She's been hummin', thumbin', hitchin' and wishin' for a better day

I have a new favourite road, Sorry Silvretta Hochalpenstrasse but you have been out done. The Pacific Coast Highway is truly the road that keeps giving. At the start of the good bit there is a road sign that says "Bends for the next 89 miles". If only I had my bike.... But I am getting ahead of myself.

We left SF yesterday morning and headed for the Pacific Coast Highway. This road runs from SF to LA along, yes the Pacific coast for 400 miles. The first place we stopped was, at first sight, the delightful seaside town of Capitola. Very pretty.

But it turns out that it should really be Fascitola. It is illegal not only to smoke in bars and restaurants (fair enough) but on beaches and parks (okay its the California state law) but in the street. You can get fined for smoking in the bloody street. We had a very nice lunch, made our excuses and left. Last night we stayed in Carmel by the Sea. This is the town that Clint Eastwood used to be mayor of. Its very nice but very twee. It does have one outstanding feature though - the only bar in California in which you can still smoke. We intended to pop in and have one quick drink and then have something to eat. Well that didn't happen. Ended up chatting to the locals and some guy who was there from Rochester, NY on business. Fortunately there was a restaurant round the corner that delivered food to the bar so we ended up eating after all. We politely turned down the offer of a night out at Clint Eastwoods piano bar where the locals were off to (I really am getting too old for this drinking and getting up and doing stuff lark - and have you seen Giselle after a drink or two?).

This morning it was off down the PCH. O.M.G. There cannot be a better road than this in the world. It is just mile after mile of bends, sea views and mountains.

Whilst we were driving along and I was nearly wetting myself with the joy of this road, this came on the radio

Almost too perfect. We both pissed ourselves with laughter at the serendipity. Tonight we are in Lompoc (pronounced Lompoke apparently). And tomorrow we still have the second half of the PCH to drive.