Monterey bay is a beautiful part of California. The drive through Big Sur down into Carmel-by-sea is one of the most perfect places I've ever been to.
One of the best things about driving through France is going off toll and just cruising through the immense countryside and though villages and towns. It's such a beautiful country. Saves a **** load of money too.
Lol yeah I remember Solvang, strange place. I've been lucky enough to explore most of that west coast all the way down from Central Mexico right up to Vancouver in Canada, but I've not done the bit between Portland and Seattle so that will be new. And yeah we're in an RV, **** off big one too 35ft, so it's going to be slow going. Last time I was driving one of those out there I was in Sequoia national park on the mountain roads getting 9mpg out of it. Don't forget to fill up lol
I did San Fran to San Diego, up in SF hired some house in the red woods, middle of no where, then drove the coast down to San Diego stayed in some guest house place overlooking the beach and seeing all the surfers turn up, never forget that. We did stop in Monterey to go and see the Aquarium and stuff. Never been as far as Mexico (except the border) and didn't cross into Canada when up North.
Mexico is cool. Vibrant culture and a real feast for the senses. It's the sort of place you need to be on your toes because it can be sketchy. I spent my time there hanging out with a people smuggler who was on the run from the Feds in Texas lol. My travel companion was ****ting himself that we were going end up having our organs sold on the black market
I saw enough Mexicans in San Diego with their battered up cars Visited the zoo while down there, I wasn't overly impressed considering it was supposed to be one of the top rated zoo's in the world at the time. I thought it was outdated and the areas the animals were poor enclosures. I would hope by now it's been updated considerably.
Lots do, don't get it myself despite liking that era. Ham on Rye and Wait Until Spring Bandini are much better expressions of the time and place (I think of course because I wasn't there).
Mallorca was the final straw for us, from getting up to go to the airport to actual arrival at the hotel took 12 hours. What's that about?
We can be at the first hotel in Northern France in about 7 hours chilling with some nice Wine and there's much less ****ing about.
I think we'll be doing France again for 5 weeks in the summer,not been since 2019, used to go most summers. So much better sailing than cramped up on a plane.
Yeah it doesn't make a lot of difference whether you're going short haul or long haul. The airport security and waiting around takes the same amount of time. Ball ache from down here as I usually have to get a flight from Newquay to Gatwick and then a connection, so it's two lots of security and boarding etc. That said, my bro has booked into BA Business class for the flight to SF in Sept, so we get to chill in the Business lounge at Heathrow and get food and drinks brought to us
