2014 Deb's WEST COAST Drive 7 - The Way Home to HMB

Today's stats:

- Departure time 10am

- Temp in Chico 82 degrees

- Miles driven 216

- Driving time 4.5 hours

- Temp in El Granada CA 70 degrees

- HMB airport altitude 66 feet above sea level (sloping down to sea level)

- HMB attitude...laid back, beachy, refreshing, natural 

Today's haps:

Not many photos today because Mike made me promise not to take any photos while driving. So I hope you can picture things in your mind, if I do a decent job of writing.

Last night we had discussed the horrible drive, especially on a Sunday afternoon, from Chico over the Bay Bridge through San Francisco down Devil's Slide to El Granada (just a few miles north of Half Moon Bay (HMB). Jon turned me on to a route through Hayward, crossing the San Mateo Bridge instead. It was a bit longer, but much less stressful traffic-wise.

Once toast and coffee were downed and good-byes were done, I headed for home (at least the place we called home for 20+ years). The first miles were on a 2-lane blacktop, our fave kind of driving. I passed grape arbors, fruit and nut orchards, animal farms, and green trees growing in golden fields along the way.

Today I finally found a radio station with my kind of music--KUBA out of Yuba City CA--playing classic rock like Four Seasons, Neil Young, Rod Stewart, Rolling Stones, Rev Al Green, Doobie Brothers, Eagles, Doors, Men at Work, Eurythmics, etc. I cranked it up and barreled onto the first of the series of freeways I would drive today. I was feeling like a Honky Tonk Woman.

Actually, I just tuned in on my computer to KUBA and am rockin' it out as I write this. "Layla" was the first tun playing. 

Again, passing exits for old hangouts Mike and I enjoyed--Clear Lake, Granzella's Olive Store (before it was chic) and Cafe, wine country, Nut Tree in Vacaville, Berkeley, the Bay Bridge.

On this journey I would not cross the bay at the Bay Bridge though. Instead I maneuvered my way from freeway to freeway to the more southern San Mateo Bridge. The toll was now $5 for a car. The temp was now 70 degrees. The fog was present but light. The aroma of the salty sea air was making me swoon with pleasure. A few sailboats were coordinating with the heavy breeze. My heart rate lowered. I was HAPPY! Couldn't BE more happy, unless Mike was by my side.

The SM bridge is Highway 92 and that goes from Hayward to Highway One, the California Coast Highway. Once I reached Crystal Springs Reservoir, it was a slow back-up of cruisers craving the nature and nurture of the coast side. This was to be expected on a sunny Sunday afternoon and did not disappoint. It gave me more time to rubberneck our old stomping grounds.

I remembered every nuance of the twisty turny 2-laner over the Santa Cruz Mountains. The seven mile drive does not really go over a mountain, as compared to the Sierras. But it high enough to meet the evergreen tree line and rate "beware of falling rock" signs. It was exciting to anticipate what was new around the next curve, but there were not a lot of changes "over the hill."

Things had changed, however, once I hit the flatland at the bottom of the west side of the hill. It had been 11 years since we'd lived here, so many additions had materialized. I was glad to see the Half Moon Bay Nursery was still there.

This is where I learned to love opera. On my many shopping trips there, they always played opera inside the greenhouses and outside in the gardens. In this calm, plant and flower infused atmosphere it seemed natural to listen to opera. Then I bought some opera "mix" tapes for home and I was hooked. To this day I especially enjoy opera when cooking or eating a good meal. I'm always shocked when an Italian restaurant is playing anything besides opera (or Sinatra) for background music.

There were a number of equestrian schools now. The metal sculpture shop selling life-size or bigger-than-life animals (elephant, horse, tigers, deer, eagles, etc) was still there. In addition there was a similar business selling metal sculpture dinosaurs!! The Pumpkin Patch et al was still there, but expanded. (How could they fit even more stuff into that little plot of land?) Even in August there was a crowd of children playing there. The tree-trunk chainsaw wood sculpture place was still there. The Obester Winery was now the Nebbia Winery.

In HMB town, much looked the same. A few more coffee shops. Twice as Nice (at Half the Price) had expanded to most of its little shopping center, except Sam's breakfast joint. A natural grocery store took over the old (what was it?) store. New neighborhoods appeared along Highway One going north to El Granada. Surfer's Beach was teaming with waders, sun-bathers, and surfers wearing wet suits in the chilled water.

I drove by L&R's. No changes there. Windows covered. Wondered if I should stop, but last time we visited they did not return our calls so I was reluctant to bother them. Hoping L is doing well. Thinking of S&L also, but just can't fit everyone in.

Now back up the hill to near the top of El G and into the welcome arms of my good friend, Lisa.