Pismo
We arrived in Pismo Beach and quickly set up camp right along a lagoon within walking distance of the Pacific beach. It was wonderful. I personally love the ocean and just feel a sense of charge whenever I am near it.
E and I walked down to the pier nearby and took a few pictures of the sunset, a sea lion, and various other shots. It was a bit chilly, so we did not stay too long. We walked up the boardwalk to a nearby pub called Scotty’s and had a bite to eat and a couple of drinks. A nice end to a long day of driving.
The next morning we took a stroll on the beach where I promptly found a whole sand dollar every two to three feet of walking distance! There must have been several hundred “dollars” worth all over the beach. I picked up several and decided that there were just too many. I put them back down and took a couple of pictures…keeping about five in my front jacket pocket.
We made our way back to the trailer to plan our day. I was leaning over to plug in the computer when I heard ‘crunch’. I only had one dollar left and some ‘change’. Quite upsetting, but I figured I could get more tomorrow.
Lunch in Pismo beach was great at a little place called The Splash Cafe.
Clam chowder is their specialty, and I confess, it was quite good! If you ever find yourself in Pismo, try it!
Later that afternoon, we decided to take a drive around and see the scenery. We soon came upon a nice stretch of beach that looked like a good place to take a romantic walk.
There was even a paved ramp that led down to the shoreline!
Like the Sands through the Hourglass…
I thought that this would be a good place for newlyweds to take a twilight time stroll on the beach…well that is what I thought.
I drove down the ramp and stopped just short of the sandy beach to make sure that the sand would support Otis (my truck). It seemed fine, so I proceeded. Well, it was MORE than fine…it was powdery fine, and soon Otis decided that this was not a good place to take a romantic walk. In fact he showed me just how quickly newlyweds could get stuck in a rut.
I hopped out and started digging. I used rocks, my hands, plastic lids from some tupperware bins we had, everything. But it was too late; Otis was dug in good.
Nothing I did made it any better.
After a couple of hours, I knew that I was defeated. I was SHORE TIRED…and after working around the rear wheel on the passengers side for the last half hour, I was also quite EXHAUSTED.
Yes, I was SMOKED.
Axing for Help
I noticed a car parked up on the road and decided to go ask if they were local and knew of a freindly tow truck service. As I approached the darkened vehicle, I noticed a woman walking down nearby steps toward the beach and a gentleman unloading the trunk. I went to inquire with the man, calling out in advance so as to not startle him. Upon hearing my voice, he came around the car with a long handled AXE in his hand. Oh boy!
Here I was stranded out in the middle of nowhere with my new bride and talking to a man in the dark with an axe. Luckily it was for chopping firewood for the bonfire they were about to build and not for me. I asked if he could call me a tow truck to which he quickly agreed.
I was informed that a truck would be out in half an hour.
Let me tell you that a half hour lasts much longer than half an hour when you are stranded on a beach in the middle of nowhere with a man with an axe.
I needed that tow truck here and fast…chop! chop!
er ummm I mean, in a hurry!
While we were sitting there waiting, the man and his friend came down to where we were (without the axe) and invited us to come join them by thier fire. It was a nice gesture and we would have obliged, but the tow truck showed up just then.
So…a good samiritan, a tow truck, two and a half hours, and $95 later the tow truck guy, Will, attached his winch and chains and had me out in a fraction of the time that I had been digging.
E was nice enough to take lots of pictures and even a bit of video for posterity. You can get her side of the story here. (e’s side)
I would like to thank Chris and Tara for their hospitality and assistance. Also, thanks for not killing us!
Thought for the day:
Sometimes there just aren’t enough rocks.
