Just out of Santa Cruz we stumble onto the Davenport Roadhouse. It's been here since 1906, but we just found it! It's exactly the kind of roadside place one dreams of finding. And the food is all organic from the local farms.
I ordered Zucchini and Potato Latkes! I'm in heaven. And it is delicious!
I also got a fabulous heart shape shortbread cookie. And the coffee is wonderful, too.
We may have to linger for lunch...
Miles and miles of artichokes and strawberries.
The artichokes are 10 for $1.
At our market at home they're often 4.99 each!
Heading out of Big Sur...for parts unknown to us.
Leaving Big Sur and its extra-ordinary scapes--seascapes and mountainscapes.
At 7:18 am we pack up from room 61 at the Big Sur Lodge, and head north on Highway 1. We had reservations for another night, and had fully looked forward to hiking--really it's more like strolling--in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, seeing the mind-boggling McWay Waterfall with its 80-foot drop into the ocean, and taking our favorite Andrew Molera Trail out to the bluffs overlooking the Pacific.
But when we woke up this morning, we were both sort of surprised that we agreed, Been there, done that.
For those reading this blog in anticipation of your upcoming road trip--Charles, Judith, Noelle, to name just a few--these places in Big Sur are some of my favorite places on the planet. So much so that in the almost-8 years Ed and I have known each other this was our 5th trip to Big Sur! However, for us we wanted to get to the parts of the road trip that will be a new experience.
A note about where we stayed. The first time we came to Big Sur the only place we could get a room was at the Big Sur Lodge, which is smack in the middle of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. We were disappointed we couldn't get into the swanky Post Ranch, and that Ventana, the other nice place in the area, was closed for renovation.
But over the years we've fallen in love with the Big Sur Lodge. It's a little like Motel 6, but they have spruced the rooms up. A bit. But it's totally outdoorsy, and that's what we have come to Big Sur for.
We have returned to the Big Sur Bakery and Cafe. We've had many memorable, special meals here in the past. It's a crazy-looking place that you could drive right past thinking it was just the Shell gas pumps out front.
The mixed greens salad tasted so fresh it's as though the greens were just plucked from the garden out back.
Unfortunately, it was downhill from there. If you closed your eyes, you could not tell what my "grilled salmon + red pepper beurre blanc" was. It didn't taste like fish. And Ed was sawing away at the gristle on his "Niman ranch New York steak."
But then we ordered a special birthday desert. When I placed our reservation I had said it was my husband's birthday. Tonight our waiter said, "We have a candle policy.". I'm thinking--wildfires and no candles?
The waiter says, "No birthday candles."
Big Sur is too hipster for birthday candles?
Drivers have switched, and now I'm driving.
We've stayed on 101, and zoomed past Buellton and Industrial Eats. This was a big restaurant recommendation from our pal, Nanette, who knows really good food. However, after Montecito we weren't ready for another stop. Yet.
If we'd taken the inland route 154, we would've also zoomed past Los Olivos and my very favorite Los Olivos Cafe--wonderful delicious food, great wines. Worth a stop, but we were eager to get to Big Sur. This is probably our longest day of driving--324 miles from home to Big Sur.
At 206 miles at Cambria we have lunch at the French Corner Bakery. It's okay. Nothing to write home about, as Mom would've said.
At 250 miles we're driving alongside the rugged sea with choppy white caps, and for miles and miles the California poppies and ice plants are in full gorgeous neon bloom along the shoulder of the road.
At 63 miles--Montecito. Jeannine's for coffee and strawberry scone for me, and chocolate chip scone for Ed. I had suggested a quick stop at Pierre La Fond just for coffee. Ed suggested Jeannine's. He said, Let's get a pastry. As long as we're gonna do it, let's do it right." The tone for the road trip is set!
Day 1 - 47 miles just north of Camarillo, near Seacliff, the hills alongside highway 1 are alive with mustard plants. It's a gorgeous, happy sight after our spring rains. No worries. I'm not blogging and driving. The birthday boy from Kentucky is driving.