Day 10: Cannery Row

After an early morning run along the beach at Carmel, and enjoying the news of England's cricket win over Australia, (not a single mention on US television of course), we headed into Monterey to explore. As well as the Fishermen's pier, Monterey has a famous attraction in "Cannery Row", this is an area which was formerly devoted to processing sardines, (canning them), on a truly industrial scale in large quay-side factories, the area is now a shopping area with diners, boutiques and galleries.

 Relic of a bygone industry

A traffic picture without a big Harley wouldn't seem right!

The local writer John Steinbeck based his classic book "Cannery Row" on this district, and Bob Dylan refers to it in "Sad eyed lady of the Lowlands", it is the place that made the present town what it is.

Steinbeck and friends...

At the end of Cannerry Row is the Monterey Aquarium, and we were lucky to have 2 guest tickets from our b n b host, (saved us $70!), and it really is a brilliant place. Some of the tanks are massive, we saw sharks, jelly fish, sardines and mackerel, (naturally, in light of the local fishing industry), and much, much more. There was a Ray from the Irish "O'Sunshine" family, (think about it), and even a groper - though he was dealt with by security...

This is actually a shoal of sardines

I've been experimenting with iMovie and Youtube, click on the link to see some fish... https://youtu.be/PwpgXjy_t6w

Jan has been insisting that I treat myself to a proper sea food meal, and this is the place to do it, at the  pier I enjoyed a "Crispy Fishermen's platter", very tasty, except for the calamari which was like vulcanised rubber.

Fishermen's pier - don't touch the calamari!

Fishermen's pier in the background, abundant wildlife in the foreground.

More strolling about and atmosphere soaking ensued before we gate crashed a wedding, the happy couple were tying the knot just across the way from our coffee table, we toasted their future happiness with our small decaf skinny Americanos - no foam, "for Dave!"

Windswept nuptials

We returned to Carmel on a scenic coastal route creatively named "17 mile drive", the route is er.. 17 miles long, and apart from the rotting seal carcass we stumbled upon on one of the small beaches is charming. We passed Pebble Beach Golf club, which I realised is the Pebble Beach golf club - as in the American Masters. It looked very exclusive, I doubt if they'd let an oik  like me within a mile of the clubhouse!

On the beach on the "17 mile drive", the rotting seal has been cropped out!

Home for tea and local wine, we have Apple TV so I want to watch some films - because we can!