It was 12 months ago that I was fortunate enough to be here with Aussie mates . I can remember clearly telling Ash that aquariums are just the same anywhere you go . “Fuck the Monterey Aquarium Ash , we haven’t got time .” I said . We didn’t go to the aquarium. I’m still happy that we didn’t ,but I regret that we didn’t drive up and check it out . It’s on this side of town that Montereys true beauty is on show . It’s a pity the boys didn’t see it , it was less than a kilometre from where we were . Big old houses ,big old pine trees , rocky coves ,clean , well kept foreshore and parks . There’s a real taste of the Royal Hotel , Beach oval , Fishies beach ,Schnapper Point . That lovely Mornington foreshore that you know , throw in Sorrento and Flinders too , now you know what I’m looking at . We only briefly stopped up here ,but we were glad we did . It’s old world beautiful meets yellow sandy coves , rugged little points , cold ocean air and a feeling that this just feels a little like home ….just a little .All I needed was a pub with a balcony and a cold beer and I could swear that I was at the Royal or the Kirks .
Pebble Beach………. Oh my god , can there be a place made out of a post card , surely this is it . This wasn’t part of the itinerary . When I picked up the brochure for Pebble Beach I thought I was looking at an advertisement for one of the worlds most famous golf courses . This part was true but there’s also a tourist drive that you could do . I’m not a golfer , never have been ,but I’m a sports junkie and I know Pebble Beach golf course would be awesome to see . I had a little guilt when I saw the tourist drive circuit . “Shit it’d be nice to say I’ve seen Pebble Beach .” Hmmm , can I drag the family along just so I can see a golf course ? Ken Oath I can
The 17 mile drive . If you ever do Big Sur ,it’s imperative that you do this tourist drive around Pebble Beach before you set off . I promise , you won’t regret it . Once again , this time last year the Aussie boys couldn’t squeeze it in .Shit , this was the one that got away .
Pebble Beach is a private estate with a public golf course . There’s a little knob of land south of Monterey and north of Carmel that is one of the most prestigious parcels of land in the United States . The golf course is surrounded by big arse mansions , old world money and some of the prettiest coastline that your ever likely to see . We pay at the guard house (think it was $10 ), drive down a small narrow road crowded in trees . Once passing through the woods we enter a virtual post card .
I must state my obvious bias to coastal beauty . I’m happy anywhere in nature but none more so than the ocean . The coastal terrain along Pebble Beach would have to be as picturesque as I’ve ever seen . No bullshit , this is the prettiest most gorgeous coastline that I’ve ever seen ,and I’ve been all over Australia and a lot of the Pacific . There’s been other places that I rate just as highly but for sheer elegance Pebble Beach is without peer .
You can’t help but want to take a thousand photos when you take this drive . Honestly ,you pinch yourself just to make sure this is real . It’s a little like Wilsons Promontory with the most manicured golf course hugging the coast . Every corner has another money shot .
An hour was all we had , but 168 photos later I think I can say I thought this place was pretty special. I just wish I had some Aussie friends and yes Tim , Al and Ash ,it would’ve been great if we stopped here too . I am very thankful and lucky that I can say I’ve been to this little diamond on the west coast of the US .
The last stop on our little excursion was Carmel . It’s a joint that I now laugh that I’ve seen . My mums name is Carmel . I’ve known this place exists since my late teens . I’d seen travel shows mention this place , they always said it was beautiful. It would’ve been great to be here with mum ,but at least I can tell her that her namesake more than lived up to expectations.When Clint Eastwood became its major it said enough . Shit this place must be good if ‘Dirty Harry Callaghan ‘ decides this is his joint to settle down in . I had it pictured as a quaint little town , with green lawns , picket fences , brick bordered flower beds and little old cafes baking scones to go with Devonshire tea . I’m not sure why I saw it this way but that’s the picture I had . Carmel is nothing like that .
Carmel is beautiful . A different beautiful than I had imagined .Its not quaint , it’s not old , it’s not dated , it’s not what I thought I’d see ,and I’m happy that Carmel doesn’t resemble they way I pictured it . It’s much better . I always try and compare a place I see with a place I know in Australia , just to paint a clearer picture for friends at home . I was racking my brain to find something that reminded me of Carmel . Somers has similarities with its beachside escape , expensive property , green natural environment and just a little out of the way . But no . Carmel makes Somers look like Morningtons Tanti Park . Maybe that’s harsh , probably too harsh but a place like Carmel would have most places covered . Soon as you leave the already stunning Pebble Beach you enter a town buried in trees , hugging a protected unspoilt bay , with white sand , large boulders and that special scent of natural ,,,, wealth! This joint is dripping with coin , but not garish wealth …… just people with money who know they’ve found the best little place to build there 2 million dollar plus weekender . You just want to hang here .You want to sit on the sidewalk seating , dining alfresco, drinking wine , beer , cocktails . There’s people to watch , ti- tree , pine eucalyptus and ocean scents . Theres alleyways and backyard restaurants. There’s a couple that looked like they’d been converted from old Californian bungalows into hip eateries . Unfortunately with the COVID 19 restrictions many of these places were closed .There’s all that money stuff too , like art galleries , wine bars ,funky shops with precious sales staff , but you don’t care when your a tourist , especially if you carry an Australian accent . We eventually eat Italian at a cool little alleyway restaurant. The food was excellent . As we cruised home to our hotel I fantasised about renting a house here for a week with another family , but then reality sunk in . Shit we’d need to stuff 3 or 4 families in to afford a house down here . If Pebble Beach is the jewel in the crown of the West Coast ,Carmel may just be wearing that crown .
Well diggidy dogs , that was a fun trip and one that I’d love to do again with family and friends . This part of the world is pretty cool and pretty as a picture . Chow dawgs .
aussiehowieinla 