Summer 1997 - Yukon to California
Journals - 9 September 1997
Day 61
9 September 1997 (sunny; mileage = 12; San Simeon State Park) -- A - We
had planned to get to the Hearst Castle by 8:00 to look around the visitor
center and be ready for the 8:20 tour, but we were a little late leaving
the camp. Then Dennis stopped us as we went by their motel, but that didn't
take any extra time, because the chain jumped off Chris' back wheel just at
that moment. Dennis said they were almost ready and were coming to the
early tour also. We barely made it, though, and they did not make the early
one. They had 4 different tours to choose from and for each one, you had to
take a bus ride the 5 miles up to the castle and back to the visitor center
at the end. They were $14 each tour per person and we did 3 of them, plus
an IWERKS movie. The tours were guided and sometimes Chris had difficulty
getting all the photos he wanted. They were careful you didn't stray from
the group. The collection of artwork was wonderful, but it was not
presented scientifically. It was presented as a rich dude's house (ooh,
ahh). We spent close to 6 hours walking around on the tours and riding the
bus and about hour with the movie. We did not see D&N while we were there
and they had left by the time we left. Chris noticed "138" written with
pebbles and guessed that to be their room number. It was and they were on
the beach. We found them and decided they would make some phone calls to
check on rental cars while Chris and I ate Mexican dinner. They had a later
"anniversary" dinner planned. Chris wasn't interested in riding in the car,
so I suggested we both ride back in 2 days. I thought he had agreed, but he
changed his mind and I was delegated to riding with D&N. We went back to
our tent and he decided what to take with him. I would take the rest. There
was a different guy camped near us (and no H/Bers) and it seemed he had a
motorcycle in his tent!
![[Bike]](./only2500b.gif)
