Lunch in Monterey

I don’t have a lot of time to write tonight as we’re getting ready to leave tomorrow for the 2013 Las Vegas Women’s Hockey Classic tournament.  I can’t believe it’s been four years since I’ve played in that tourney! Anyway, I did a long ride to lunch in Monterey today, so here are some photos from that ride.

Highway 17 reminds me of portions of British Columbia:

The Ninjette rolled over 19,000 miles on a boring section of Highway 1:

Pre-artichokes along Highway 1 near Moss Landing:

I love the Thistle Hut!  I used to stop here all the time when heading south down the coast, so it was a bit of a personal victory to visit once again.

More pre-artichokes:

There are finally ocean views as you near Monterey:

I stopped for lunch at Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey.  I can’t recall if I’ve ever been there before.  I wasn’t really impressed, to be honest…not as touristy as the Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, but it’s generally overpriced pretentious food.

Speaking of pretentious, the restaurant I ate at had this on three different signs and on the menu:

I thought this was incredibly snotty for a tourist seafood restaurant in the tourist district of a tourist city. Also, their piped-in music had a glitch and audibly skipped/paused every 10 seconds or so, which I think was waaaay more annoying/distracting than a child.  But, whatever.

The food was pretty tasty though.  Very rich; I couldn’t finish everything.

After lunch, I headed east on Highway 68 to Salinas.

I found a surprise new-to-me historical marker at the intersection of Natividad and Crazy Horse Canyon Roads.  There aren’t many markers I haven’t been to in the general Bay Area, so to find a new one is a treat.

Crazy Horse Canyon on the way to Highway 101:

Since I had to get home to pack for Vegas, I hopped onto Highway 101 and slabbed it the ~75 miles or so back home.  There were a few little roads that I wished I’d had time to explore, so I’ll have to go back this spring.

My first 200+ mile day since 2009!  Yay! My back did very well — I was sore on the interstate, but I don’t think it was really any more sore than I would have been on the freeway before my injury.  I’m a little more out of shape so my muscles hurt sooner, but that’s about it.  Hooray!