The Pacific Coast Highway - RV Travel - Summer 2022 Episode 8
on the road again and this was not entirely on the plan but I think we're gonna do the Pacific Coast Highway all the way to Oregon we did a very similar trip back in 2012 along this stunning Road from Los Angeles to San Francisco in the early days before we had our own home on wheels I thought it would be a good idea to do it again it is in my opinion the most beautiful drives in the world [Music] wherever I want to be you guys I'm free in my RV we're going to take States Route 46 towards Cambria and there we're going to join the one living Wine Country and we only got to go to One Winery but hey The Show Must Go On [Music] there it is the ocean the Pacific Coast Highway wasn't originally our first choice this time around we do have a reservation in Coos Bay Oregon so we have to be there in about five days for the third and last of our three sponsored stays with sun Outdoors but I wanted to take a different route the original plan was to take I5 through the sanghua King Valley Sacramento Mount Shasta and then work our way to the coast I mean we've never taken that route another plan was to take the 395 the Eastern Sierra Scenic byway up to Lake Tahoe but it was more of a detour so we decided to do the Pacific Coast Highway kind of last minute commemorating the 10th anniversary of our 2012 trip and I'm glad we made that decision when we came in 2012 we were able to stop at many places along the way now the one disadvantage of doing this kind of trip with a travel trailer is that you're not gonna fit everywhere some of the parking lots along this route are tight and there's one state park We're not gonna be able to see at all we also wanted to park here in Cambria see the town and that is also not gonna happen [Music] foreign well it is official minitini 3 has now been to the Atlantic the Gulf of Mexico and now the Pacific the only North American body of salt water missing is the Arctic but I think we're going to save that one for minitini 4. [Music] let's take a break I think they're cracking down on all these spots where people used to be able to to Boondock like a quick overnight you know and I don't know how much they are reinforcing it we really do not have a anywhere to stay today so at some point with my I either had to risk it and stay at one of these places or or look for a last minute uh I don't know I don't know what we're gonna do but uh here we are actually it's a pretty nice stop you know it's compared to the Views we're about to experience a farther north this is um I mean not that great but it is great look at that but I just wanted to show you mini T3 for the first time in the Pacific Ocean we made it it made it to the Pacific um Starship made it to the Pacific a couple of days ago at uh at Pismo Beach but man this is beautiful and the weather is perfect for boondocking it's probably the thermometer said 70 but it feels like 60s and it's kind of windy so it's perfect for boondocking here all right let's continue on the Way North it's going to be soup with the view [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] I'm going to stop for a moment here because this is one of the spots from where you can get a view of Hertz Castle one of these days we're gonna visit it but I hear you have to commit like half a day to it so yeah as I say next time even though this may not be the prettiest part it is still stunning it is very windy so there's a lot of salt in the air which is getting stuck on the front camera lens that's why we're getting a somewhat diffused image I'll try to compensate let's take another break [Music] we can still see Hertz Castle from here and more views of the ocean lone pelican [Music] and that would be the Piedras Blancas light station [Music] here's our next point of Interest the elephant seal Vista Point this is one of those obligatory stops along the Pacific Coast Highway [Music] look at them all some bathing at the beach it is so windy today [Music] foreign [Music] actually the Pelicans are almost putting on a better show than the elephant seals which are kind of chill today foreign to stop and see the elephant seals you know doing their thing and I don't stay here for hours but unfortunately our time is kind of limited today so we're gonna continue North there's a trail that goes all the way to the lighthouse but there is no oversized parking or time for that matter so another time perhaps [Music] [Applause] please [Music] now it's getting interesting [Music] there's a restaurant with a view probably but we couldn't have stopped with the trailer anyway [Music] yep it is quite the roller coaster ride [Music] thank you [Music] this extremely picturesque area is called Big Sur [Music] I remember that rock from our 2012 trip so let's stop for a few minutes foreign [Music] foreign [Music] thank you [Music] I kind of wish I could stop at every pullout but a lot of them are too small for us or we're too big for them and on the wrong side of the road at some point we should do this the other way southbound now Crossing lime cone Creek and Lamkin State Park it seems very nice [Music] I can see Big Creek Bridge in the distance [Music] Big Creek Bridge not as famous or iconic as Bixby Creek Bridge coming later but it is still a good photo opportunity in fact let me see if I can stop at the Vista Point not an easy task with the trailer in tow [Music] well there it is oh here's an even better View [Music] another quick stop as we're getting close to makway Falls wave Falls is somewhere down there we just have to find it meanwhile that's not a bad View not bad at all foreign [Music] this is the entrance to Julia Pfeiffer burn State Park from where you can hike to the falls but trailers and RVs are not permitted and it looks like the parking area for the