This is the sixth in a series of annual Oil Leak Tours put together by a group of Jaguar enthusiasts. Each year we take a week off and get together to drive the twisty roads of a different part of the country, to enjoy our cars and the company of fellow devotees. The group first met through the Jag-Lovers forums, and since then have met face-to-face through these trips. The first trip was in 2011 as the result of the inspiration of Paul Wigton to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first E-Type. This year's trip will explore the California coast from San Luis Obispo, through Monterey/Carmel, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Fort Bragg, Eureka, Weed and ending in Redding.

Sunday, September 18, 2016

Sunday September 18th - Arriving at San Luis Obispo

The California Coastal Oil Leak is here! Tomorrow we start the tour itself, but today was the culmination of everyone's journeys to the starting point in San Luis Obispo, California. My wife Debbie and I started our trip just a short drive away in Carmel Valley. We joined a convoy of other drivers heading down from further north. Jerry Mouton and David Drake, Lloyd Nolan, John Carey, Milton and Carolee Wheeler traveled today from the Bay area with Jan and Lynn Gardner who had set out from Boise, Idaho several days ago. We met up in Salinas and were soon headed south on US-101. I was hot! Very hot! Much hotter than expected, or forecast! After an abortive stop for lunch at a closed restaurant in San Ardo, we drove another 25 miles to San Miguel where we found somewhere for lunch. It with great relief that we got out of the heat, which by that time had reached 105 degrees!

A place in the shade for the cars to cool while we enjoyed lunch
As we had plenty of time in hand, we decided to visit the Mission in San Miguel. This had been on the original itinerary for tomorrow, but been removed due to pressure of time. The most attractive feature of the mission (to me, at least) was the air conditioned Sanctuary!

The entrance to the San Miguel Mission
An adobe dog house?
The cloisters
Inside the Sanctuary. Very cool and peaceful...
The remainder of the drive to San Luis Obispo was uneventful, and when we arrived at the Los Padres Motel we were greeted by several of the Leakers who had already arrived from other directions. Unfortunately, as the temperature in San Luis Obispo rarely reaches the extremes experienced today, the rooms have no air conditioning, so several of the group headed for Morro Bay on the coast in the hope of relief from the heat. The opening dinner of the trip was held at the Windows on the Water in Morro Bay - the name says it all. The group has grown to 24, and more are expected to join us tomorrow. We enjoyed fresh seafood in a great setting overlooking the harbor and Morro Rock. Morro Rock is a 581-foot volcanic plug located just offshore from Morro Bay, at the entrance to the harbor. A causeway connects it with the shore, effectively making it a tied island. 

24 for the pre-Leak Dinner
Sunset over Morro Bay harbor with Morro Rock dominating the view
Carolee, Milton, John, Norm, Deirdre, Geo and Kathleen
Debbie, Gregg, Vikram, Jerry, Dave, Dianne and Lloyd
Drew, Mary, Lynn, Michael, Denise, Glenn, Jan and Mike
Tomorrow we will start the CCOL drive. If all goes well we will have 22 cars on a very scenic route. The temperatures on the coast should be cooler, which will be very welcome....




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