A slow start to the day but I went for a walk to the beach as the Clam Festival was supposed to be starting today. This was slightly misleading because all that was happening on the Friday was an evening wine tasting and not being an imbiber it was no good to me.
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| Never tasted Salt Water Taffy and as you had to buy it in huge bags, I still haven't |
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| I decided not to take the challenge but I know a few people who would give it a go!! |
I stopped for lunch at Memphis Mo ribs joint and was very pleasantly surprised. Not much from outside but great decor and atmosphere inside and the ribs were wonderful..... and cheap.
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| Memphis Mo's |
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| Just under $10 - so tasty!! |
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| Seems fair enough - if you're a fish |
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| Memphis Mo's - great blues music playing too |
I walked around for a while but I'm having trouble with my right foot - arch pain. The result, I think from walking a lot in flat shoes. This foot is a bit wonky anyway due to a motor cycle accident in my shady youth. I'll ice it and wear joggers from now on.
Back at the hotel and I got on line to see how I was going to get to Monterey the next day. My options were
1. Amtrak train - will take 6 1/2 hours with two changes (oh no!!)
2. Bus - no, just no.
3. Hire a car. Will - make that should - take 2 1/2 hours.
In 2011 I drove a van through every mainland state of USA and 4 provinces of Canada and I started off very scared and did well considering. On the plus side I had Lee with me as navigator and to shout at me if it appeared I was morphing back to Aussie driving. I feel quite anxious driving alone over here but have bitten the bullet and have hired a car which I'll pick up tomorrow. Eeeek!!
On the positive side it is a lot cheaper than in Australia.
20 October 2018
I was picked up at 11 am by Enterprise Car Rental and taken to their office in Grover Beach. They showed me the car I was to take and we got all the paperwork done and I loaded the bags into the boot/trunk. Then I spotted the back tire - see below.
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| The Hyundai I was going to have and ........ |
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| ....the reason I declined it |
I ended up with the Nissan and was happier because it looked like it was in better overall nick.
I was lucky I only had to glide onto the road and into the traffic and managed to keep the fear off my face. It's certainly strange suddenly sitting on the opposite side but as long as you are in traffic it's not too bad. "left is long" and "right is tight" kept me safe last time so I'm hoping it will this time too.
Once I got going I ignored my need for a bathroom stop because I wasn't quite sure how to get off Highway 101. Having said this I DID get off twice when I didn't intend to and had to work out how to get back on again. All this without stopping lol. Once my USA driving memory kicked in I felt better and as soon as I saw a Denny's sign I managed to manoeuvre my way there and stopped for bathroom and lunch.
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| Denny's at Atascadero CA |
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| Went for the steak as this is breakfast and lunch and could quite possibly be dinner too |
I continued driving and got into the swing of it, using my phone as a GPS and hoping like hell the battery wouldn't die before I got to Monterey. There was nowhere to pull over to retrieve my charging leads but I made it at 10% battery life.
I'm staying at Kings Inn Carmel Hill and its 100% better than the place at Pismo Beach. I'm feeling happy as I will be here for 7 nights and Monterey is my favourite town in America.
There's a Shopping Centre over the road so I stocked up on necessities - tea, milk, coffee, salad, chicken, cereal and some cheese (may need a bandaid - read the label ). I don't want to be eating out all the time.
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| Hehehe! |
I went for a walk after dinner but this bloody foot is playing up. May need to give it some TLC for a few days. Lucky I have the car.
21 October 2018
I actually had a sleep in and made myself breakfast in bed. It was a lot healthier than some of the things I've been eating :)
It was 30 C in Pismo Beach yesterday but got quite cool here over night. I had to find a jumper to pull on during the night. I awoke to this........
It hung around till about 11 am but it's quite pleasant out now.
Today is a housekeeping day. I found a laundromat in the road behind the motel and threw my washing into a machine and it wanted me to put in 35 quarters!! I'd been saving my quarters for this purpose but 35!!!??? That's $8.75 for one machine. I found a smaller one that only took $4.75 and was still big enough for my needs.
While my washing was whizzing around I went to the Gluten Free Bakery next door and got a coffee and asked for a Cinnabon style scroll. I haven't had one yet this trip. The guy said he would warm it up for me and I said no thanks ... I like it cold. He told me he was going to warm it and again I said no. Then he said "well I won't sell it to you, you'll have to pick something else. It tastes better warmed". Made me sort of look for the camera and so I chose a cup cake with icing. Warm THAT, you bastard!! Shades of Fawlty Towers.
I loaded my washing into the car and got into my seat. No steering wheel! Exited the car and this time got in the correct side Sheesh!!
I left the laundry and turned onto the road and because I was still thinking about this crazy man I suddenly realised I was on the wrong side. A car coming flashed his lights and I quickly corrected. No real danger but I will make sure I concentrate 100% from now on.
I'm back at the motel and have made a yummy chicken and salad lunch and - as you can see - have caught up on my blog.
I intend to have a quiet afternoon icing my foot and watching The Haunting of Hill House. I will scare the pain out of my foot!!
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