Day 86 / Tag 86 June 6 Santa Cruz to Monterey

Leaving Motel Capri in Santa Cruz around 11 with coffee only, but no breakfast, back to Highway California One, going south. After one or two hours I stop in Seacliff, getting hungry. After an American breakfast at Sno-White Diner

I discover the Laundromat in the back and wash some clothes, dark.

The grocery store sells soap
and fabric softener in portions of $1. Very convenient...

While the laundry tumbles dry I visit the beach, but don't drive down, Park entry fee is $10, that would make for an expensive laundry...;-)

And off again, down Highway One South.

Passing long stretched, empty beaches with not a single soul as far as you can see, let alone anybody in the water,

and this may be a reason for it: The Pacific is not pacific:

I stop at Moss Landing Harbor to see the sea otters living in the harbor.

On south towards Monterey, passing farms and workers on the fields,

Drive on, drive on...

 the day gets cloudy,  open the roof, radio at high volume, I start to enjoy this.

Pulling into Monterey I spot a car dealer with exceptional stock, Dodi Car Sales. Rarities among them. I wonder who would actually buy one of these, they are all rotting away in the salted air close to the sea.

 
Monterey is not very welcoming, somehow, as a last resort, I drive to the pier, that always works. After a beer at the London Underground Pub at Fisherman's Wharf I look up Motels in Carmel.

Starting at $148... OK, look up Monterey. Starts at $66 with Motel 6 in a faceless street somewhere close to the Highway. But Monterey is colorless, cold and grey, so I go back some 15 miles to Motel 6 in Marina, close to the beach.

Gas station, 7-Eleven and a Diner for tomorrow's breakfast in walking distance, ok. I have a sundowner Corona on the beach

and wash the rest of my clothes, white and light, while the Pony Car sleeps outside under the Motel Sign

The room is just big enough to fit my bag in and set up my laptop, but the bathroom has the same size as the room itself, enough to drive circles with a wheelchair, aah, handicapped access.
Good decision to not pay 150 in Carmel and get out of Monterey, the beach was great, but cold, 7-Eleven has a bargain Pinot Grigio and Camel Regulars...

Good Night everybody

See you under water