Afternoon campers from sunny LA.

Since we last spoke we've travelled down the gold coast between San Francisco and LA and today have (emotionally) parted company with our (still nameless) steed for the last month after arriving back in LA yesterday.

Its been a little over a week since our last blog so ill shed some light on the last weeks proceedings...

So, Thursday 26th was our last day in San Francisco and we had the tour of Alcatraz booked for 10:30am. Knowing what we're like with the whole getting up lark we had multiple alarms set for some un-earthly hour (about 7). With 3 and a half hours to spare we managed to check out of the campsite, drive to the train station, locate the train we needed (after 'borrowing' a couple of dollars for parking from a very nice young man) AND find the bus to the pier (yea, check us out!).

All done and everything in order we got there with 10 minutes or so to spare.

Alcatraz, as the guide (Ranger John) explained, is not quite what most people imagine. For example, it was the USA's number one 'Super Max' prison but it didnt quite house the gang lords and serial killers you would think. It was more a place that escape risk inmates from across the country were sent no matter what their original offence.

For example, one inmate was sent to Alcatraz having originally been found guilty of stealing $16 from a post office! Now seriously, that guy must have been gutted!

The tour itself is good, you see the cells that the famous "fake head" escape was made from (as depicted in the Clint Eastwood film 'Escape from Alcatraz') and the grills at the back of the cell are as they were left, having been tunneled out of, which is pretty cool. The cells are absolutely tiny as well, 9 feet in length by 5 feet wide!! Was pretty amazing just being there and thinking what had gone on there around 50 years ago...

The US authorities still do not recognise anyone as having escaped from Alcatraz and believe that the three that got out in 'that' attempt were drowned attempting to cross the bay as their makeshift raft was found floating by the Golden Gate Bridge. The fact is though, noone knows. These people would be in there 80's now and apparently Alcatraz is having a kind of reunion this year including ex-inmates coming and spending the night in their old cells (why??). I wonder if any of these three will show up and set the record straight?? Hmmm...

So after arriving back on Terra Firma we made the pilgrimage back to the steed and headed out of San Francisco on Highway one along the Gold Coast.

The drive is amazing, just snaking along the cliff tops overlooking the pacific coast, you can see instantly why its so famous as one of the worlds great drives.

The night was spent at Half Moon Bay where we pitched camp (right on the beach front) before taking a walk along the beach and watching the sunset. Just for the record, it was absolutely BITTER as well, by the time the sodding sun had actually bothered setting, no word of a lie, my feet were blue (yes, BLUE!). Was nice though (in a sadistic kind of way).

The second the sun had gone down though we were offski, feet planted firmly in front of the heater to begin defrostation...

The night was also memorable for our first (rather forgettable) attempt at a camp fire. It was pretty shocking, consisting of a few meagre twigs that had been abandoned so we'll leave it at that!

Friday 27th we basically carried on along the coast and for half an hour or so and spent the night at another KOA camp ground at Constanoa. This place was actually really nice, the best we had stayed at anyway. It had a full spa and treatment centre as well as giant chess (which i was pretty excited about!).

So having convinced Aimee to play me, she then went and won (but im sure she cheated somehow...).

Having been cheated out of victory at Chess, we took a walk towards the beach and spotted a deers head (yep, you heard right - a HEAD). Dont worry though, put those hankies away, it was still attached to the body and was just poking out of the top of the bushes.

Saturday 28th arrived with the three of us (steed included) cruising towards the Ano Nuevo state reserve which is famous for its resident Elephant Seal colony (which Aimee was rather excited about).

It was good and you got pretty close to the Seals following a guided tour (with Diane - what a gal!) although, there was unfortunately a time limit so we were dragged away after 10 minutes or so as the next tour was arriving! We later found out that we could see the Seals for FREE (we paid $14, gutted) further down the coast but we'll come to that later.

Park departed we headed off Highway one towards Big Basin Redwood state park but had heard that there had been a lot or rain up that way in the previous week, closing down the road to the park at one point so we decided to stay down in the town for the night while we double checked that the steed would make it in one peice. The night was spent at the "River Gore RV Park", which was actually a membership only place but the (very nice) man at the office didnt mind and gave us their best spot right next to the river bank, along with a cable lead so we had 72 channels that night!! Oh yeaaa!! No need to say what we did for the rest of that day (much s***e was indeed watched!)

