Just a year ago, pre-Covid, I drove down to San Diego for a meeting and on the way home there was an accident on I-5 .  Traffic was diverted off onto CA-101, more commonly referred to as Pacific Coast Highway, or PCH.   I hadn't driven that way for decades and really enjoyed these new vistas.  Lots of palm trees that took me back so many years ago, before the freeway was built and the only route to SDiego was PCH.  As you can see it was a gorgeous day and there was little wind.  I decided I would get off I-5 in the future when I had time and enjoy the views of the Pacific Ocean and all the handsome palm trees.  But, so far, I haven't done it.  

These pictures were north of the highway blockage, so there weren't many cars.  I was just enjoying the drive so much I just kept going north, but eventually drove back to I-5 when the PCH traffic started getting heavy.   Lovely day. 

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Returning from San Diego 10-21-19

Driving down to San Diego on Saturday was a struggle (3 hours), but driving back (also 3 hours) wasn't half bad.  There was an accident on I-5 somewhere around Leucadia and the GPS that I use (WAZE) routed me off the Interstate onto the old Pacific Coast Highway which runs right along the shore and through several small beach towns.  It was very interesting, I doubt that I have driven that stretch of road for over 35 years, and in some ways it is the same.  But in other ways, like wider roadways and multiple traffic signals and more condos, it is the same after all these years.  I think I will spend an extra day on a San Diego trip and take PCH as far as I can.  

Here are some pictures along the way and you can see the ocean.   It is, of course, off to the left. 

There were palm trees,

and bicyclists,

and some two-lane stretches.

Here there were new condos/apts on the inland side and it seemed the highway was lower than the ocean here, hence the high berm. 

This bunch of houses with their lush palm plantings have been here for many years. 

There are some serious light posts.  See the ocean on the horizon.

And more ocean.  It is a long way to another trace of land.

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