Well, back now from California and I will say it was the best vacation I've had in a long time. The opportunity to travel to a place where I had once lived, to see what has changed and what has stayed the same, was amazing, so much fun, and very relaxing.
I'll split this blog entry in to two parts, first the vacation part, then the destination run part.
For the vacation, I was able to head out west on the 12th. I got through the flights just fine, but I will give some credit to Meredith and the rest of the flight crew from Southwest who handled the flight from Chicago to Los Angeles. They had to deal with several rude passengers, most of whom couldn't understand the basic instructions they'd been given time and time again. The fact that most of the rules enforced by flight crews are not rules they just make up on the fly, seems to be lost on a lot of people, or at least the people on that flight. But I got in to San Francisco fine, got my bags and got the rental car just fine. I had to laugh at them offering "50% off" an upgrade, then after I turned it down ended up getting a free upgrade because they were out of the size car I had originally reserved.
I got down to Monterey without too much hassle, although one of the roads my Garmin had me travelling was filled with a lot of twists, turns, hills, hairpin turns and drivers who were much more comfortable driving those roads than this half blind, out of state driver in the dark was. But I made it ok, got in to my hotel and settled for the evening.
My first day I spent some time just looking around the Fisherman's Wharf/Cannery Row area of Monterey. When I was stationed there back in the mid-80's, I would spend a lot of my free time in this area. It was fun going back to Fisherman's Wharf. So much of it was just how I remembered it. Tourist shops selling trinkets, candy stores and some restaurants. At the end of the wharf were the sea lions staking out their spots to lay around all day.
Cannery Row has changed some, new parking garages where parking lots used to exist, new shops in the buildings and a few new buildings where none used to exist. The biggest change to the area for me though, was the recreation path that runs from Fisherman's Wharf to Cannery Row, and on down the coast through Pacific Grove.
I also took the time on Thursday to go get a roast beef sandwich from Compagno's Deli. It sits just a couple of blocks from the Defense Language Institute. When I was stationed there I would walk to Compagno's every Monday during football season, get a roast beef on french flat bread with mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomato and pickle. I would take that back to the barraks and watch Monday Night Football. So, there was no way I was going to go to Monterey and not get one of those sandwiches. It was every bit as good as I remember it being!!
On Friday I had the opportunity to get a tour of the Defense Language Institute. It was great being back on the facility again. I went in to the building where I used to spend my days in class, drove by my old barracks and also saw some of the newer buildings that have gone up over the last 30 years. I met the head of the German Dept., who informed me that my instructor from 30 years ago had just retired the previous year and was still living in the same place he lived back then. I thought several times about looking him up, but decided he probably wouldn't remember one of the thousands of students he's had over the years, so I never made the call.
On Saturday I went on a whale watching trip and saw some amazing sites. For me that was definitely a "bucket list" moment. I was able to get some great video and pictures.
I spent most of my time in Monterey just travelling up and down the coast line and admiring the beauty of the area. It really was a beautiful trip!
As for the Big Sur Half Marathon held on the Sunday of the trip.
For my running friends, if you're not aware, the Big Sur Half Marathon is not part of the Big Sur Marathon. Although both events are put on by the same organization, they are two completely separate events, in different places, at different times of the year.
The Big Sur Half Marathon starts and ends near the Fisherman's Wharf area of Monterey. It is, without a doubt, the most beautiful course I've run for any event. After circling through downtown Monterey, the course head south through the Cannery Row area and in to Pacific Grove, then turns and comes back up the coast line.
The entertainment along the course is great, with everything from bands, to cheerleaders to kodo drummers. The course was well manned and well maintained throughout and the entire race experience was very well organized.
Challenges on the course....well it was, what I would describe as a "rolling course". A lot of hills, but no hills that were too terrible to deal with. There were a couple of steep hills, but those were short lived. I would say to just make sure you do some hill work if you want to run this event, but it is nothing like the hills in Nashville or Lexington. The only other challenge would be the wind. Running along the coast, there did seem to be a wind significant enough to tire out runners who tried to hard to fight against it or weren't prepared for it. But the beauty of the course outweighed any challenges. I had an amazing week that lived up to my expectations.
