August 12, 2010

The crowds have arrived!  Traffic is horrible - but the weather is very cool. 

On the Thursday before the Concours de Elegance at Pebble Beach, Carmel hosts a road rally for the entrants which gives them additional points in the scoring if they participate.  They drive up over Laurales Grade, then down along PCH1.  People are parked everywhere to get a look at these works of art.  Before returning to Pebble Beach, they enter Ocean Avenue in Carmel where the streets have been blocked off.  The drivers are honored at a luncheon in the park while the cars are parked for our viewing pleasure.  I tried to get photos of some really special vehicles but all I saw were the behinds of folks who were pushing to get closer.

The streets were just packed with folks wanting to see the cars - or, in many cases, be seen.  And the dogs!  Why do people bring their dogs to these types of events?  I can't imagine the dogs have any interest in the cars, other than to perhaps pee on a tire or two.



We then had to make our obligatory trip over to Cannery Row for Jay's fudge and my caramel apple.  My second favorite sock store is there but I didn't even go in.  I'll be at my favorite sock store in Providence, RI in October.

After a little rest back at The Tickle Pink, we met our friends for wine on the deck.  I had a lovely sparkling apple cranberry cider.  I'm really getting into the non-alcoholic beverages!

We had dinner reservations at Tarpey's Roadhouse.  A 15 minute trip turned into over an hour due to traffic. After a yummy dinner - just steaks, but delightfully sauced and perfect - we met Bob and Jan at the Highlands Inn for dessert.

Traffic on Friday is going to be worse as Concorso Italiano is going on, as well as The Quail Motorsport Gathering, not to mention the four or five automobile auctions that are going on.  We been to both in the past but are attending neither this year.  We will, however, get our auction fix at RM Auction over the weekend.  Our plan for Friday is to drive down to Big Sur and check to see if there are any painted glasses I can't live without.  I broke my favorite one on Easter and would like to replace it.

Sleep calls!