Sealions, steps and steak

Sunday was another big day. It was a pretty big drive up to San Simeon, roughly two and a half hours and it would take us to around the half way point between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

I was more than happy to drive again and Sherry was more than happy for me to drive again due to the seat and hood issue. So we took off driving along the 101, listening to 103.3 the Vibe radio station. Sherry says the station is basically 25% Beyonce and Rhianna. But yeah - i dont mind it considering you get some 50 Cent and Jay Z. California Love seems to be played a fair bit too. Sherry stored some of the songs in Shazam so she could check what they were when we got home.

The GPS took us the quick way - through the mountains and this time we got to stop and get a good view of the lake. It took some pretty slick stunt driving by me though as we saw a sign that said - Vista Point 300 feet - which  is basically 100 metres. But yeah im loving the driving and pulled in nicely. Sherry intially didnt get out to take the photo and I was like 'What you  can't even be bothered getting out of the car here?' haha 'She said 'well it would help if you didnt park in the middle of the road' We got some nice photos and then drove down the carpark area a bit more and we found out it was actually a dam.

Compared to Hoover Dam this was nothing. Still good to see. There were a few flies around here and Sherry cracked up laughign when thinking of people just making random 'shoo' movements. I think the sound effect that accomponied the spasmodic movement was 'Gnyah'.

We then moezied along the highway passing the solvang turn off. Ecentually we rejoined the 101 and headed up towards the towns of Santa Maria, then almost to St. Luios Abismo or Slowtown as its known to Cali residents. We stopped off at another spot to get a few snaps because the fog wall on the beachline was spectacular. Luckily we had left fairly early as it gave us time to make these stops, but after this last stop along the beach we had to get a wriggle on.

I'm still regretting that Raspberry Danish Blueberry Boat' icnident but take heart in my afro American 'Oh..okay'.

After getting off the 101 and passing Murray Rd - we drove along a highway that would take us out along the coast and on to San Simeon and Hearst Castle. We drove past a big university and then a men's colony. We were like 'oooh i wonder what goes on there?' Turns out it was a prison.

We arrived at the Hearst Castle Visitors Centre at around 11.35 - just enough time to get our tickets and have a quick snack I tell you - I was already impressed just by the visitors centre. I ate a roast beef roll while sherry had a slice of pepperoni pizza. We slammed that down and then sat down at Gate 3 waiting for our bus.

This wa a lucky shot.

On the way up we ended up sitting on oppoosite sideas of the bus to get maximum photographic coverage. The bus driver did well to time his speed with the tape playing through the bus. I just remember weird clarinet and violin kind of swing music. I reckon the bus driver would go batty hearing that everyday of the week. I had to be careful taking photos with the iphone because i had to have it out the window of the bus - but then you have to hit the screen to take the photo - and there is no safety strap either.

We were told about how William Hearst bought in all sorts of species - even having his own private zoo. The animals have since been donated to San Diego Zoo and others but there are still some animals around now. We spotted a zebra off to the right of the bus. Well Sherry would have seen it. It wa a windey 6 mile drive up.

In 1865, George Hearst, a wealthy miner, purchased 40,000-acres of ranchland that included the Mexican Ranchos of Piedras Blancas, San Simeon and Santa Rosa. In 1919, his only son, William Randolph Hearst, inherited the land from his mother, Phoebe Apperson Hearst. By then the ranch had grown to encompass 250,000 acres.

The Neptune Pool

The tour was amazing. You hear so much about him and god he was loaded. His castle hear was just his holiday house and its the most amazing house i have ever seen.

Originally known as "Camp Hill," its wilderness offered a place for family members and friends to "rough it" on camping trips. Despite elaborate arrangements with separate sleeping and dining tents, Hearst envisioned more comfortable accommodations. His simple instructions to famed San Francisco architect Julia Morgan in 1919: "Miss Morgan, we are tired of camping out in the open at the ranch in San Simeon and I would like to build a little something"

Apparantly guests you to hide in various sacoficous' around the house and jump out and frighten each other

His money came from owning most of the Californian newspaper scene back in the 50's. The castle came into his ownership when he was in his early 50's and in the next 30 years work was continually done on the property to cater for Hurst's ever changing tastes and appreciation of differing art styles - predominantly Spanish and Italian,.

He had many visitors at his house - inviting them for stay for as long as they wanted. I dont know whether Niles and Maris were inspired by William Hearst's uest rooms for couples, but couples' guests rooms consisted of seperate bedrooms and bathrooms.

He liked small intimate groups of around 20 or so - which made it a mystery as to why he had nearly 40 guest rooms. Many think ito simply store his new art pieces. Most of his guests were in their 20's or 30's and predominantly Hollywood actors. But he also had other well-to-do types there including Howard Hughes 'Way of the Futre. Way of the Future. Way of the Future' too. He even had 2 runways that were about a mile long.

Hearst and Morgan's collaboration was destined to become one of the world's greatest showplaces. As they were planning and constructing his dream home, Hearst renamed the rocky perch from which it rose "La Cuesta Encantada" - The Enchanted Hill. By 1947, Hearst and Morgan had created an estate of 165 rooms and 127 acres of gardens, terraces, pools and walkways.

