Meeting Kaye in Pacific Grove.
Today was a lot of driving. I don’t mind, though. There was no way around having to head back toward Los Angeles from Claremont, before heading north out of the city, and although I left after 9 am, I of course hit heavy traffic going west, until I was finally able to veer north, heading toward Pacific Grove, my eventual destination for the day. With stops, it took about seven hours, even though I took the more-or-less shortest route.
I really should have started taking photos as soon as I left LA, heading north, but I didn’t as it was difficult to get off the road, even though I marvelled at the canyons and winding roads heading out of the city. The scenery is really lovely. I did take a couple of shots as I was driving, but by the time I took these the really fantastic scenery was past.
As I was taking the quickest route, it was also the least interesting for much of the way, once north of the city and its canyons, and the central part of the state is pretty, well, unattractive.
The goal, though, was to get to Kaye as soon as I could, but even so I didn’t get there until 4 pm. And there she was, waving at me from the porch of our nice little room at the Butterfly Grove. Our Kaye-Kaye
We pretty much kicked into gear as soon as I arrived, and we took a nice long walk, first to Otter Point, and then eventually into town, looking for a place to eat.
Pacific Grove is a really lovely place. I’ve been here a few times, including on my long trip in 2024, where I released some of Bev’s ashes, but I’ve never done more than just passed through the main streets in the downtown area, at least that I can remember. Today, we walked a few miles, and I was really struck by just how nice the town is, with lovely streets and beautiful homes. Definitely an upscale place. I wouldn’t mind spending a few months here, renting a small place.
We enjoyed a very nice meal – I had lobster ravioli, which was delicious, and Kaye had short rib ravioli, which was even more delicious, topped off with a couple of tasty desserts. Yum. We walked some more, walking off our meal a little, and eventually walking back to our hotel. A really nice late afternoon and evening.
Back in our room, as I was writing my blog I became sooooo tired I just couldn’t stay awake. I fell out by a little after 9, and I felt really bad about that as I never got to spend the evening just talking and hanging out with Kaye, which was really what I wanted.
Well, there’s tomorrow, although by early afternoon we’re both going to go our own way, Kaye back to Berkeley, and me heading back south, although this time staying the night somewhere down the coast, and not getting back to Claremont until Saturday (Marg;s birthday, as it happens).