The work of a feathered genius.....: Why do they call it the sunshine state?

So the morning started like most others this time we were on the road headed for San Francisco. About 30 minutes into the journey the clouds came and so did the rain. Light at first but slowly getting heavier and heavier. We hadn’t planned any stops along this route but I had seen in the guidebook about Hearst Castle, apparently a must see for anyone doing the Pacific Highway, reading the reviews you have to book a couple of weeks in advance and walk up availability was rare, but anyway we came across it and headed up the drive.

Heading into a warm and dry visitor centre we found that 4 tickets were available on a tour that was literally leaving in 2 minutes, we paid and rushed round to the bus. As the bus pulled away a Disney style commentary began about the history of the site and what to see along the way, I’m sure it would have been great if it wasn’t pouring with rain subsequently making visibility terrible. As we unloaded at the Castle we met our guide a very over the top American. We trekked through the pouring down rain (with no coats and me in shorts) to the entrance to the Castle. We went on a 45 minute tour which I found very interesting if not a little odd. Sadly the weather didn’t let up so we opted out of walking around the gardens especially as it was really windy and the rain was horizontal. Safely back on the bus we retreated back to the visitor centre I do think so of their staff had a sense of humor failure (perhaps it was the rain).

Back in the car and about an hour later the rain began to ease up and we stopped for lunch at the Lucia Lodge a beautiful resort on the Pacific highway. A lovely lunch and then back on the road headed for San Fran. We stopped in a number of viewpoints to admire the beautiful scenery, as we pulled into one we noticed a man changing a tyre on his car, of course dad had to investigate. They had been hit by a falling rock punching a hole in their bonnet and giving them a flat tyre! Once we knew they were ok we finished our trip to San Fran, having driven all day I was pleased to see the hotel at Berkley. Too tired for anything really we headed to a local pizza shop for the most amazing and biggest pizza you have ever seen.

That was it really head on pillow gone!