss Landing and had travelled about 20 miles from the Airbnb when Maggi exclaimed that she didn’t have her watch. We looked in her bags but nothing. She had half a memory of leaving it on her bed. I hadn’t noticed this when I checked her room.
We turned around and drove the 20 miles back. Maggi jumped out of the car and a minute later exited with watch in hand. I set off again.
Santa Cruz
We decided to break our journey at Santa Cruz I felt I needed a coffee. We drove down to the coast and by sheer chance found a coffee shop called The Shrine in a church right on the coast. So close to the coast that the car park had multiple signs declaring that surfers cars would be towed if for one moment they considered stopping.
As a legitimate customers we entered and bought our coffees from a busy cafe with outside seating and sat beside two girls chatting about what there therapist had told them.
We left them trying to resolve the problems in their lives and crossed over the road to take a look at the ocean. As we stood there one surfer made a fantastic journey from way out right to the end just before the wave crashed onto the rocks.
Sam’s Chowder to SFO
We continued along highway 1 which became very attractive as it ran like a roller coaster along beside the ocean.
We had decided to stop for a bit of lunch at Sam’s Chowder House at Half Moon Bay. However because of the delay caused by our unexpected return to the cabin we arrived much later than originally proposed.
When we drew up the car park was completely full. I saw a sign that said Take Out Counter. I suggested to Maggi that she buy our food to go, I could remain in the car in case I had to move it from the place I temporarily parked it.
Maggi returned with two paper bowls full of steaming hot Clam Chowder. I drove to a nearby car park and without spoons we blew on and poured the soup into our mouths. Not a dignified way to eat, but the chowder tasted remarkably good. No wonder the place was packed when we arrived.
The flight up north
We drove on for another 40 minutes to the airport where we dropped the car. Passing through SFO is far less hectic than Terminal 5 at Heathrow. A quiet Alaskan Lounge made the final stage a calm experience.
The gate controller announced that we had a completely full plane. Of course that means pressure on space in the overhead lockers, but I always wonder if the plane can cope with all those people and all their luggage. It must be a hang over from when I was scared of flying. Fortunately the thought just flashed through my mind and didn’t disturb me again.
The two hour flight proved very comfortable and we landed at Seattle. Alex couldn’t meet us but we picked up a taxi very easily.
Hugs and kisses all round. Great to see Alex and the girls again for the first time since the summer. I cooked two sweetcorn which we brought with us from Monterey while the rest went out to buy a few snacks. All good.