Road Trip! Yuma to San Diego to Newport

And so our slow-travel road trip begins. Thanks for joining me as I blog daily on our trip up the coastal highway from San Diego to Seattle.

First stop: Starbucks coffee in Yuma, Arizona.

Then we zipped across the great Imperial Valley, up over the mountains and down to San Diego in our newly acquired Mini-Cooper S.

The "Mini" made the grade and high winds a non-factor.

Lunch found us at "SIPZ Vegetarian Fusion Cafe" touted as one of the best vegan eateries in San Diego. Big menu, which you can see here on the restaurant's website.

After lunch we caught the coastal highway in La Jolla. Except for a small stretch on Interstate 5, the drive is stop and go as you pass through one quaint coastal city after another.

Hit Newport about 3 p.m. Did a little writing and then bumped around Fashion Island for the evening. To top off the day, we slipped into the bar at Muldoon's Irish Pub for chips and vinegar, a Guinness and, of course, a wee sip of Jameson's. Or two. Or ...

(BTW: If you should decide to take the plunge and try vegan eating (as I have after my heart bypass operation), you'll be interested to know that Guinness and Jameson's are completely vegan. Which, I shouldn't have to say, makes the Complete Las Vegan very happy.

Thursday we'll take our morning walk along the Newport Pier before heading up the coast. Destination: Cayucos.

(Postscript: If you have any advice on places to stop and see (or eat) along the way or in Cayucos, don't be bashful. We'll be in Cayucos for two nights.)

Mango and sweet sticky rice at "SIPZ Fusion Cafe".