Old mate jet lag came to pay me a visit this morning between 12–2am…which as a result meant I slept through my motel breakfast (doh!), but the excitement of the day saw me eagerly hit the road for Salinas, some 20kms inland from Monterey. The Salinas Valley entrance is nestled between grand mountain ranges and is surrounded by lush green farming crops on either side of the road. Salinas is known as the ‘salad bowl’ of the US and is the birthplace and inspiration for American classic author John Steinbeck, as well as his literary works.