Viewpoint is closed tell you what we've come way too far not to see The Falls so I'm gonna park right here [Music] It's gotta be somewhere down there there it is [Music] well there it is mcway Falls this was almost back at least let me tell you because last time I was here back in 2011 or 2012 I can't recall exactly I didn't know exactly about McCoy Falls and I took a lot of pictures with microwave rocks which we're gonna see now but um yeah that's a it's a waterfall that goes straight into the ocean which is very rare this is all part of Julia Pfeiffer Burns state park but they don't allow they have a big sign no RVs no trailers of any kind so um I just parked in one of the pull outs and walked to this this is the official pull out to see microwave Falls I don't know why they have it at gordoned off so you cannot do it so maybe a lot of people were congregating here in fact I had to wait a for some folks to take some pictures there and this is the other amazing view look at this actually we're gonna zoom in on those rocks now but this is a this is the the California the Pacific coast at its best now we'll continue with on the road [Music] here's the microwave rocks Vista Point the but I don't think there's any room for us luckily I was able to film it in 2012. [Music] and this is the town called Big Sur [Music] somewhere on that rock is the point sir lighthouse we keep going and going another beautiful Vista past every curve and this is pretty remote more than you would guess it'd be in California the most popular state [Music] thank you [Music] [Music] coming up what is arguably the most famous bridge of all this section of the road it's being featured in postcards movies and even Grand Theft Auto 5. it is none other than Bixby Creek Bridge let's see if we can stop [Music] foreign [Music] another local resident hello there we've got a view here [Music] [Music] it is said to be one of the most photographed bridges in California when we did this trip in 2012 a lot of people scolded me for not stopping at Santa Cruz there was just not enough time and I decided to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium instead because of course the salsa little cetacean Institute So today we're gonna skip Monterey and we're going to visit Santa Cruz instead [Music] now arriving in Monterey which was California's capital during the Spanish and Mexican rule [Music] food [Music] s we're just gonna stay at the KOA very expensive for just an overnight but hear me out it was the quickest and easiest to book last minute even though the idea was to Boondock summer actually but we really want to unhitch and see a little bit of Santa Cruz with the little time we have left we don't have very ambitious plans we're just gonna get something to eat and see the highlights mainly the area around the wharf and the boardwalk we definitely ought to spend more time here in the future foreign work seems to be mainly a daytime thing so I don't think it is going to be very Lively at this time of the day so we're going to do the wharf it is one of those somewhat complex roundabouts whatever happened to four-way stops a dollar per 20 minutes that's actually not that bad considering Where We Are it's the boardwalk dating back to 1907 it is California's oldest surviving amusement park [Music] street musician cool [Music] there are plenty of places to eat so let's see if we can find something that picks our interest and parking for that matter [Music] oh there's plenty of parking back here it is Wednesday so it is not very busy might as well go all the way to the end [Music] these types of boardwalks are much more common on the East Coast it kind of reminds me of the Jersey Shore somehow so many sailboats here on Monterey Bay we're going to eat at the Dolphin It's gotta be the touristy place but it's got pretty good reviews and even better views yeah that pigeon is going to have a feast of that sourdough here comes another one oh yeah she was very important for the clam chowder now there's three of them now three minutes man Viking windows so we ordered some Cava to start we're in a celebratory mood we got the clam chowder because that's what you do there's a fish somewhere down there looks like it is going to be a beautiful sunset look what we have down there these sea lions are everywhere on the West Coast there's the lighthouse also the Santa Cruz surfing Museum so peaceful yet so much going on here on the bay who's making all that noise I wonder let me tell you that must be the good life just chilling enjoying the cool Ocean Breeze there's the boardwalk once again so let's drive around the area with the little daylight we have left I just wish we had more time to explore [Music] we did some research and that area came up it is called Cliff Drive there's a walking biking trail along the coast that if it was earlier we would definitely do I think today we're just gonna drive it [Music] oh yeah I can see how this would be a nice walk and we can see the wharf over there [Music] here we have a surfing Monument foreign [Music] [Music] [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] for a couple of minutes [Music] [Music] foreign [Music] thank you [Music] [Applause] [Music] and away we go what was going to be a five days of boondocking has turned out to be at least for now three days of luxury uh rving but things have to be done you know I I do need to do an oil change on the on Starship here it's first oil change so I want to go like a proper um Chevy dealer and the one in Coos Bay doesn't have any any appointments until like in three weeks so the one in Petaluma has an appointment tomorrow so that's where we're going yeah sometimes you have to adapt flexibility like Joy is the key sometimes you have to splurge in order to get things done Santa Cruz wasn't really under