The Smokies from near Taig an Drama Day 8 - San Francisco to Monterey
October 26, 2019
Saturday evening, Monterey, CA

It's hard to believe that we are on the down hill side of the trip. Tomorrow we cross the line into southern Cali leaving only a few days to enjoy each other's company.

For the last couple of days the highs have been in the mid 80s. We left San Fran in the 60s and, as we motored south, it barely climbed into the 70s. We had the top down most of the afternoon but it dipped back into the mid 60s and we had to cover up.

When we checked into our motel today, the owner was surprised to see a fellow Knoxvillian. He first came to this country and to Knoxville in the late 70s. He finally had to move to Cali due to his father's failing health.

Yes, the sign is correct. This is a Taco Bell. ¡Viva la diferencia! Another long beach in northern Cali. (Southern Cali officially starts at the Monetery/San Luis Obispo county lines.) The Pigeon Point Light Station was built in 1872. The peninsula was named for the ship the Carrier Pigeon which ran aground here in 1853. This beach is typical of much of what we saw on this leg of the journey. This beach along the 17 Mile Drive on the Monterey Peninsula, was covered with dry stacked stones. I caught these two deer grazing on this fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Course. This island off of the 17 Mile Drive was the home of birds and typically noisy sea lions. Looks like a lovely place to dip your toes in the surf...however, the temp of the water averages less than 60°. An interesting cypress tree along the 17 mile drive. Another potential retirement home. A panoramic view along the way. The Lone Cypress -<wbr> one of the most photographed trees in the US. It has survived fires and storms for possibly as along as 250 years! Point Pinos Lighthouse, lit in 1855, is the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the west coast even retaining the original lens. At the north end of Ocean View Blvd in Pacific Grove, CA, you can find this simple memorial to John Denver. It overlooks Monterey Bay where he died when his experimental airplane crashed in 1997. Flying was perhaps surpassed in his heart only by his music and his family. The inscription is from his song Windsong which reads:<br>
        <center>"...So welcome the wind and the wisdom she offers<br>
        Follow her summons when she calls again <br>
        In your heart and your spirit let the breezes surround you <br>
        Lift up your voice then and sing with the wind"</center>
To Day 9