Del Mar California

Wednesday May 2, 2018

We left the Pacific Inn about 11 after my masters had breakfast in the hotel. It is right down the hall, very convenient. I have really enjoyed my walks here. There is a great park just across the street. I can walk freely around the park. So nice to have soft, plentiful grass.

We are headed south on the PCH going to Del Mar, the home town of my master's friend Nick. He recommended we go. It is overcast so we will wait to put the top down until our return tomorrow. The Pacific Inn has been kind enough to hold our luggage so we have room in the trunk for the top. In general the PCH is not as I imagined. As we leave Seal Beach, there are oil rigs off and on shore along with what I assume is a refinery. All this right next to the Seal Beach National Wildlife Preserve. It is a dense mix of commercial and residential properties through Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, and Dana Point; all the way to San Clemente. Laguna Beach seemed like a very interesting place to visit. Lots of restaurants, bars, shops, and art galleries. We did get some pictures including a building that looks like a fire watchtower. Wonder what it is? My master thinks it is a house. If he's right that would be a cool place to live. We also took this video driving into Laguna Beach, wheeeee.

From San Clemente to Oceanside, there is nothing but a state park. The map shows that the Old Coast Highway goes next to the coast through San Onofre State Park then intersects with I5. We decide to take it so we can delay getting on the freeway. We are almost all alone and it seems to go forever. My master needs a bathroom and we finally found one that wasn't closed. Whew!  We get almost to where we should be able to get on I5 when the road is closed ahead because the property belongs to Marines. Oops, we have to retrace all the way back through the park. My research revealed the Marines own all this land. That is why there are no houses or buildings of any kind. We caught some glimpses of the ocean from the park road.

We decide to take the freeway all the way to Torrey Pines. My master wants to see this iconic golf course and take pictures. Torrey Pines is very nice, or so my masters tell me as I have to stay in the car again. They showed me some of the pictures they took so I would agree that this is a very special place.

We can't check into the hotel until after 3pm so we head to the Poseidon restaurant for a snack and beverage. There is a beautiful view of the ocean from the bar. Finally we get to Les Artistes Inn. This should be an interesting place. It is a small with only 12 rooms. Each room is different and designed to reflect an artist. We are in the O'Keefe room. The artist is Georgia O'Keefe. She is best known for her larger than life flower paintings. She also loved the southwest, hence the decor. The entire Inn is very unique and the staff are friendly and helpful. Best thing, I have the perfect dog cave on an outside patio which I enjoy with my master.

My masters give me some down time while they head back to the Poseidon for dinner. They had wonderful food. Bob had crab cakes and Karen had the fish special, barramundi. She picked it because she had never tried it. It didn't disappoint. They also split a piece of key lime cheesecake. What do they think, they are on vacation or something? The service was perfect and the sunset view outstanding. Del Mar is indeed a wonderful place, thanks Nick.