Sunday 29th we made an executive decision to make our way up the road to Big Basin. It turned out to be ok(ish) but it was one of THE worst roads in the world in an RV the size of ours. Im convinced we both stopped breathing several times during the 11 mile journey as we hogged both (narrow) lanes going round blind corners, along cliff edges etc.

Arrive we did though and spent the night in their camp after walking the "Redwood Trail" through the woods. These kids were pretty tall, not quite the girth of the General though!

Sunday evening was the historic scene of our first genuine camp fire as well, having purchased firewood for $10. I need to pause at this point in reflection of the fact that we actually BOUGHT wood, whilst staying in a camp site surrounded by the stuff! I was a little confused by this but none the less we continued in line with their money grabbing rules (damn them).

So, the fire, it was awesome and many (3) alcoholic beverages were had by its side. We made a sharp retreat after it went out though as it was pitch black outside and Aimee was convinced that there were 'things' out there coming to get us (she was flashing our trusty wind up torch at everything, bless her little heart!).

You all still with me by the way? I know this is a little long but not long to go now i promise (ahem), then you can all go back to your own little lives fulfilled having caught up with ours!

So, Monday 30th. More driving along some amzing coast was completed after arriving at Santa Cruz (amid a hail of beeping, impatient, inconsiderate, miserable a*******S). We were beeped and scowled at more in 30 minurtes in Santa Cruz than possibly the whole of the rest of my life combined. The place itself is quite nice looking but unfortunely seems to be full of numpties with a (major) sense of humour issue so we stayed out of town and away from these sad folk at another beach side camp.

Nothing much else to add here and we pretty much left at first light the next day and continued towards Monterey.

This place was really nice, like a small fishing town with a proper marina along the front next to their own smaller version of San francisco's Fishermans Wharf. We had a little wander along and were tempted by the local "Salt Water Taffy" but ended up settling on a giant peanut better cup!! In case you dont know its like a BIG muffin case filled with a choclate pie containing peanut butter (oh dear god im drooling just thinking about it!)

Again, nothing much else to report so, cup in hand we departed, entering the start of the world famous Big Sur as we moved away from Monterey.

The coast itself is impressive, but the Big Sur drive is even more so. You can see why its so famous, having no doubt been featured in numerous car ads. You could really do with a nice little sports car along here though as its a proper mouth in your hand job round the little cliff edge bends!

Wednesday 1st we carried on an hour or so towards San Simeon and Hearst Castle where we spent most of the afternoon taking the tour.

Without boring you too much, the castle was built by Mr WR Hearst in the early 1900's after originally hiring an architect to build him a "modest house on the hill". Within a month those plans had changed to a mansion and thirty years later it was still not finished (and remains that way today). It is stunning though, if a little odd. Its like a strange cobination of ancient gothic castles and mediterannean villas, with plenty of ancient Roman/Greek/Egyptian artifacts thrown in for good measure! It had a zoo, tennis courts, indoor and outdoor pool (filled with spring water from the mountains) as well as 120 something rooms and a cinema. They even still have wild Zebra roaming the grounds after they escaped in the 60's when the animals were donated to the local Zoo's (the little tykes!).

You could easily spend all day up here looking round but at $20 per tour (theres four) it would be a pricey day!

$40 down we headed out and found the (free) Seal beach and had another, even closer look at the little cutie pies before i got ear ache and dragged Aimee away from her "babies"!

Thursday 2nd was pretty much spent driving as we were aware that we were still a good way from LA with only a couple of days left in the old girl. Ventura was frequented and muchos telly was watched.

Yesterday we arrived in LA, passing through Malibu, including a stroll along the beach and 'spotting' Nicolas Cage as we had read in the guide book that he lived there.

Turns out though that he doesnt live there at all, we made that up in our little minds and it was in fact Tom Hanks that is mentioned in the book (sounds a bit like Nicolas Cage though doesnt it!?). No idea who that was anyway, probably a little perplexed at us two glaring at his poor self!

Malibu passed by before we reached Santa Monica and visited their famous pier. We even treated ourselves to corn dogs before playing super mario in the arcade! Gotta admit their (the dogs) really pretty s***e but all the same its another check in the box of things to do here!

The night was spent on the beach just down the road from Apollo before returning the trusted steed this morning. That all went down pretty well, including 'hopefully' getting away with the $75 fee for our little accident!!

So there you have it, we're back up to date and we're sat at Backpackers Paradise Hostel in LA as we write this. I hope your as satisfied as i am having spent the best part of two hours spewing that onto the screen!

Anyways, love and manhugs to all.

A & M xx