The Watering Hole

http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q66/dearthian/California%202009/

As many of ya know, I was going out to Lake Elsinore, CA to pick up a BMW Z3 Roadster my Dad bought my Mom.  (follow link above for pics)

Trip started out at John Wayne International airport in Orange County.  After I got there, I went to the claim area to meet my ride (my Mom's best friend and husband, the folks they bought the car off of).  After 40 minutes, no ride.  What gives???  So I called Mom and she called them.  About 10 minutes later I get a call from my ride.  They went to the WRONG airport and it would be another 45 minutes before the got there (it WAS their screw-up and they admitted it).  Great.  I am now 1.5 hours behind schedule to get to Pismo Beach that night.  After I picked up the car, I zipped through LA (I actually did; hit traffic on all roads at the right time) up to Pismo.  

Day 2 I drove up the Pacific Coast Highway from Pismo Beach all the way up to just south of Monterey.  Folks, if ya haven't done it I highly suggest you do.  This was one of the prettiest drives I've ever done.  I'll remember it forever.  Challenging drive, but it was perfect for the car I picked up.  Drove up to San Fran and crossed the Golden Gate bridge (that was actually kind of underwhelming; I thought it was longer than that).  Ended up in Napa Valley in time for dinner.  

I ate at a newer Indian restaurant in Napa called Neela's.  I had booked my reservations online.  I checked in and got talking to the guy running Neela's.  They had actually Googled me to make sure I wasn't a food critic for the NY Times since the place was only 2 months old (there ARE restaurant reviews in the NY Times for Napa).  I got a kick out of this.  Too bad I wasn't quicker; I might have told him I actually worked for the Chicago Tribune instead.

Day 3 hit a few wineries in Napa.  Got to try some really good wine.  For you Winos, I highly recommend anything form the Merryvale Winery.  Yummy.  Caught lunch at Mustards Grill in Yountville (just north of Napa).  Mmmmmm....

I hate hitting the wrong button....

From Napa I drove back to WV by heading straight west on I-80 out of Sacramento.  Got to see the Sierras in Northern, CA.  Waived to Donner at Donner's pass ("Hi mr cannibal").  Ultimately got to drive the length of the Rockies on I-70 through Colorado.  WOW!!!  That was a gorgeous few hours.  After Denver, shear boredom.  Nothing to report after that.

I've done the drive up to the I-80 many times (both from San Diego North and from Vancouver Washington South).  It's a really nice drive IF you don't have to be anywhere at any given time.  :)

Of course, the part between Los Angeles and Sacramento can be monumentally boring though...

Trivia note: I used to live in Irvine close enough to walk to the John Wayne Airport (a bit of a long walk, but doable none-the-less).

Dearthian: — Jun 19, 2009I hate hitting the wrong button....

Looks like someone needs to learn that there's an "Edit" button right there for just those types of scenarios!  ;)

I must be a tard because I'm not seeing the edit button.   :'(

Dearthian: — Jun 20, 2009I must be a tard because I'm not seeing the edit button.   :'(

Maybe not.  It's actually called "Modify" in this forum (look above the post to the right next to where you hit when you want to reply with a quote - the icon is a pencil on a piece of paper). :)

Man, you drove right by Santa Cruz... if you dropped me a line we coulda met up...

Sounds like a cool trip. I know what you experienced because I have been all the way up the coast highway from the Mexican to the Canadian borders several times and we plan on doing that ride from Phoenix to Santa Barbara to Napa Valley and then on up to the Clear Lake area, then to Yosemite, before finishing up in Vegas in September.

charger — Jun 20, 2009Man, you drove right by Santa Cruz... if you dropped me a line we coulda met up...

Shit, I didn't realize that's where ya lived.   :(  .  Sorry about that brother, that would have been fun to have met you.  Damn.