Alpine NorCal & Alpine SoCal Rally

Alpines all in a row

From Monday October 31 through Friday November 4th, we were one of 26 coaches at the combined North California (NorCal) and South California (SoCal) Alpine rally. 
The rally was held at the Betabel RV Resort located close to San Juan Bautista. 

Once again, we had a great time and met several new Alpine folks, in particular those from the NorCal group. Our Alpine family keeps on growing.

Our hosts were terrific, and organized just the right mix of dinners, breakfasts, free time, happy hours, and a planned outing. It gave us time to mix, mingle, and also pursue our own interests. 
I don't ever remember laughing so much  - there certainly are a lot of entertaining and amusing folks in the group. 

Our first gathering was on Halloween. Our hosts came in disguise. Perhaps they were trying to trick us? :) But it certainly was a treat to see Mr and Mrs Potato Head and the biker dude and his biker chick again.

Mike and Mikey, Phil and Trudy - thanks for a great and fun rally

Trick-or-treat night is not just for kids and some of us still enjoy dressing up!

just a bunch of retirees having fun on Halloween

Our planned outing was a bus tour of Monterey and Carmel. The tour guide was exceptional, knew the area intimately, and also wrote a book on Carmel, so we learned a lot of interesting facts and information. During the drive-by tour through old town Monterey, we saw the main historical highlights.
Monterey grew from its original founding as a Spanish Catholic settlement, to a fishing industry town that made Cannery Row famous, and then was further influenced with an Asian flavor introduced by Chinese laborers. 

We drove past San Carlos Cathedral, founded by Father Junipero Serra in 1770 as the cornerstone for his mission in Monterey. It remains significant for being the first stone building and California's first cathedral. Although Father Serra moved the mission to a site in Carmel a year later, San Carlos remained as a Royal Chapel for the soldiers guarding the presidio of Monterey. It is the oldest continuously functioning church of worship on one site in California. 

Larkin House is notable because it is the first 2-storey mud adobe brick home. Its style became the prototype for Monterey Colonial architecture.

Larkin House

We also saw a remnant of an adobe wall, the first theater, more homes in period style, and then made our way towards the waterfront where we drove down Cannery Row, immortalized by John Steinbeck in his novel. The last sardine factory closed in 1973, but we saw one remaining abandoned factory.

Monterey waterfront

Cannery Row with its overhead bridges

remnants of a canning factory

part of a mural honoring the Chinese cannery workers who were an integral
part of the industry

From Monterey, the tour continued along the shore, through prime real estate with ocean views and golf courses, starting in Pacific Grove and continuing along 17-mile drive, Cyprus Point, and Pebble Beach. It was a perfect day to enjoy the spectacular scenery and ocean view.








We stopped at the resort to ogle at the fancy hotel and folks who can afford the $500 green fee.

Pebble Beach coastal overlook

We stopped to view The Lone Cyprus, still standing tall and doing well since our last visit to see this iconic tree ten years ago. 

the Lone Cyprus has held on tenaciously on the rocky outcrop for about 250 years,
has been scarred by fire, and is now being held by cables

The Tuck Box, and enchanted and enchanting fairy tale building

In Carmel we took a walking tour with our guide, who seems to know the quaint community like the back of her hand and the people living there too. We wended our way through the pretty streets, secret alleys, and artsy buildings in this quirky one-square-mile village in which there are no street numbers, wearing high heels on the street is prohibited without a permit, and where dogs are welcomed in restaurants and hotels. Its other claim to fame is that Clint Eastwood was the mayor. 

originally City Hall was the All Saints Church

After the tour, Trudy joined the two of us at the beach where we sat and ate our sandwiches as we gazed across the bay. It was a glorious day and after lunch we strolled along the golden sand. No wonder Father Junipero Serra moved his mission from Monterey to Carmel. He certainly knew how to pick prime real estate with a prime beach.

perfect day, perfect beach

All good things come to an end... until the next rally. Adios and safe travels.
We will stay on for a few more days before heading off to our next destination. How wonderful it feels to tarry where and when we choose, without having to go home. 

saying our goodbyes as folks prepare to leave