Captain's Log # 61 - Veni, vidi, vic Monterey
The Gift
I went to Monterey (with my 'new' used bicycle) Brian was supposed to come but 'the train left the station on time,' unfortunately, he was not there.
I headed to my entrance appointment for the Aquarium, went to the end of the line and asked the trim, nimble-looking man, "Are you here for 2:30?" He didn't know what I was talking about. He didn't have a ticket. They sell a limited number of tickets online for specific times, I chose 2:30 because there were lots of tickets for sale, meaning fewer people inside. Since they don't sell tickets at the door he began to dejectedly walk across the street, then I remember I have this extra ticket, "Hey, come here, you can have this ticket!" The line started to move fast as they let people in. He insisted on paying me but I didn't have the electronic money-thingy he uses. "You don't have to pay me, it's a gift." By this time we're inside in front of the Hovden Cannery exhibit. He tells me he's a Brazilan army officer, a parachuter, he takes people on jumps by linking together with them, would I like to go skydiving with him? "Nooo, I'd soil my pants. Sometime you'll have to tell me about all your broken bones and torn tendons." He laughed and said he's had quite a few. I told him my father was a parachuter in World War II.
"101st Airborne!?"
"Yes."
"Screaming Eagles!?"
"Yes."
"Did he jump into Normandy!?"
"Yes, and fought in the Battle of the Bulge."
"Those men were heroes! Your father was a hero!"
I said, "You honor me by truly appreciating what my father did, thank you." Without a doubt, I got the greater gift that day.
That's the end of the story. You're going to ask "What happened next?" I'm sorry to say I didn't want to go through the tedious questions over tea in the café, are you married? kids? family? What's it like where you live? Why are you here? What are you doing for dinner? blah, blah, blah. I'm sorry, I really didn't care. The struggle of adjusting schedules, arg! I take after my mother: footloose and fancy-free. Now, had he been from New Zealand or Scotland, someplace known for sheep, I might have acted differently.
The Aquarium
I will never go again. Ever. It was full of screaming, out of control children. I asked a guide, "Is there ever a time when it's not full of kids?" He paused thoughtfully, "No, there's always kids here," and this was with a limited number of tickets sold due to the pandemic winding down. They said they had done a number of things to make it safer, like sanitizing high-touch surfaces. Bull Hooky. Kids had their grubby hands on everything. I'll post a couple videos on my Facebook page and you can hear their din. I figure this was the first opportunity that parents had to get out of the house after being cooped up with their monsters for months. The parents were very interested in the exhibits and tried their best to engage their kids, with limited success. I enjoyed the silvery-schooled sardines; a glimpse of a sunset-colored, undulating jelly; a peek at a gracefully swimming Nautilus and the sand dune birds exhibit. My question is: how much money do I have to donate to get an after-hours, no-kids entrance? The answer: a $500 membership but, hey! They have live cams for free: https://www.
The Bike
I didn't crash, which is a miracle. I hope no one was watching as I struggled to hoist my leg over the saddle while leaning against a car, light post or fence. I parked the car at the hotel and went everywhere on my bike. There aren't any bike paths on the streets of Monterey! The streets are narrow and some badly rutted, life threatening! They do have a well-trafficked bike path on the old railroad right of way along the coast that goes from Lover's Point (originally "Lovers of Jesus Point") all the way to Marina, north of Fort Ord. If you're careful to dodge pedestrians and don't get run over by faster bikers, it's very convenient. Next time I'll get one of those ringy-bells for my handlebars. "Ting, ting, on your left." When I'm walking and hear that behind me I always think: "Which is my left?" My bike is in the shop this weekend getting it's forks replaced with ones with a greater 'rake' which should increase its stability (due to a longer wheelbase.) The current forks are more vertical and if-you-so-much-as-take-your-
Other Activities
I was the only person on the ocean kayaking tour. That was a score! It's worth doing. There's nothing like conquering your fear of death, again. The ocean is very big, cold and wet: not friendly. But it stayed in its place and we paddled along the coast chatting. At the end of the hour and a half my guide told me I could have the kayak for the rest of the day. "What? No way!" I don't want to be out there alone. Maybe next time? Not a chance.
Went on two walking tours. Why did I think walking for 3-1/2 hours in one day would be fun? Biking muscles and walking muscles are entirely different - and opposed to each other! The History of Cannery Row (I was the only guest) and the History of Monterey (5 in our group.) Since I grew up in Monterey in the 60s and 70s, and was a docent at the Mission in Sonoma for 10 years, I've got to be a tour guide's worst nightmare. While they didn't get everything right, they got it close enough (I kept my mouth shut, mostly.) The fellow who did the Monterey tour was very comprehensive, I take my hat off to him. In both cases I saw and learned new things, I guess that's why people travel, no? The Cannery Row guide nearly recruited me as a guide through the International Tour Management Institute. I wonder if she gets a commission?
Otherwise, I ate my way across Monterey. Oh, and painted 3 small watercolors. But I was ready to go home. When I got here I found an invitation for a job interview in early July. Ha!
Many blessings,
Karla, mom, k.j.
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