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Finally had clear warm weather and time available to take IXORA on an extended test drive. We went 125 miles or so round trip this afternoon. The car exceeded all expectations!
The route was from Capitola on the north side of Monterey Bay down to Monterey, out to Carmel Valley and up Laureles Grade, then down Robley Rd. and out Corral de Tierra and San Benancio Rd. the the Salinas Valley. These roads go through the "Pastures of Heaven" of John Steinbeck's 1932 novel by that name. The story (for those unfamiliar) begins in the 1700's, with a Spanish soldier discovering this bit of earthly heaven while hunting down Indians who had run away from the Spanish Mission at Carmel. Steinbeck weaves the histories of several families over numerous generations, ending the story at the time period it was written, on a tour bus from Monterey, at the turnaround at the summit of Laureles Grade, looking down on what had become Corral de Tierra and San Benancio Road, but still known as "Las Pasturas Del Cielo"--The Pastures of Heaven. On the closing pages of Steinbeck's book, one of the bus passengers speaks with uncanny foresight: "The passengers gazed into the valley. The successful man cleared his throat. His voice had a tone of prophecy. 'If I have any vision, I tell you this: Some day there'll be big houses in that valley, stone houses and gardens, golf links, and big gates and iron work. Rich men will live there--men that are tired of working away in town, men that have made their pile and want a quiet place to settle down and to rest and enjoy themselves.'"
Yep. It all happened. Oh, except the guy missed one thing. He forgot to mention that the roads would be prefect Healey roads, twisting through wonderful turns and canyons in the dappled shade of giant spreading oak trees, and up and down the slopes of endless sensuous hills.
We had a blast!
The route was from Capitola on the north side of Monterey Bay down to Monterey, out to Carmel Valley and up Laureles Grade, then down Robley Rd. and out Corral de Tierra and San Benancio Rd. the the Salinas Valley. These roads go through the "Pastures of Heaven" of John Steinbeck's 1932 novel by that name. The story (for those unfamiliar) begins in the 1700's, with a Spanish soldier discovering this bit of earthly heaven while hunting down Indians who had run away from the Spanish Mission at Carmel. Steinbeck weaves the histories of several families over numerous generations, ending the story at the time period it was written, on a tour bus from Monterey, at the turnaround at the summit of Laureles Grade, looking down on what had become Corral de Tierra and San Benancio Road, but still known as "Las Pasturas Del Cielo"--The Pastures of Heaven. On the closing pages of Steinbeck's book, one of the bus passengers speaks with uncanny foresight: "The passengers gazed into the valley. The successful man cleared his throat. His voice had a tone of prophecy. 'If I have any vision, I tell you this: Some day there'll be big houses in that valley, stone houses and gardens, golf links, and big gates and iron work. Rich men will live there--men that are tired of working away in town, men that have made their pile and want a quiet place to settle down and to rest and enjoy themselves.'"
Yep. It all happened. Oh, except the guy missed one thing. He forgot to mention that the roads would be prefect Healey roads, twisting through wonderful turns and canyons in the dappled shade of giant spreading oak trees, and up and down the slopes of endless sensuous hills.
We had a blast!
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