Last edit by: boxo
Countdown Clock to Monterey DO Two
:-::-: DO Schedule :-::-:
Monterey DO Two activity sign-up
Friday lunch, 1pm Ambrosia India Bistro
Doc Savage
boxo
califcoast
Friday pre-dinner nibbles and drinks, Days Inn room
boxo
Doc Savage
Friday dinner at il vecchio, Pacific Grove 7:30 pm (13/12)
boxo
Doc Savage
lili - may be late, save a seat
CMK10
KathyWdrf
ChrisFlyer66
Majuki
spacecrafter
Sykes - may be a tad bit late
deirdre+1
redrick
califcoast
Old Monterey Cafe 8 am sharp
boxo
CMK10
dinoscool3 +4
Majuki
mhnadel
deirdre
Saturday Tor House ~75-min tour, arrive 9:45 am [limited to 8 people] (6)
ChrisFlyer66
lili
Majuki
mhnadel
spacecrafter
boxo
Saturday noon-ish Point Lobos (9)
boxo
ChrisFlyer66
lili - briefly - my goal is Big Sur
mhnadel
Majuki
KathyWdrf
spacecrafter
redrick+1
Saturday Carmel lunch, Terry's Lounge 12 noon (4/6)
boxo
ChrisFlyer66
mhnadel
KathyWdrf
spacecrafter
Sykes
deirdre
Saturday dinner Downtown Monterey, Epsilon Greek Restaurant 7 pm (17/18)
boxo
ChrisFlyer66
Dinoscool3 +4
KathyWdrf
lili
mhnadel
spacecrafter
Sykes
Karen2 +1
deirdre+1
redrick
Sunday 10:30 am State Historic Parks Public Walking Tour [Please arrive Pacific House Museum 10 am.] (10)
boxo
ChrisFlyer66
Dinoscool3 +4
lili
Kathy Wdrf
spacecrafter
Sunday lunch in Pacific Grove, Fandango 12:00 noon (13/14)
boxo
ChrisFlyer66
Dinoscool3 +4
KathyWdrf
spacecrafter
lili
deirdre+1
redrick
:-::-: DO Schedule :-::-:
Monterey DO Two activity sign-up
Friday lunch, 1pm Ambrosia India Bistro
Doc Savage
boxo
califcoast
Friday pre-dinner nibbles and drinks, Days Inn room
boxo
Doc Savage
Friday dinner at il vecchio, Pacific Grove 7:30 pm (13/12)
boxo
Doc Savage
lili - may be late, save a seat
CMK10
KathyWdrf
ChrisFlyer66
Majuki
spacecrafter
Sykes - may be a tad bit late
deirdre+1
redrick
califcoast
Old Monterey Cafe 8 am sharp
boxo
CMK10
dinoscool3 +4
Majuki
mhnadel
deirdre
Saturday Tor House ~75-min tour, arrive 9:45 am [limited to 8 people] (6)
ChrisFlyer66
lili
Majuki
mhnadel
spacecrafter
boxo
Saturday noon-ish Point Lobos (9)
boxo
ChrisFlyer66
lili - briefly - my goal is Big Sur
mhnadel
Majuki
KathyWdrf
spacecrafter
redrick+1
Saturday Carmel lunch, Terry's Lounge 12 noon (4/6)
ChrisFlyer66
mhnadel
KathyWdrf
spacecrafter
Sykes
deirdre
Saturday dinner Downtown Monterey, Epsilon Greek Restaurant 7 pm (17/18)
boxo
ChrisFlyer66
Dinoscool3 +4
KathyWdrf
lili
mhnadel
spacecrafter
Karen2 +1
deirdre+1
redrick
Sunday 10:30 am State Historic Parks Public Walking Tour [Please arrive Pacific House Museum 10 am.] (10)
boxo
ChrisFlyer66
Dinoscool3 +4
lili
Kathy Wdrf
spacecrafter
Sunday lunch in Pacific Grove, Fandango 12:00 noon (13/14)
boxo
ChrisFlyer66
Dinoscool3 +4
KathyWdrf
spacecrafter
lili
deirdre+1
redrick
Monterey DO Two: 24-26 October 2014
#199
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 4
One other feature of the Big Sur area I wanted to mention, though I'm not sure it merits a side-trip for anyone driving up CA-1: One day, I was looking closely at a map of Central California, and noticed something that stood out. The Big Sur coast is a thin bit of rugged and lushly forested coastal land, around 100 miles long, delimited by a very steep, young mountain range, the Santa Lucias. On the inland side of the Santa Lucias is the long, agriculturally rich north-south valley of the Salinas River, though which US-101 goes (that being a much easier, flatter route than the coastal one).
