MONTEREY GETAWAY 2025 TRIP REPORT
MONDAY
Although 18 hikers woke to blue skies downtown, when we arrived at Point Lobos State Park, it was foggy and even worse, our standard parking lot at Piney Woods was closed for a special event! Since there was no other parking area with enough space left for all of us, we split up and then managed to find one another on the trail. Soon the sun started to break through, and we saw our first “fogbow,” –yes, it’s actually a thing—a rainbow in the fog. Gradually the sky brightened, and we spotted Sea Lion Rocks, which we think were covered with sea lions (we could hear them anyway). We also met a researcher from the Aquarium who was monitoring a sea otter pup that had been abandoned, then paired with a surrogate sea otter mom and released.
TUESDAY
Two groups of bikers did our 28-mile ride to Pebble Beach, meeting at Bird Rock, which was covered with squawking cormorants. On the way, we met a birder who shared his binoculars to spot two beautiful harlequin ducks and wandering tattler, birds not usually seen in this area. 25 of us converged on the Gallery Café, where to our dismay, we had to split a single mass check between us. Newcomer Marty B came to the rescue, offering to cover the check and collect from everyone. After the ride back to town, 8 pickleball players battled strong winds at Via Pariso Park chasing squirrelly yellow whiffle balls. Luckily everyone emerged without injury. In the evening, most of us strolled through the Farmer’s Market, sampling pluots, tahini spread, and kettle corn and then meeting at the Fieldwork Brewing Company patio with our take-out dinners before trudging back to the Day’s Inn—that was a long day!
WEDNESDAY
12 paddlers kayaked Elkhorn Slough for two hours, while an incoming tide pushed us upstream past snoozing harbor seals and a variety of godwits, willets, pelicans, and curlews. It was a beautiful, windless morning. We saw over a dozen sea otters, and one hungry fellow near our takeout floated on his back while munching a crab, ignoring us as we passed close by. For lunch we acted like otters at the famous Phil’s Fish Market, devouring generous portions of fish and chips, cioppino, halibut, and seafood pasta with Phil’s signature Texas toast and salad.
Meanwhile, Nancy L, Nancy C, Ginny and Jen rode the Dunes Trail north towards Marina between the ocean and freeway. Unfortunately, Ginny misplaced her gloves and Jen dove into a small sand hole while navigating over a median. Jen rode back sore but strong, and Ginny found her gloves later. Overall, the ocean views, the calm weather, and companionship were delightful. In the afternoon, a dozen players enjoyed a competitive bocce game between red and blue teams. The players first met in the motel parking lot with backpacks to help carry the 8 heavy balls (and the target “pelino”) before walking to the courts between Old Town Monterey and Fisherman’s Wharf. The game was close; not much quibbling over the rules, much cheering and surprisingly excellent results with the “seeing eye/magnetic” balls and dismaying throws when the obstinate balls were used. A fun time was had by all. The Blue Team won, 13 to 11.
That evening, Trisha, Wendy, and Ginny went to see the bagpiper play at the Links at Spanish Bay with its spectacular coastal views. (A Links is a golf course along the coast—"links” is actually Scottish for “sand dunes”). Ginny reported that they met a Heavenly ski instructor and also three members of the rock band Hip Service that often plays in the Sacramento area—small world!
THURSDAY
Many of us rode the Monterey Bike Trail one last time to either Bird Rock or Asilomar, where we enjoyed the sunshine with a final cappuccino and pastry at Phoebe’s Café before checking out and heading back home.
Donelle, Rowland, and Nancy at the Gallery Café overlooking the Pebble Beach golf course.
Thanks to Marty and RoxAnn for photos and to Nancy L and Jen for their help.
Wendy reports that she has attended the Monterey trip every year since 2004 (with two years off for knee replacements). Has anyone beat her record?
Note: The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary was featured as an entire episode in Netflix’s 2022 “Our Great National Parks,” narrated by former president Barack Obama. It includes wonderful video of the local wildlife, including sea lions, elephant seals, whales, orcas, and monarch butterflies.
Mark your calendars: next year’s Monterey Getaway will be October 4 – 8, 2026.
Report by Tom M.
Members see more photos in the Album Biking.Monterey.2025