CRUZIN THE 101

JUST GO!contained there was little need for tents and such,
Don't sit and wait, whenever, however any way youhowever our portable hammock made relaxing the
can, you've got to move get on the go, hit the road. It'sevening away easy. Someone was always in the
good for your soul, relaxes you, re-energizes, helpsportable hammock and it seemed the fiberglass rod
formulate new ideas and feelings, invigorates you butwas always in hand. Our first simi-scheduled stop led
most of all it will give you peace of mind. Get on theus to a camp ground in the middle of giant redwood
move, go behind the wheel a big automobile, bike, footforest. The smell, sounds of the breeze through the
or plane just go. Grab your portable hammock, yourtrees and the visual effects of filtering sun through the
fiberglass rod or beach bag and split. Go anywhere,trees was awesome. It was so relaxing and
any day, rain or shine, day or night. Take family, friendsmeditative there we stayed a couple of days extra.
or yourself. you don't need a reservation. Arrive whereAfter a day of hiking and a quick nap in the portable
ever you end up, take your essentials portablehammock we felt excellent, no worries eh... No matter
hammock, fiberglass rod and beach bag.if it was fishing my fibergalss rod, chillin in our portable
Our trip started in a renowned vacation city, Sanhammock, surfing or discovering new sites it was all
Diego, California. San Diego is a tourist dream spot,good.
with perfect weather, beautiful beaches andHit The Road ... We took that motor home
amusement parks. Mexico is minutes south, Loseverywhere. One most interesting place was China
Angeles, deserts and mountains within an hour and theTown in San Francisco. The desire for authentic
High Sierras, Yosemite, San Francisco and Los VegasChinese food took us over but there was a slight
just a half days drive. Our ten day adventureproblem, some of the streets are so narrow we could
stemmed from a yearning to visit the giant sequoias,barely drive the thirty footer down them and parking
redwoods and the many unscheduled destinationsspots were near impossible to find.
along the way. Loving the outdoors, relaxing in myThere was an air of static anticipation as we searched
portable hammock and of course fishing, playing, hikingfor suitable parking. The sidewalks were more like a
and anything new was surely on our minds. Unlikebizarre crowded with people, there was lot of action
most travelers, our concept was to drive until weeverywhere, and a lot of grafitti. People were rushing
couldn't drive further. We would then either, findhere and there but seemed like they were going
campground with trees and break out the portablenowhere. It took a while but we finally found a one
hammock, find a hotel, or just park off the road, ofway street with one large spot that looked tiny, we
course we had the luxury of the motor home and allhad to parallel park the monster. Our determination
the amenities, including a cell phone and GPS. Needlesspaid off, lol, and after giving a homeless guy a few
to say, much of our nomad way of traveling wasbucks and a sleeping bag to watch our gear we were
stifled by our modern day inventions, we weresoon to chow down at an "authentic" Chinese
whipped!! Still the adventure was spontaneous andrestaurant. Chinese girls dressed in traditional red silk
from one day to the next we had no clue where we'dskirt and blouse stood at every corner handing
end up. There were a couple of places we defiantlyrestaurant promos. There were restaurants and
wanted to visit, Santa Barbara, Pismo Beach, Big Sur,sidewalk shops everywhere. We walked for blocks
Monterey, China Town and Hearst Castle Our firstthen found the spot. It was upstairs and the personnel
destination was Big Sur, known for it's free style waybarely spoke English, we knew this was the one. The
of living, tremendous red woods and forest thatfood was tasty, a couple of items were unidentifiable
stretch to the ocean. Our transportation was a motorbut good the meals were also inexpensive and the
home the size of a bus and it had everythingpeople friendly. We dined about an hour or so. Upon
imaginable.leaving the restaurant it was almost surreal, there was
We set off in middle of the week, is was about 85hardly a person on the streets... almost spooky...We
degrees the skies were deep blue and clear. Aroundshopped a little then took off over the Golden Gate
noon, we finished loading up and with a beach bag inBridge to Sausalito, which happened to be as far north
hand, and fiberglass rod and portable hammock, weas time would afford us. It was now night and we
could hardly contain our excitement. Our route wasdecided it was time to bunker down but Salinas and
mapped out, north up highway 101, California's mostSan Francisco didn't exactly meed our needs. We
infamous strip of road, a route as renowned as routesearched for hours but still couldn't even find a hotel lot
66 but with better destinations, captivating scenery,to park the beast at, eventually found a hotel south of
intriguing restaurants, more places to use my fibergalssthe city, it worked out excellent.
