Henry decided he wanted a day to himself so Kim and I set off on a "Date Day."

Hand in hand we headed south on the US 101, the Pacific Coast Highway, towards the Monterey peninsula and Pebble Beach to drive the winding 17-Mile drive, a private road tracing the rugged Pacific coastline, a microcosm of the region's natural beauty.

We stopped at a roadside fruit stall on the way, somewhere near Moss Landing, for a quick snack of peaches and cherries that were deliciously sweet and juicy. We also picked up some local sage and wildflowers raw honey and some huge avocados, jalapenos, ripe tomatoes and a big bunch of cilantro to make a salsa for a light dinner. As I write this now, I can tell you that the honey with whiskey and hot water is THE BEST thing I have drunk since beginning the trip! Sooooo gooooood! I digress. Back to the 17-Mile Drive...

We paid a small fee to enter the guarded entrance and set off towards the beach. It was an overcast day and it began to drizzle. This was such a welcome change after weeks and weeks of sunshine and beating hot days that we welcomed the weather by opening the truck windows and weaving our hands through the rain. We reached the beach and it was cool and walkable, so with hoods up, we slowly combed the shoreline. Pelicans sitting on top of the seaweed-bedraggled craggy rocks jutting out of the blue-green ocean, the fine sandy beaches rimmed with smooth grey pebbles and driftwood that seemed to be artistically placed for the most pleasing effect, waves gently breaking in a serene rhythm, created a landscape worthy of an artist's dream. It felt surprisingly wild and yet cultivated at the same time. ​

We made some iconic stops along the route. The Lone Cypress, a withered tree clinging for dear life to a granite outcrop rising from the ocean, has become a symbol for strength and resilience, especially for golfers who live and play in the Pebble Beach area. The dignified solitude of the brave little tree, all alone, withstanding the weather and erosion was heartwarming. You couldn't help but root for the little fellow.

We ventured down to Cannery Row, of John Steinbeck fame, in Monterey to seek out the world famous Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Henry and I love aquariums and as a keen fisherman, Kim is always happy to learn more about fish varieties and the ever changing environment they need to survive and flourish.

Monterey Bay Aquarium is the very best aquarium we have ever visited.

Perched on the picturesque shores of California's Monterey Bay, it is a global leader in ocean conservation. It even featured in the movie "Finding Dory" where it was depicted as the Monterey Marine Life Institute. 

Since opening in 1984, it has established itself as a well respected institution, a beacon of marine education and research that captivates visitors and fosters a deep sense of connection with marine plants and animals in a modern, spacious, spectacularly beautiful facility that feels like a world class art exhibition.

In particular, the ethereal boneless beauty of the varieties of jelly fish; the Moon jellies with silvery pulsating bodies, the rich orange Pacific Sea Nettle jellies with impossibly long ribbons and locks floating elegantly behind and underneath them, casting secret spells, the illumined teeny tiny Bell jellies like little Edison light bulbs. The jellies become startling and utterly mesmerizing against the Monterey Blue background canvases in rounded tanks that make you feel as though you are peering through the windows of a submarine while it is trolling the depths of the ocean. During the Covid lockdown, Kim and I would pull up the live feed from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Jelly Web Cam on the telly as we found it to be soul soothing. You can check it out here.

Of course we found Nemo and Dory. We loved the bobbing penguins, the antics of the puffins and the adorable sea otters that we could see inside the Aquarium and also right outside in the Bay. The fairy tale kelp forest exhibit, colorful coral reefs and the variety of fish from enormous sharks and rays to the almost invisible plankton were all captivating in the way they emphatically declared the vibrancy of marine life. My favorite of the day was the most magnificent giant octopus who seemed to be feeling his way towards our hearts. Wow!

The Monterey Bay Aquarium once again inspired me to be a champion of the ocean and to renew our family efforts to reduce plastic and pollution to protect the wonders of the worlds oceans.

Our visit to Santa Cruz serendipitously coincided with the Monterey Car Show, about 40 minutes south of our campsite. 

Henry googled the hotspots for the show, honed in on the Porsche exhibit, and off we went excitedly spotting Ferraris, Lambos and McClarens screaming past us on the pacific Coast Highway. I am not a huge car fan like Henry, but I do appreciate beautiful things. Those Porsches were timeless beauties; chic, classy, perfectly formed and meticulously maintained. 

We stopped at Moss Landing on the way home for yet more clam chowder in yet another sourdough bread bowl after getting stuck in some crazy traffic and nearly reversing into a Ferrari!

What a fantastic day out!