All guests had an understanding that his mistress was his partner. This was the case for most of the time and when Hearst's wife did come to visit the mistress stayed down in Santa Monica.

God his ranch was just massive. The amount of property he owned. He must have owned nearly all the land within eyesight from the castle, because the runway was down near the coast and he also owned the lighthouse.

This was a favourite rooom of one of the guests saying that when it was cloudy it felt like she was living in the clouds. And when the blinds were shut it was like being inside a jewelery box. This room was excuisite and I could see why it was a favourite of the guests. It was taller than it was wide and octagonal in shape,

I nearly snapped this metal door knob off. I walked through and it fully digged into my side.

A vast majority of the land was donated to the State of California and it is the 3rd most most visited house or castle in the United States.

Apparantly Hearst's mistress was a bit of an alcaholic. he did what he could to help her curb her ways, even firing staff who were caught slipping her that one extra drink to watch her become more entertaining. People were encouraged to come down to the kitchen and eat.

Theree was a massive smoking culture at the time, with guests smoking in the kitchen. Staff were paid $40 a month and were allowed all teh cigarettes they smoke. The pool eventually became theirs to use due to it not being used enough by the guests.

Many considered it an elaborate drowning mechanism, with only Hearst really using the 10 foot deewp main section. The guests often collaborated in he sissy pool which was located underneath the diving platform.

After the tour we caught the bus back down and we couldnt help but laugh and giggle and act like children on the bus while we kept saying 'Way of the Future' hahahaha. TBS very funny. As a memento we got another flattened pemny for our passport.

We then drove to San Simeon pier, which was just opposite the road to Hurst Castle. I was amazed at how many people were there considering I couldnt see any houses around the area. But yeah there were a few kids boogie boarding and swimming, people sunbathing and even a guy in his khaki's dropping a line over the pier. The fog was still lingering around the coastline making for some great photos. The water was so clear as well.

We were told to go up the coast 8 or so miles to check out the elephant sea lions. We didnt think there would be much there because at this time of the year apparantly only the young ones are there. We pulled over and there were heaps of cars. We saw a couple of them - it was kind of hard to tell what they were but i was thrilled to actually see them. Yay! my eyes DO work.

There's one!

We were then told by some fellow tourists to walk down a bit further becasue there were more down sealions there. Holy crap! More alright! There was even a guy from teh parks deparmtent with his photo album telling people about the sea lions. Was cool to hear what he had to say about the Alpha Sea Lions and how he would contract out a beta male to take care of a few of his women. Sherry had a cool run in with a couple of squirrels. One ran right past her foot!

Sherry doesnt like the sealions. Apparantly they remind her of me burping. It was around 3.30 by onw and we thought we should do something else but we didnt want to jsut do food stuff - which is all the book sherry had bought with her said to do. So we had a look through our newly acquired touristsy stuff and could only really find a beach buggy thing. That looked okay but it was getting on in the day and we intend to do something similar to that at Palm Springs, So what did we do? We went to an awesome Steak House.

You could tell it was good because the place was choka block at 4.30. It had a real Yank steakhouse feel to it. Sherry's brother Jeremy would have loved it. Everything comes with your meal - and the endless drink refills. But yeah you order your meal and then you get free crackers and dip, then your salad, then your pickled vegies, then your meal comes with free bread. Then after your massive meal you get free ice-cream and coffee.

We both ordered in record time. i got the pork ribs and Sherry got the 'small' Spencer steak. Turns out her steak was about the size of a small football. and my ribs were the ribs off a Dinosaur. Geez it was good though. The free hot beans it came with went really well on our bake potatoes. The ribs didnt come with BBQ sauce but the place's own special rub which i thought tastedkind of salty. I asked for A1 sauce and god it tasted like crap. You guys can keep your A1 - its more like Z12 sauce. aweful. Put that vinegar taste into your chips please America.

Sherry put in a good effort - polishing off her whole steak. I left some ribs but ate all the potato. We werent sure about dessert but when we found out it came with it we thoguht why not. We asked what flavours they had - vanilla, sometihiing else and SPAMONI. SPAMONI!!!!!

SPAMONI!!!  - awesome ice cream flavour it is. Its chocolate, cherry and pistachio flavours. Ooooh its good. It went down really well and kind of settled the stomach after that massive feast.

We then drove back along the coast and I couldnt help but get the car up to around 90 mph or a bit over 140 at one point jsut to see what it was like to drive as fast as the other road users. People consistently drive around 80 mph or so and you really need to do at least 70mph to feel safe. Just after my 90 nmph squirt we came arounda corner and there was a road patrol which had pulled up 3 cars. Hopefully i was doing 70 mph or so.

We went and put some more juice in the car and once again i turned in the street before the petrol station drawing a squeal from sherry. There is no point even going up the street and then turning in. Why do i do it?? Anyway we had to try and get the tank 5/8 ths full - how annoying.

When we got home i think we just watched the first episode of the new season of Desperate Houeswives. God TV must suck for me if I am actually looking forward to watching shows like Depserate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy. Its Monday arvo here and i've checked the guide. I wont even be able to watch Monday Night Football. Its a sad situation. Anyway - im going to start doing movie reviews. So there.