I'll split this blog entry in to two parts, first the vacation part, then the destination run part.
For the vacation, I was able to head out west on the 12th. I got through the flights just fine, but I will give some credit to Meredith and the rest of the flight crew from Southwest who handled the flight from Chicago to Los Angeles. They had to deal with several rude passengers, most of whom couldn't understand the basic instructions they'd been given time and time again. The fact that most of the rules enforced by flight crews are not rules they just make up on the fly, seems to be lost on a lot of people, or at least the people on that flight. But I got in to San Francisco fine, got my bags and got the rental car just fine. I had to laugh at them offering "50% off" an upgrade, then after I turned it down ended up getting a free upgrade because they were out of the size car I had originally reserved.
I got down to Monterey without too much hassle, although one of the roads my Garmin had me travelling was filled with a lot of twists, turns, hills, hairpin turns and drivers who were much more comfortable driving those roads than this half blind, out of state driver in the dark was. But I made it ok, got in to my hotel and settled for the evening.
My first day I spent some time just looking around the Fisherman's Wharf/Cannery Row area of Monterey. When I was stationed there back in the mid-80's, I would spend a lot of my free time in this area. It was fun going back to Fisherman's Wharf. So much of it was just how I remembered it. Tourist shops selling trinkets, candy stores and some restaurants. At the end of the wharf were the sea lions staking out their spots to lay around all day.
Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey
Harbor Seals taking in some sun in Monterey
This building is how I originally found Cannery Row back in 1985. Today it's a movie theater, but back then it had a huge carousel inside and was filled with shops and restaurants.
On Friday I had the opportunity to get a tour of the Defense Language Institute. It was great being back on the facility again. I went in to the building where I used to spend my days in class, drove by my old barracks and also saw some of the newer buildings that have gone up over the last 30 years. I met the head of the German Dept., who informed me that my instructor from 30 years ago had just retired the previous year and was still living in the same place he lived back then. I thought several times about looking him up, but decided he probably wouldn't remember one of the thousands of students he's had over the years, so I never made the call.
Three sections of the Berlin Wall now reside at the Defense Language Institute-Foreign Language Center at The Presidio of Monterey, CA
This was the classroom I spent 8 months in learning to speak German. The building is now home to the Arabic Languages and this room is now an office.
Dolphins following along side as we headed out for some whale watching
Video of sea lions and hump back whales feeding
Part of the rocky Pacific coastline in Carmel, CA
Took a drive down the Pacific Coast Highway from Monterey to Big Sur on Sunday
This roadway is part of the Big Sur Marathon course, held in April
Enjoying the scenery along 17 Mile Drive
Enjoying the scenery along 17 Mile Drive
For my running friends, if you're not aware, the Big Sur Half Marathon is not part of the Big Sur Marathon. Although both events are put on by the same organization, they are two completely separate events, in different places, at different times of the year.
The Big Sur Half Marathon starts and ends near the Fisherman's Wharf area of Monterey. It is, without a doubt, the most beautiful course I've run for any event. After circling through downtown Monterey, the course head south through the Cannery Row area and in to Pacific Grove, then turns and comes back up the coast line.
The entertainment along the course is great, with everything from bands, to cheerleaders to kodo drummers. The course was well manned and well maintained throughout and the entire race experience was very well organized.
Challenges on the course....well it was, what I would describe as a "rolling course". A lot of hills, but no hills that were too terrible to deal with. There were a couple of steep hills, but those were short lived. I would say to just make sure you do some hill work if you want to run this event, but it is nothing like the hills in Nashville or Lexington. The only other challenge would be the wind. Running along the coast, there did seem to be a wind significant enough to tire out runners who tried to hard to fight against it or weren't prepared for it. But the beauty of the course outweighed any challenges. I had an amazing week that lived up to my expectations.
