Monterey

2 nights in the same place felt a little luxurious after our 2 nights on the move. The Travelodge even did us a nice breakfast. We headed off to Lovers Point looking for sea otters, and we found them! 2 were playing and eating just offshore. Really lovely creatures. There was also this delightful bronze statue in the Park.

 

On then to join the 17 Mile Scenic Drive, a private road going around the coast of the Monterey Peninsular, taking in lovely links golf  courses and a rocky coastline, with pelicans and sea lions aplenty. 

This is actually the back tee...

..for this hole.

This island is covered in.....          

..sea lions! How did they get up so high?

We drove past many golf courses until we got to the famous one, Pebble Beech. It is a public course, but at 750 dollars a round we thought we'd give it a miss! The club house, the Lodge was open to us as well, and we enjoyed a drink on the patio looking down onto the 18th Fairway. 

We strolled down later to have a closer look, and a chat to the steward keeping watch. The golfers we saw weren't so impressive! 

In the afternoon we headed for the Monterey Aquarium, which has a very good reputation. It isn't very big and they do not keep huge sea mammals. They have 4 female otters, and a selection of penguins but the rest were fascinating tanks of sea urchins, sea horses, jelly fish and fish.

   

   

And finally a stroll into town in the evening and dinner at the very good and buzzing Alvarado Street Brewery and Grill.