Page 92 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL SPRING 2021 REDISCOVERING CALIFORNIA'S CENTRAL COAST

on’s first trip to Monterey was several funky San Diego neighborhood of Ocean Beach. He
decades ago when he and his four brothers turned the last page as the van approached the
Rwere returning to San Diego from their par- Monterey city limits and convinced his brothers to
ents’ home in Redding. As they were leaving, he stop. Not yet the tourist attraction it would be-
grabbed an old paperback copy of “Cannery Row” come, Cannery Row had restaurants and shops, in-
to read on the road. While waiting for his turn be- cluding a small mall inside a former cannery. Still,
hind the wheel, Ron settled in the back of their old Ron could feel Steinbeck and the colorful charac-
Dodge van to read John Steinbeck's fascinating tale ters he brought to life. Monterey became a special
of 1930s’ Monterey. place for him ever since.
Steinbeck’s powerful story and its quirky charac- Now, as we returned to Monterey for the first
ters reminded Ron of quirky people knew in the time in several years, Ron wondered if the magic

92 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE 2021