Driving the Pacific Highway

Today's the day (Saturday) we start the journey on the Pacific Highway, on our way back to San Francisco on Wednesday. This may have not been the best day to start as we will see, but hey ho, we're on holiday. We left San Diego early, with me driving, to try and get around Los Angeles before the traffic got too bad, so we could have a more relaxed drive along the Pacific Coast. Our first attempted stop was Santa Monica, but it all looked a bit kiss me quick, and busy, so we  abandoned that idea and headed westwards.

 Sadly a huge amount of possible views towards the sea were completely blocked by literally wall to wall houses all along the beach, with only really limited coastal access. Malibu was the same. However a completely serendipitous turn into a road signposted Paradise Cove(!) gave us access to a fabulous cafe, beach area and small pier. Sadly it was only coffee time ( although this didn't stop other customers starting the cocktails) but it gave us a chance to relax and chill for a while.

This little beauty (Cadillac convertible) was outside..

View from our table ( before we got moved...)

..and the view back to the cafe from the pier.                            

                         

Not very far along the coast, still in the Malibu area, we came across our first sight of surfers. All in wet suits I might add!                           

                         

                   

Our lunch time picnic needed a beach as well, so we came off at Oxnard, and headed for the beach again. Nice spot with nobody around! 

                       

Sadly things then got a little tricky. The traffic was really heavy and we weren't getting anywhere fast. Santa Barbara was coming up, and we were stuck in traffic. Howard spotted the sign for the Santa Barbara Mission, one of several on this coast, so we pulled off, for a little bit of peace! It was a lovely tranquil spot, up on the hills above Santa Barbara, and if someone had offered us a room for the night we would have taken it...                      

L

...we had nothing booked, and everything was REALLY expensive. So we decided we'd just head on, away from Santa Barbara and surely we'd find something a bit cheaper. But with poor internet and time against us it seemed that everything was booked or was pricey. Finally, afte a conversation with a lady way back in Santa Barbara, we decided to head for Pismo Beach, and the Sea Garden Motel. Gulped at the price, and how bad could it be, despite the reviews? The worst place we have ever stayed and at 245 dollars a night we were horrified.....enough said. However a stroll fine to Pismo Beach itself, a beer and a hot meal sort of restored us. 

             

We weren't the only people to be caught out..