An Afternoon at Cannery Row in Monterey, California

It's a perfect day for 

sailing.

Historic Monterey Parking

There is also paid street

parking here.

Eric and I were surprised by the "cold" 65 degree weather here.  It's about 20 degrees cooler in Monterey than in Paicines.  

We walk down the hill

towards Cannery Row.

John Steinbeck's 1945 book, Cannery Row, is set on the gritty waterfront Fish Processing Plants and the down-on-their-luck locals who work together to do something special for their friend, "Doc."

The Cannery Row Memorial

A Chinese Fisherman, Madam Flora Woods and one of her girls,  Ed Ricketts, one of the fathers of Marine Biology and the entrepreneurs who worked to revitalize Cannery Row are memorialized here.

Monterey Canning Company 

now houses shops.

Hovden Food Products, the last Monterey Cannery closed in 1973.  The land the factory sat on is now the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Eric & his new Monterey

Hoodie.

No new Hoodie for me.  I'm wearing the one we bought in Key West, Florida.

I admire this older

building.

It's the Spindrift Inn.

This Cannery Row landmark

was built in 1927 & 

is carefully maintained.

Let's get Lunch at

Lalla Oceanside Grill.

Diners have an ocean view.

Our light Lunch is Clam

Chowder Bread Bowls &

Martinis.

A waterfront stroll...

Eric looks out at the

water.

An oceanside

selfie

That brownish stuff in the

water is Giant Kelp.

I look down on the

rocky shoreline.

Monterey has preserved its 

history & created a popular

waterfront Tourist Area.

Road Tripping: Southwest to Monterey, California

Eric and I take to the road in search of food, an Old Mission in San Juan Bautista, John Stenbeck's home in Salinas, and Cannery Row in Monterey.

Breakfast at Flap Jacks

in Tres Pinos

Our Breakfasts of Eggs, 

Potatoes & Bacon with

Flap Jacks instead 

of Toast

Y-U-M!

Our next stop is at the

Old Mission San Juan

Bautista,

established in 1797.

This Mission has been 

open since 1797.

It hosts weekly Catholic

Mass.

The Spanish built Missions

to convert Indians to

Christianity & expand

their European Territory.

Over 4,000 Indians are buried

in the Mission's Cemetery.

Today's drive continues

 South to Salinas.

This mural celebrates native son

John Steinbeck with scenes   

from his books.

Scenes from The Grapes of Wrath, The Forgotten Village: Life in a Mexican Town, Tortilla Flat, Travels with Charley, Pastures of Heaven, and In Dubious Battle decorate the wall of a downtown Salinas building.

John Steinbeck's childhood

home is a short walk from 

downtown.

A selfie with the house's

ornate front window &

porch.

Eric turns onto California

State Route 1 South.

It's foggy as we approach

the Pacific Ocean.

Sailboats bob in the

bay.

Welcome to the 

City of Monterey

Founded June 3, 1770

Walking in San Benito RV Campground in Paicines, California

San Benito RV Campground

is a large, sprawling Park

with 596 campsites.

From the signs posted here, there will be wildlife roaming the Campground.

Watch for Wild Pigs

A huge Coastal Live Oak Tree

provides shade for the Lodge.

The Swimming Pool is very

popular in the afternoons.

Tether Balls & the

Basketball Court

The Playground

California Ground Squirrels scurry across the lawns.

Horseshoe Pits

A Gnome sits on one of

the many tree trunks 

around the Campground.

Mini Golf

The Laundry

When Eric and I registered we were given a sheet of paper explaining that this Campground has elevated levels of Manganese in the water that can cause stains.  I went to a  Laundromat in Hollister because I didn't want to take any chances with our clothing.  

Preparing Baby Formula with water provided here is not recommended.  There are no other health risks.

This tree stump was made 

into a Gnome House.

It is whimsical artwork.

One of the Shuffleboard

Courts

 Deer Crossing

Another Gnome stands on

top of a small tree trunk.

A tree stump with a

Cairn balanced on top.

Turkey Vultures roost

in a tree.

A Cairn sits atop this

felled tree.

Grumpy pouts at the

world.

I look carefully at the logs

 that sit next to the road & am

 rewarded with a Gnome

 peeking out at Campers.

Evenings are best for large animal sightings.  I rely on my camera's long lens to get pictures from a distance.

Mule Deer roam near the

Horseshoe Pits.

They are used to being near people, and furniture.

A Doe & her Fawn

I am at least 60 feet away

from these Wild Pigs.

I don't want to get closer or interrupt their "snack time."  Staff at San Benito RV Campground consider the Pigs to be pests.  They eat anything with a smell and dig up the grounds.  

Eric & I enjoy watching

the wildlife.

Here's Eric's video.

I hope to get better pictures of the Pigs on future walks.  They don't stroll the grounds every evening.  Eric and I persisted and were rewarded with more Pig Pigs.

Adults with Piglets

The Piglets

A close-up