Looking at the map, i saw that there were no roads across the Santa Lucias between Carmel Valley Road on the north end of Big Sur, and the Hearst Castle area on the south end, with exactly one exception: Ferguson-Naciamento Road crosses and hits the coast fairly close to Nepenthe.
I was intrigued, enough so that after hiking Pinnacles National Monument on the east side of the Salinas River valley, I drove south down US-101 to King City, to find the start of Ferguson-Naciamento Road. First, you have to enter the Fort Hunter-Liggett military reservation. The guard at the gate asks to see your driving licence, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance (suggesting, perhaps, that the military are not thrilled about public access but have no right to shut us out). You drive in and follow signs a short distance to the 200-year-old Spanish Mission Antonio de Padua. Stop, cool off, admire the ancient olive trees, and enjoy the very picture of early California. If you ignore the WWI-era buildings in the middle distance to the southwest, you might think you were in the 1700s and about to encounter Padre Junipero Serra.
From there, Ferguson-Naciamento Road starts westward. At first, it's ranch country, then starts gradually rising, the land becomes mixed forest, and you realise there's a beautiful small river course to your left, and people are camping, fishing, and picnicking in the woods near the stream. You keep gradually climbing. The woods thin out. You approach the top, and there's a rustic intersection with 'Camino Cielo' (road of the sky). Hmm, does that mean...? You achieve the pass, and you boggle:
The Santa Lucias are, as I mentioned, a young mountain range. As it turns out, they are very, very steep on the west slope. The view from the top of Ferguson-Naciamento looks like the end of the world, as if you're about to drive down the face of a cliff, about a kilometre or more straight down. Stop, admire the view, and gather your nerves.
It's not quite straight down. It's predictably an old, fairly well maintained county road with many switchbacks hugging the westward slope. Many of the hairpin curves have gravel on them, so pay attention and take it slow. Don't think about the drop. ;->
When I reached the stop sign at California Route 1, I did have white knuckles, but no crowbar was actually required to pry them from my steering wheel and the heightened state of consciousness (mild terror) passed in a couple of minutes.
A memorable drive.
That was the day I then cooled off in that swimming hole on the Big Sur River.
Last edited by redrick; Oct 24, 2014 at 7:52 pm Reason: tyops
#201
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: MRY/SFO/SJC
Programs: AS MVP, Hilton Diamond, IHG Gold
Posts: 7,784
It seems I am now the only one without a car, so carpooling to activities shouldn't be a problem. Hopefully someone(s) is willing to give me a ride wherever I am going.
I brought some board games along, so if anyone's up to Scrabble, checkers, or Monopoly after dinner, just say the word. Of course, Scrabble will be a frequent flyer edition where all words must be travel-related.
I brought some board games along, so if anyone's up to Scrabble, checkers, or Monopoly after dinner, just say the word. Of course, Scrabble will be a frequent flyer edition where all words must be travel-related.
#202
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,066
It seems I am now the only one without a car, so carpooling to activities shouldn't be a problem. Hopefully someone(s) is willing to give me a ride wherever I am going.
I brought some board games along, so if anyone's up to Scrabble, checkers, or Monopoly after dinner, just say the word. Of course, Scrabble will be a frequent flyer edition where all words must be travel-related.
I brought some board games along, so if anyone's up to Scrabble, checkers, or Monopoly after dinner, just say the word. Of course, Scrabble will be a frequent flyer edition where all words must be travel-related.
#203
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: MRY/SFO/SJC
Programs: AS MVP, Hilton Diamond, IHG Gold
Posts: 7,784
So tomorrow's breakfast at Old Monterey Cafe will be 7 of us - dinoscool3 +4, CMK10, and me. First to arrive, please get a table or tables. Probably 3 and 4 cuz the place is small.
Drive safely, and keep in mind last to arrive picks up the tabs! Btw, your kegs comment made me LOL.
Drive safely, and keep in mind last to arrive picks up the tabs! Btw, your kegs comment made me LOL.
