Comfy bed but body clock remembering at 6am that it was 2pm UK time though still managed some good sleep and breakfast was excellent.
Headed to a supermarket with instructions from reception but missed the turn. No matter I thought, a right turn and around one block would return us but 5 mins later we came out opposite our hotel that we'd left 10 mins earlier. Second try worked and we stocked basics, water, crisps, sandwiches for lunch, a few beers and a polystyrene cool box (we use ice out of the hotel machines in a plastic bag to cool the box).
Set off North via Santa Monica along roads one back from the sea and the following to CA route 1 Pacific Coastal Highway and highway 101. Much of the "coast road" is actually inland and the 101 Freeway does not run freely often 30mph or less. Avoided the PCH through Santa Monica which is a very attractive palm lined resort familiar of the French Riviera and then on through Malibu where the homes of the rich line the hillsides. To now, all has extended from LA but after Malibu we leave it behind and as we go North we see the huge agricultural aspect with orchards and plastic tunnels giving way later to vines. The terrain is hilly and the vines cut off sharply at the top of sheltered dips to beautiful pale rolling prairie pasture.
The weather has improved and we have blue skies and pleasantly warm sun and we pull off at Santa Barbara for a beach picnic watching pelicans flying low over the sea then soaring and diving wings folded into the sea for fish. Getting late when we leave Cabrillo beach but the scenery as we drive over high passes is beautiful and leaving the congested 101 behind we make excellent time and get to San Simeon around 6:30.
Nearly blundered en route when I pulled into a gas station, picked up pump with green handle before noticing it was diesel. I had forgotten that its generally petrol black, diesel green in US station. I put on 6.5 gals (about 32ltr) for $25, about £18!!!!!
Evening is sunny but cool windy with a bank of grey cloud on the sea so fleece and zipped up jacket for a walk to the sea. A friend had suggested sitting with a bottle of wine to watch the sunset but tonight is sadly not one of those nights. However, returning from the restaurant across the road, a crescent moon and the planets Venus and Saturn light the sky reflecting in the ocean.
Statistics: Miles today: 237 miles; Miles so far: 246; Fuel today 6.34 gals; Fuel so far: 6.34 gals; States: California; Time Zone: Pacific(UK-8)
10:00-18:40
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