radar not until now but now it is so maybe now we can plan a trip to the whole Monterey Bay Area no Monterey Carmel By the Sea Santa Cruz maybe I'll read some Steinbeck before then to get a better sense of the area so many places so little time anyway we're going to Petaluma California the egg capital of the world near the Napa Valley wine region it is not too far about a three hour drive hugging the coast first time I heard of the place was by listening to This Week in Tech podcast back in the mid-2000s as this was where the podcast was produced and the host Leo Laporte often spoke about the town it is also home to Lagunitas Brewing Company one of the first ipas I ever tried we're once again getting close to the ocean [Music] while not as stunning as the Big Sur area this is not bad [Music] now with that be the Pigeon Point light station I think it is and I like lighthouses that Marine layer is getting closer and closer to shore I'm afraid in a few moments we're going to be engulfed in it and we are [Music] that spot right there on the left I wanted to stop there let me see if I can make a u-turn [Music] all right this is a spot I had marked here on my map and this seems to be the very spot where nomadic fanatic boondocked a couple of years ago I don't know if it is still allowed but it's a beautiful spot I do believe there's a sign over there that probably says no no camping there's a European RV there a European Class C very similar to the one uh we went to fight it's a sunlight same brand but ours didn't have the cab over and just can't over can't get over how beautiful this is I mean the Marine layer is it's rolling in so this is not sunny and blue anymore but it is quite amazing sunlight just like the one we're renting in Finland as I said ours was more like a B plus this one is a proper Class C but uh but the sign all the sign says is on stable cliffs stay back of course not everybody hates the warning but there it is there are no signs saying no overnight camping here so I'm assuming you could [Music] words a Half Moon Bay and San Francisco but now we know that this may be a potential spot and it's pretty white especially over there so as long as they don't put up a sign this is still a valid boondocking spot I would think let me know what you think [Music] and the fog is burning off but my lens not so much foreign [Music] we're gonna have to do a little bit of City driving here as we're about to cross the city by the Bay San Francisco actually Crossing is a big word we're going to skirt it on the West we wouldn't want to tackle those steep Streets San Francisco is so famous for with a trailer in tow although come think of it if we were to do Lombard Street with a trailer behind us it could go viral but it could go very wrong too [Music] there is something unique about this city something about the architecture Wheels its unique geographical location it's got an unmistakable character now driving across Golden Gate Park over 1 000 acres in size if it wasn't for the dance fog we could probably see the Red Towers of Golden Gate Bridge already [Music] and there it is one of the most iconic bridges in the United States and perhaps the most photographed in the world at the time of its opening in 1937 it was both the longest and tallest suspension bridge in the world [Music] from the bridge of course you get commanding views San Francisco Bay Alcatraz Island downtown San Francisco and Beyond on the other side the Pacific foreign foreign [Music] that's all we're going to see of San Francisco today we'll be back I promise oh yeah we arrived here a couple hours ago actually at the Petaluma KOA it's a holiday weekend so this place is going to be packed by tomorrow it's Thursday today but you know what's in Petaluma Lagunitas Brewing Company and twit so let's go there well guess where we are this is TWiT this weekend Tech and if you don't know Leo Laporte he was one of the first to do this online podcasting and video thing so it's like a pilgrimage you know coming to Petaluma and stopping here now let's go to the other pilgrimage Lagunitas of course was one of the first ipas I ever tried memory serves I believe it was probably John C Dvorak who recommended it in the aforementioned twit This Week in Tech show many many years ago it is still one of my favorites and that's a Winnebago well cheers we've got quesadillas tacos [Music] well that's it we did our our trip to Lagunitas IPA got some kind of six-pack for for tomorrow for the live stream because today's Thursday right yes it is and uh and now we're gonna go back and rest oh look look at the color on those mountains back there greetings once again from downtown Petaluma Brick House thank you summer gin and Sonic and the handheld's IPA [Music] go down [Music] please Serendipity brought us to this place called Brewsters which was great actually great live music great service great brisket actually best probably the best brisket we've had since Texas so uh yeah Petaluma California [Music] foreign I must say pretty cool town [Music] thank you [Music] well stopped by the supermarket to get some Essentials mainly wine and water and we're in the middle of a hit wave here in California it's 83 degrees in Petaluma which by their standards this is a hit with heat wave not so bad for but my only hope is that by the coast is going to be a couple of degrees cooler because now we're going to be boondocking two days in a row anyway I'm gonna try to stop first stop here Bodega Bay I was here in 2920 2019 yes but Billy has never been there so this is a an exciting part of the trip on the next one we're tackling the North Coast also known as the Redwood Coast all the way to the Oregon border until then thank you so much for watching and see you on the road [Music] I'm writing riding in my RV
2023-04-22 19:21
