Lovely meal last night and better still the promise from Sue that we were due to see The Rock today.

Imagine the disappointment when she meant this rock.

It was still impressive.  Morro Rock,  a volcanic plug with a history going back 23 million years. It has a small causeway to Morro Bay but although it may be visited it is illegal to climb it.

You can probably see from the sky it was a cloudy, foggy and chilly day. The swimsuits we had expectantly brought are now packed in mothballs as the forecast for the next few days is wet!   So plans for the Botanical Gardens were abandoned – sorry Janice.

Hearst Castle was still on the agenda though.

It can be viewed way way up the mountain but you can guess which our view was.  Built 1600′ above the Pacific Ocean it’s phenomenal.    Now, as a museum, but when William Randolph Hearst was home it attracted the likes of Bing Crosby, Clark Gable, Carol Lombard, Charlie Chaplin, P.G. Woodhouse and even Winston Churchill.  Hollywood directors, movie makers and celebrities keen to be lauded in any of the Hearst publications were keen to visit.   We had driven off the freeway and parked at the Visitor’s Centre and then took a bus for a 20 minute super twisty ride that literally snaked up and up into the clouds to the house.

Hearst knew the area as a child as his wealthy father had a ranch covering thousands of acres.  Hearst made his millions as a  newspaper magnate and what he earned he spent.  Hearst had a dream of a house at the top of the hill and he knew how he wanted to furnish it.  He didn’t want copies of 500 year old tapestries or marble statues, he wanted the real things  – and he bought them and shipped them to Hearst Castle.  It’s full of too many antiques to begin to list here. Building began in 1919 and took 28 years working closely with the celebrated architect Julia Morgan. It’s worth a look up as it’s difficult to do it justice.

Nearly forgot, he also had an exotic zoo in the grounds with giraffes, polar bears and zebras to name just a few. There are 4 different tours to visit over 165 rooms in the main house, 3 guest cottages and 127 acres of gardens, terraces and fountains. It’s been open for tours since 1958 attracting 750,000 visitors every year – William Hearst would be delighted!!!

The weather improved a little and on the way back to SLO we pulled off to Harmony as Sheila wanted a photo of the population stat.

You have to have Harmony with so few people.

We should mention that although we decide where to go and what to see everyday our whole Roadtrip has been superbly put together by Rachel at Designer Travel and Nicola and Charlotte at Inspiring Travel.   Today they sent some Sparkling  Rosé Wine and treats to our hotel to compensate for our car troubles.  Amazing.   We’re none of us great drinkers but it would have been rude not to imbibe.  I don’t think it has affected us –

Off for dinner as soon as we get Janice up off the floor.   Sheila is considering setting her alarm for 4.30am to watch the Spurs game but the Rosé may have sabotaged that. 

Santa Barbara tomorrow – last stop for 2 nights but still so much more to see on the way.