John Steinbeck country

Since I have just read John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, and am currently reading The Grapes of Wrath, I jumped at the chance of visiting Salinas and Monterey when Caroline suggested it (generous soul that she is).  Salinas is about an hour and a half's drive from Menlo Park.

We drove straight to Salinas, a semi-depressed town which is inland - reminded me of many NSW country towns.  The purpose-built museum is well-worth spending time in. We also visited the Steinbeck House where he lived with his parents.

Following this, we drove 17 miles to Monterey, a much bigger town which is on the coast.  This is the setting for Steinbeck's Cannery Row, which was based on the major industry - fish canning - and the lives of the many immigrants who came searching for work - Japanese (who were forced out), Filippinos and others.

Monterey is far more commercial than Salinas - it has a Fishermen's Wharf too, but not as large as San Francisco's.

Here is McAbee's beach at Monterey.

White tailed deer right beside the road with three others.

We then drove along the beach, past the famous golf course Pebble Beach where the US Open is played.

For more photos from Monterey and Salinas, check out this album on Facebook at Margaret Tucker Moxon's photo album.