This photo was taken from the far end of Fisherman’s Wharf and, as mentioned on the last page, the wharf and harbor have not changed significantly during the 25 years since Steve was stationed there in 1974-76.
However, the nearby CANNERY ROW area (part of which is seen in this photo) in Monterey and Pacific Grove is almost unrecognizable as compared to the way it had appeared 25 years ago.
Some of the early-1900’s era wooden tuna canning structures have been completely demolished and new concrete pilings with hotels and tourist attractions have been built where the old facilities once stood.
And, Steve could not help but be impressed with seeing a CRUISE SHIP at anchor in Monterey harbor—something he had never witnessed while living there in the 1970’s!
This beautiful fountain with the bronze dolphins is an impressive centerpiece in one of the new hotel plazas that overlooks the harbor.
Of course, many of the original tuna and sardine canning buildings in the center part of Cannery Row have been restored and/or maintained to appear as they were in the early 1900’s.
John Steinbeck, famous American author in the early-to-mid-1900’s, wrote some of his most famous books (such as Cannery Row, The Grapes of Wrath, and Of Mice & Men) while living in the Pacific Grove area adjacent to Cannery Row.
Steve, however, just couldn’t get over a cruise ship visiting Monterey...
...harbor and went nuts taking photos of the liner from several different vantage points.
This is the beautiful white sand beach in Carmel—with huge, fast-moving, dark rain clouds in the background (toward Pebble Beach).
We questioned whether we wanted to pay the toll to go on Pebble Beach’s “17 Mile Drive” if it were going to be raining, but, since this particular day was the most convenient for our planned activities in the Monterey area, we took a chance.
By the time we drove a half hour into Pebble Beach and onto the “17 Mile Drive,” the clouds had blown away and we had really decent weather for our drive along this incredibly scenic coastline area.
When Anya sat down at a picnic table, this seagull landed on the table to see if she were going to feed it.
Anya checks out “Bird Rock” through the telescope while Steve explained to her that the large quantity of white matter covering the rock was NOT snow! This site is only about a half mile from the home in Pebble Beach which Steve had rented for more than 2 years while he was stationed at the Navy Postgraduate School.
One of the most famous sites on the 17 Mile Drive is the “Lonesome Pine” which is a “Monterey” pine tree that is growing directly out of the rocks.
This particular tree is a symbol widely used to specifically depict the 17 Mile Drive—as well as the whole Monterey/Pebble Beach/Carmel area in general.
An overcast sky and threatening weather had returned by the time we got to this section of 17 Mile Drive, so our photos of the Lonesome Pine are somewhat hazy. However, they give the viewer an idea as to how beautiful this scene would appear under more favorable lighting conditions.
Steve had always liked the huge old stone ‘castle-like’ home in the background of this photo and grabbed Lena for a photo.
This photo (as well as the next two photos) were taken along the shoreline in Pacific Grove before entering the “17 Mile Drive” section of the beach.
The purple ground cover was in full bloom and provided a colorful view even under very cloudy skies.
Of course, we were impressed with this particular image of Lena taking Anya’s photo while she was surrounded with color!
Steve was first introduced to the GIANT ARTICHOKE restaurant in Castroville—the artichoke capitol of the world—while he was stationed in Monterey in the 1970’s.
Having previously introduced Lena to FRENCH FRIED ARTICHOKE HEARTS, it was Anya’s turn to be impressed with this unique dining experience. As Anya said: “It’s sad to have SO MANY wonderful things to eat—and SO LITTLE TIME in which to enjoy them!”
We stayed in Watsonville, CA, with Jack Sowell (and his wife, Emiko) while we visited Monterey. After retiring from the Marines in the late 1960’s, Jack had worked for Steve in the Navy Exchange in Atsugi, Japan, in 1969/70. Emiko had worked in the Exchange Accounting Department and had met Jack there.
Steve ended up being ‘Best Man’ in their wedding in 1969 and has remained close friends since that time. Jack is a retired E-9 Marine with over 30 years active duty who fought in the Pacific during WWII, then Korea, and finally in Vietnam. In short, Jack did them ALL!