Date: Tue, 16 Jul 1996 13:07:57 -0400
From: Eddiehintz@aol.com
Subject: Trip Report: Bay area and beyond
Hey now,
I write from Stillwater Cove campground, a Sonoma Co. Campground
about 4 miles north of Fort Ross on the Pacific Coast Highway. It is
9:45 PM on 15 July, the temperature is around 50, and a chilly breeze
blows through. I'm beside the campfire, on my trusty Macintosh, with
Indra (our dog) at my feet. We are on the picturesque northern
California coast, where the multitudes of trees wind lazily down to
the ocean cliffs, while the surf beats at the shore. The setting
almost makes the trials of getting here seem like a dream. But not
quite...
We left Kings Canyon at about 10 am on Sunday the 14th-having shot
nearly 4 rolls of 24 exposure film. In 2 days. Beautiful place.
Rolled on up and out and down to Fresno, then onto the 99 north with
the intention of getting a motel up around Modesto somewhere. Our
original plan called for staying with friends of the family in San
Carlos (the SF bay area), but we called from Kings Canyon to confirm
and found there had been a death in the family. So the revised plan
was to just get a cheap motel and then hit the bay area in the
morning. However, the valley was hot. So we decided instead to head
out on 152 into Gilroy, then catch the 101 north and get a motel out
there somewhere. So we got to the 101 and it was packed. Bigtime
traffic jam, just like LA. No es muy bueno. At which point we decided
to heck with it, we'll hit the coast, and continued on 152 out to
Watsonville and PCH. Figured we'd pay more for a motel, but wanted to
check out the coast anyway. Now anyone familiar with PCH is
undoubtably laughing at our ignorance at this point, as they already
know that "motel" and "PCH" don't go in the same paragraph together.
At least not in Northern California. Can you say bed and breakfast???
Onward we went, up to Half Moon Bay, still no motels. Getting close
to SF now, must be something soon. All the way to the 280 now,
there's gotta be something around here. After a couple of failed side
streets we went back to the 280.
Neither of us had actually looked at a map yet, so
when we decided to head for San Jose on the 280, we had no clue that
we were going parallel to the 101-where I knew there would be motels.
We hit San Jose and turned north on the 101, and found lots of motels
that don't take dogs. And one hotel that does. $80 a night. Phone
deposit. $75 dog deposit. About one weeks worth of budget on this
crazy trip. We found a Denny's at the 92 and 101 in San Mateo, and
got dinner. And got tired. And crashed out in the parking lot-I like
having a westy interior.
This morning we had breakfast at Denny's-it was rather
convenient... Then we headed on up into the city, got a kite at Pier
39-a 
specific request for a friend back in Austin. Headed
on up across the Golden Gate, and tried to find PCH. Found the Golden
Gate National Recreation area instead. And Sausalito. Finally found
PCH. Lost it again in Mill Valley. Turned around and
found it again.
Here follows several hours of winding mountain style driving-PCH
is a bit more hectic than I thought. Made my arms tired from
wrestling the bus around all those hairpin turns. Extremely scenic
though. Found the campground here-with showers which were so badly
needed after 3 days in Sequoia/Kings Canyon, and the failed bay area
motel escapade. Yuck. Ahh, the pleasures of roadtrips...
Tomorrow morning we will head up PCH again, likely camping again,
after sending off these trip reports. The camp hosts, Mr. and Mrs.
have generously agreed to let us use the ranger's telephone to
connect to AOL and send all this, as well as get 4 days worth of back
email. That'll take a while to wade through...
Peace,
Eddie
Date: Tue, 16 Jul 1996 13:40:15 -0400
From: Eddiehintz@aol.com
Subject: Re: Trip Report: Bay area and beyond
me> sending off these trip reports. The camp hosts, Mr. and
Mrs. have
me> generously agreed to let us use the ranger's telephone to
connect
me> to AOL and
Whoops!! That should've read Mr. and Mrs. Steve and Jean
Fuller-drop by and see 'em up at Stillwater Cove campground if you
can, there here 'till the end of September.
Peace,
Eddie
Back to the Main Trip
page
Neither of us had actually looked at a map yet, so
when we decided to head for San Jose on the 280, we had no clue that
we were going parallel to the 101-where I knew there would be motels.
We hit San Jose and turned north on the 101, and found lots of motels
that don't take dogs. And one hotel that does. $80 a night. Phone
deposit. $75 dog deposit. About one weeks worth of budget on this
crazy trip. We found a Denny's at the 92 and 101 in San Mateo, and
got dinner. And got tired. And crashed out in the parking lot-I like
having a westy interior.