rod, secluded campsites, fascinating hotels and hiddenThe next morning we traveled south. The journey was
beaches. We trucked up the 101 and were instantlyjust as awesome, our next stop was Monterey and
astonished, we knew this was going to be a trip toFisher Mans Wharf, this became a favorite destination,
always be remember. The first night came quick andthe people were friendly, food was excellent and the
we were soon twinkling with the stars. It was early thetown is so exceptional. Being on route, Hearst Castle
next day and we eagerly hit the road. It happened tocouldn't be missed, it's a massive display of unparalleled
be a particular time of year, just off the cliffs north ofdesign, beauty and wealth, only in movies had we had
Santa Barbara the largest of the sea bearingseen anything comparable. We took the tour it was
creatures were spouting and breaching and followingdetailed and well worth it. Our next destination was
one another down the coast line as far as could bePismo Beach. It was also an uncanny spot to take a
seen. The groups were small, 4 to 6 in a pod but wemotor home, but without apprehension we did so. We
saw many, timing was perfect and whale watchingfigured, the trip wouldn't be complete without
had become a main attraction. The breaching andexperiencing a cruse along the shoreline of a sandy
playfulness displayed by the whales seemed onbeach in a large motor home. What more could you
purpose and as if they were actors in a play.ask for! A tow would have been expensive but we
Everything was easy and just seemed right.didn't get stuck and the crazy driver, me was a hero
Coves of crystal clear turquoise waters to deep Balticinstead of a goat. Being one of the only beaches on
blue seas to forest of giant trees can't begin tothe California coast where vehicles are allowed made
describe the spectacular scenery and fascination ofthis a destination we'll have to come back to. The
cruising Hwy-101. The coast line of California ismotor home was a great way to travel, you get the
extremely diversified, the shore line changes from silkyfeeling nothing is governing your trip and you can stay
white sands to jagged cliffs, tall forest to rolling hills ofnearly anywhere, anytime, except China Town!
lush green grass. Every scape enduring the ages andLittle was left uncovered, we saw whales breaching
each in its own revealing to us an image of the pastoff shore, surf gliders rolling and drifting through the air,
merging the present, all natural all creating a distinctbeautiful cliff formation, ocean otters, seals, giant forest,
scene. Offering some of the most unique sights in thefished streams and rivers, hiked, roomed at hotels
world, the route is incomparable and the journey willliterally overlooking the cliffs of the awesome Pacific
leave you longing to stay forever. I'd get lazy in myOcean, drove on the silky sands to the waters edge
portable hammock look up and take it all in. Theof Pismo Beach and although a bit cumbersome ate
secluded has now become the norm as every mileChinese food in "China Town" and slept in a portable
tells more and more of the vast beauty nature intendshammock in the giant redwoods. In beautiful
us to be a part of. Indulge in it, savor it and take the"Monterey" a stroll along "Fisherman's Wharf" , had a
time to relax in its splendor.bowl of the best clam chowder in the world and if not
The drive to Big Sur in a car could be made in a daythe grand finale, the tour we took of the famous
but were in no rush and took longer It was afternoon"Hearst Castle" was just as monumental. All in all it
when we made it to Big Sur so we pulled into a motorwas the best trip ever. There were many historic and
home site by a stream. The first thing I did... broke outoff the path places to visit but one trip couldn't cover
my fiberglass rod grabed a cold brew and thethem all. The memories will last forever, we'll do it again
vacation was officially underway. Since we were fullysometime soon.