GREETINGS FROM DISNEYLAND,
California (CA), USA
Our last driving day today and for at least 1 member of the touring party, today was all about the destination and not the journey – Disneyland !
But as we still had 2 days of our trip to devote to the (so called) “Happiest Place on Earth”, I wasn’t succumbing to the suggestions that the Interstate would be a good option today!
We had lovely fresh fruit, juice and coffee on our balcony for breakfast before we started off from Morro Bay on the last leg of our drive.
Morro Bay CA to Los Angeles CA
I couldn’t resist a last bit of childhood nostalgia – even though we had only just had breakfast and it might have been a bit early for clams at Pismo Beach (another link for the Bugs Bunny fans) – so first stop, off to Pismo Beach.
Last time we were in Pismo Beach it was blowing a gale. Today it was perfect sunshine and you could actually see the end of the pier.
Not to be outdone though, Adrienne had her own plans and Pismo Beach also has outlet shops ! So more goodies for the already bulging bags ! Then it was one last top up of the petrol tank and off to LA.
A lot of our driving was covering territory we did in 2005 but totally opposite weather conditions. In 2005 it was raining and foggy but today sunny and clear – in fact when we later arrived in LA we both commented how less hazy it looked than we remembered from past stops in LA.
Morro Bay CA to Los Angeles CA
The road was again busy and any spots with access to the ocean were packed with people enjoying their Sunday – and it was hot ! The car indicated it was 106 F at one stage and it generally hovered in the high 90’s.
Our one last stop was to visit the Channel Islands National Park visitor centre. The park itself is 11 miles off the coast so that will have to wait for another trip.
The last part of the drive was very busy and in some places the traffic crawled. Adrienne kept updating our route when snarls appeared and at one stage we actually headed off on a freeway back in the direction we had come to link up with another that would give us a quicker trip ! And after one final minor glitch when Google Maps had us off the interstate and in the back streets of some obscure suburb, we arrived at Disneyland about 4pm.
Fittingly after all our National Park stays this trip, we are staying at the Grand Californian Resort at Disney. It is modelled on the grand lodges. Like all things Disney, it likes to keep up the authenticity so in the 100 F degree heat, the air conditioning is frigid in the reception so they can keep the log fire burning !
Our view of California Adventure
After we checked in we just had to drop our rental car down the street and walk back. Our final mileage count was 5,434 miles – so we just outdid ourselves from our 2012 trip across the country !
For dinner we were booked into Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen. We shared a Southern Sampler for starters – shrimp, boudin, calamari – then Adrienne had Pan Fried Catfish Meunière and I had Blackened Swordfish – mmm, mmm, love that Southern cookin’ !
Tomorrow and Tuesday (before our flight) we spend in the parks. Not sure if I’ll do any further posts – I have managed to connect to Adrienne’s iPad sim to get this one done as the “magic of Disney” doesn’t seem to have embraced wifi too well !
See you real soon …
GREETINGS FROM DISNEYLAND,
