We woke up early (since Bruce fell asleep at 8:30 last night and slept all night) and decided to go ahead and get going. I’m so glad we did because the traffic out of San Diego was not bad at all. We had been warned that it could take 2 hours to get out of the city. I would HATE to deal with that kind of traffic on a daily basis. Or even for one day. It also helped that it was Sunday. I guess we were early enough to miss the throngs of Californians rushing to church.
It was a beautiful drive up to Monterey. I have no idea what the shoulders were like. It’s funny how something so important for the last 40 days suddenly is irrelevant. In the interest of time, we chose not to take the Highway 1, but even on the 101 we got multiple peeks at the ocean. We passed miles and miles of farmland. I suppose it was mostly irrigated because right behind it was barren looking mountains. Lots of lettuce fields. We saw workers bent over harvesting the lettuce. I never realized that it had to be hand picked. Bruce’s Aunt Mary told us later that it’s hand picked and then they put it on this machine and it’s actually wrapped and sealed in the fields.
We rolled in to Stan and Mary’s house in Monterey around 4:30. Their house backs up to a golf course. Several years ago they started a unique little side hustle. Through various connections, since Monterey is right next to the infamous Pebble Beach, Stan has become the golf ball guy at Pebble Beach. He can go on the golf course any time he chooses and pick up all the golf balls that have been left in the rough. Stan never tells anyone that he went to Stanford, served in the Marines and taught math at an elite girls boarding school. They probably think the golf ball gig is all he’s got. And he’s good with that.
Bruce and I got to go with Stan to collect golf balls at Pebble Beach. It was like hunting Easter eggs. Stan had this little grabber thing on a pole that he used for the hard to reach balls.
We started out in the easy parts but soon Bruce and Stan were climbing down this little path/rabbit hole to collect balls practically on the side of the cliff. I continued to collect along the upper part until I saw several balls a little bit down the side. The dried grass and dirt were a little loose so I carefully eased my way down to them. Just as I was pulling out the first ball I heard Bruce and Stan yelling at me to get back up to the top immediately. I went ahead and grabbed the balls while they continued to yell at me. When I went back over to them, Stan said that the side where I was has been know to basically slide off into the rocks below. Uh oh. I guess I actually AM one of those Americans who does indeed need a railing to keep her from making bad decisions.
Soon we had collected over 60 balls, so we jumped in Stan’s little green car and got the Pebble Beach home tour. The homes there go for 5 – 50 MILLION dollars! Maybe more. I can’t actually remember the dollar amounts, but basically a lot of moola!
Bruce’s cousins, Lottie and Tom and their families were there when we got back. Sadly, I did not get a picture of all of us. We had not seen Tommy since he was a wee lad. It’ s always fun reconnecting, but never enough time. After our delicious dinner out on their garden patio, we sent the kids (who are actually in their 30s) off with some BuzzWTR and BuzzWTR paraphernalia. Tommy was excited about it having no carbs or sugar because he and his wife (who couldn’t come tonight due to work) are eating KETO right now. Bruce and I chatted with Mary and Stan until they were about to fall asleep. We forgot to warn them that we don’t stop talking until you kick us out.
We slept in the RV because it was just easier all the way around.
In the morning Bruce woke up feeling the need to go on a bike ride. He had been threatening to go body surfing, so biking sounded pretty good to me. He later said that this was one of the most beautiful rides he has ever taken. His route went along the ocean for quite aways.
At 8:00 I could hear the National Anthem being played somewhere. No, it didn’t wake me up! I don’t sleep THAT late. Usually. Mary said it was the Naval Postgraduate School who play it every morning. What a cool way to start your day.
Mary and Stan and I went for a walk along the pier area of Monterey. We saw some sea lions, a harbor seal and some giant seagulls. Part of it was a working pier with fishing boats and part of it was more touristy with little shops and stuff.
Once we finished our walk and Bruce was back, we drove to downtown Monterey for lunch and ordered the best chicken burritos ever at Cult Taco.
After lunch Mary took us by Old Town Monterey gardens and then by the Santa Catalina girls’ boarding school where they both had taught for many years. We also drove by Hattie’s (Bruce’s other cousin) house and saw her Avocado trees, apple tree, lemon tree and rosemary bush. I’m so jealous. I wish I had an avocado and lemon tree in my backyard.
We said goodbye around 2:00 and headed for Madera. On the way to Madera we passed melon farms, orange tree orchards (and the Cutie packing plant), more lettuce farms and several crops we couldn’t identify.
We got to Sujedy’s around 4:30 and hung out with her, the kids and their new dog, Buddy. Bruce did a little chain repair on Matthew’s bike and then took all the kids to Walmart to get a tube to fix Virginia’s bike. Poor Julia still just needs a bike. Sujedy fixed us a delicious dinner of Beef Enchiladas that set my mouth on fire and Mexican rice. Yummy! When she lived in Wichita, Sujedy had a little business cooking Mexican dinners for people. We left their house around 11:00 PM, wishing we had more time, but knowing we had an early morning and long day of driving ahead of us tomorrow. I LOVE this family!
