Driving solo and Monterey Bay Aquarium

Collected the car from the airport, and being benign Australian tourists, behind a group of six obnoxious ( I thought Russian) young tourists who were hiring convertibles to drive to L.A, and wee being quite rude to the poor gentleman behind the counter....., it was suggested that we should have a mid sized car instead, at no extra cost, and given a choice of about thirty cars from the lot.  It turns out that his off sider, an American Indian ( and Indian who had travelled from India where he was born and now lives in the US rather than a 'first nation' American Indian ) was visiting Australia next month, Melbourne actually, and going to the MCG for a game of footy between Hawthorn (probably v Melbourne 16th May).  He doesn't know about footy, but the MCG for a die hard Cricket fan that he was, was like visiting Mecca.

It's him, and the car

The drive back to J&Ds B&B s a tad testy with three tries at getting the freeway entrance, but after that not too scary.... Then had a last breakfast.....

Now Droni and Jim, were not going to let us starve on our journey East....but it was like being bundled off to summer camp...we were spoilt......now we will have to rate the J&Ds B&B very poorly on Trip Advisor, because we don't want anyone else booking a space when we might need this magnificent hospitality and warmth.

About three hours south of SF 

We were following Jim to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, seems the driver lost Jim and followed another vehicle that looked very similar to Jim's.    The mistake was realised when the followed car, parked and a blonde lady got out.......not Jim.....and where was Droni?...?.?  Obviously in the trunk..or maybe the wrong car had been followed.   The later proved to be the case, so we caught up at the entrance.

The big ticket items at this aquarium are the Sea Otters....they are really cute, fluffy and clever, however not clever enough to avoid being used in the human fur trade...to the brink of extinction....clever...they float around on their back with their young on their tummies, ( for six to eight months!!!) and they crack molluscs by putting  rock on their stomach and cracking the offending mollusc against it.....

But they make good coats, very warm.

The let's look like Octopuses display at the octopus display.

The only mention of Australia was the animals that can kill one, blue ringed octopus, box Jelly fish and strombolites.....and the most enormous display of jelly fishes, in schools I suppose.

Really cool jelly fish.

After the acquarium, we said our goodbyes to Jim and Droni, and like stolid adventurers, we headed East....to the Monterey Travel Lodge..... 

The fifth floor ladies toilet at Macys in SF

Cannery Row, chocolate covered candy apples, just because.

The aquarium is in Cannery Row, which was made famous by John Stienbeck who wrote Cannery Row, and a few other books too.  No canneries any more all tourism.

After settling in at the TL Nathalie drove .....yes drove to Monterey, and we went for a walk along the seashore, and Andrew, for the sake of completeness had to wade in the Specific Ocean.  Well specifically the Pacific Ocean....very cold.... Saw a few seals and we think at least one otter ....with its coat on...a really clever one.

Back to TL and made the first solo use of the AeroPress....and the frother.....good coffee...thanks Wei.

Tomorrow to Fresno, and then  ....?