#204
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: IAD
Programs: united, american, alaska
Posts: 1,782
#205
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Menlo Park, CA, USA
Programs: UA: 1K, HH: Diamond
Posts: 1,330
There will either be 1 extra or 3 extra depending on time.
Edit: I heard it's 8 am. I'll try to be there, and I'll be the only extra since the others get free brekkie.
Last edited by deirdre; Oct 24, 2014 at 11:16 pm
#206
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,690
Hi boxo!
Thanks so much for setting all this up so well. I'm safe and sound at my SFO hotel.
It was great meeting everyone else. Have a fantastic time in Monterey, it is a really nice place to spend a few days with new friends.
Safe travels,
Doc
Thanks so much for setting all this up so well. I'm safe and sound at my SFO hotel.
It was great meeting everyone else. Have a fantastic time in Monterey, it is a really nice place to spend a few days with new friends.
Safe travels,
Doc
#207
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: MRY/SFO/SJC
Programs: AS MVP, Hilton Diamond, IHG Gold
Posts: 7,784
Thanks for following orders. Good to see you again. Looking forward to next time.
#209
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: sba/bur/lax
Programs: ua 1k/*g, ge, hh g, spg/mr plat
Posts: 85
i made it!
boxo & doc savage - it was great getting to know you over two meals, thanks for having me!
sykes, chrisflyer66, kathywdrf, majuki, spacecrafter & cmk10 - i enjoyed meeting/speaking with you at dinner, i only regret not meeting the remaining three people at the table! cmk10 - thanks for the ego boost hope you had a great birthday, and enjoy your drive tomorrow.
too bad i couldn't stay longer, but my flights were calling...hopefully i'll see you guys at another event or in the air!
boxo & doc savage - it was great getting to know you over two meals, thanks for having me!
sykes, chrisflyer66, kathywdrf, majuki, spacecrafter & cmk10 - i enjoyed meeting/speaking with you at dinner, i only regret not meeting the remaining three people at the table! cmk10 - thanks for the ego boost hope you had a great birthday, and enjoy your drive tomorrow.
too bad i couldn't stay longer, but my flights were calling...hopefully i'll see you guys at another event or in the air!
#210
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: MRY/SFO/SJC
Programs: AS MVP, Hilton Diamond, IHG Gold
Posts: 7,784
Old Monterey Cafe 8 am sharp (10)
boxo
CMK10
dinoscool3 +4
Majuki
mhnadel
deirdre
spacecrafter, please park on Munras, just south of Fremont St, and we'll meet you there 9:20-ish. (the side street next to Denny 's)
spacecrafter's car
boxo
Majuki's car
mhnadel
Once we're done with the tour, we'll meet Kathy at Safeway (Hwy 1 & Rio Rd) for snacks/lunch.
Majuki will leave early and ChrisFlyer66 will help transport back if needed. deirdre's +2 will be dropped off at Point Lobos and may/may not hitch a ride back with us.
Frankly, I am a visual person and can figure this out seeing people and cars in the same frame.
Now that it's 2:30 am, I'll shower and sleep.
Hasta en la maņana.
ETA: lili will meet us at Tor House.
boxo
CMK10
dinoscool3 +4
Majuki
mhnadel
deirdre
- Up until yesterday, there were only two of us and now we've blossomed to nine.
- They don't take reservations, so it's absolutely crucial everyone be on time, if not early so we are not late for the Tor House tour.
- We should leave the restaurant no later than 9:15 am in case there's traffic. It can be bad between Carpenter and Rio.
spacecrafter, please park on Munras, just south of Fremont St, and we'll meet you there 9:20-ish. (the side street next to Denny 's)
spacecrafter's car
boxo
Majuki's car
mhnadel
Once we're done with the tour, we'll meet Kathy at Safeway (Hwy 1 & Rio Rd) for snacks/lunch.
Majuki will leave early and ChrisFlyer66 will help transport back if needed. deirdre's +2 will be dropped off at Point Lobos and may/may not hitch a ride back with us.
Frankly, I am a visual person and can figure this out seeing people and cars in the same frame.
Now that it's 2:30 am, I'll shower and sleep.
Hasta en la maņana.
ETA: lili will meet us at Tor House.
Last edited by boxo; Oct 25, 2014 at 3:37 am