Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Pure Joy

Watching her makes me smile and sometimes giggle when she shares her own pure joy and happiness. I think that is one reason I love dogs.




Monday, January 26, 2015

Country Riding

A new ride discovered! Green hillls against a blue ocean! A little old cabin and a couple curious nanny goats with a little ribbon of highway and my favorite riding partner.
















Sunday, January 25, 2015

Dinner time

One of the warmest memories of living on Benson Street was coming home at dinner time and seeing my housemates getting ready for dinner through the kitchen window. As I walked up to the house and saw the warm light through the kitchen window which is the hub and heart of this house. Lots of good food and great laughs happen here. It warms my heart.


Tuesday, January 20, 2015

San Simeon Creek Road

Along the Central Coastal Range in California there are roads with names like San Simeon Creek,  Santa Rosa Creek Road, Santa Rita Creek Road. The moment you turn onto these roads you may still get beautiful ocean views, but the atmosphere is no longer beach-y, it is pure country. Last year they had no rain all year;everything was brown and no water in the creeks. This year there is a little water in the creeks and green, green, green hills, except where the mustard is blooming.


Beach yoga, anyone?

Doing yoga on the beach gives you a new perspective.

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Jan 18 Cambria, Ca



Someone in Cambria is spreading something that is just nice and sweet and makes me smile. How can you not smile when you see these hearts made of Monterey pine cones and brances across the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve?

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Jan 15 More magic...

In our walks from home we almost always end up on the preserve called Fiscalini Ranch. Long story of how it came to be, the end tale is the citizens og Cambria purchased the property and it is a lovely expanse from the ocean up and down hills to Highway 1.

On our first walk there we saw so many Monarchs near grove of Monterey, Gray Pines and Coastal Oaks. We knew there had to be a flutter of Monarchs somewhere nearby. Yesterday we ran into a few butterflies, then more and more and, voila! we found them! We marked where we walked off the trail with sticks and pine cones to make sure we can come back.

Just another magical moment on this vacation that has given us magic everyday!

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Jan 14 No need for a/c

Our first clue should have been the piles of broken glass in the pull off at the corner of Estrella Road and Hog Canyon Road. We made some jokes about it, but we've always parked there and it is out in the country, for heaven's sake.

Off we went on a beautiful 20 mile bike ride. The temperature was just right and the hills were green. The last five miles are rolling hills that you can almost coast up from the downhill of the last hill. It makes me almost giggle it is so fun.

When we got back to the car, Lee noticed a rock on the dashboard from the passenger side of the car and started to wonder about it until he saw the glass on the driver's side.

Nothing was taken; we had nothing in the car. But, he didn't even unlock the car doors. The deputy I spoke with said they had no suspects and he was so sorry this happened on our vacation. I told him there were jerks in Idaho, too. Turns out his wife was born and raised in Cascade and her sister lives in Boise. Not a real great way to meet someone, but it was a nice connection and we had a pleasant visit.

So, Linda D and Frank swept the glass out of the car.  Lee and I put on our chilly willy hats, turned the heat on high and headed back home to Cambria. I stopped myself from asking Lee to roll up his window and he did not remind me to make sure I locked the car up when we got home. ;)

Monday, January 12, 2015

PS Jan 12

And, if that was not enough magic for the day...three whales spouted as we crested the hill heading home.

Jan 12 Pure magic!

Our day started out walking along the bluffs overlooking the ocean. Looking for treasures in the sand, throwing the ball for Nanni to chase, looking eye-to-eye with a harbor seal.

After  lovely stroll we got down to a serious task: finding a flutter of Monarchs. We had seen a small group across from San Simeon State beach. So, we headed up the trail. Unfortunately, there wer no butterflies flitting around us. I was starting to think that maybe I had been mistaken. But, then, Debra saw a small flutter maybe a half dozen, then a dozen and I knew they had to be close by. Lee and I disregarded the "Stay on the trails" sign and headed through the meadow beneath 100 foot tall Monterey Pines. And, then through the branches I saw them hanging from the branches. I signaled to Lee and the the others and ran uphill to the so silent and so alive sight. I felt a shiver that started in my feet and worked it's way up to the roots of the hair on my head as I stood watching in awe this magical fairyland. I have no words to describe it, so here photos:




Saturday, January 10, 2015

Jan 10

I have such a funny story to tell.

We were riding our bikes up to see the elephant seals along Highway 1. Linda was driving the car, loaded with dogs and Lee's backpack that he forgot to take with him. Now, the weather here is delightful, but there is a line you cross going north where it can get a bit chilly. If you have been riding a bike, it can get real chilly. Lee was concerned about how long it would be before Linda got to the viewing area because all his jackets were in his backpack.

We started to pull into the left hand turning lane to turn into the parking area for the elephant seals, when I saw a fleece hat laying in the middle of the road. I decided to pick it up for Lee so he could wear it until his own arrived. I handed it to him, he out it on. Then, he looked at me kind of funny and said, "There is something crawling on my head. " I thought it was like a bug. He took the hat off and said, "It's a mouse!" As I said, "No way!" The mouse jumped out of the hat as Lee threw the hat down on the ground. The mouse was last seen racing for a docents rubbermaid box. The above photo is the hat on Lee without mouse.

Friday, January 9, 2015

Jan 9 Cambria

P.S.
I love the way home. But, today after riding up to the elephant seals and then down to lunch (approximately 15 miles), I opted to drive from our lunch spot into town to the farmer's market and then home with my delightful side-kick...or maybe I am her side-kick....Hm-m-m-m. How does that work. Nevertheless, I did not choose to ride up thru the lovely Fern Canyon.

Some days it is the better part of valor.....  ;)

Jan 8 Cambria

The house on Benson St is wonderful until you have to ride your bike home. We have scoured every way there is to get home; there are no easy ways, no matter what, it is up. The most popular way is up the ocean side. Probably shorter than all the others, but the steepest. However, I think I have found my favorite way:
1. Head up Highway 1. It is a long gradual climb. Okay, it slants a bit more uphill about half way up. It is maybe a half mile long. But, the best part is it is in shade.
2. At the top of the hill, turn right on Burton and immediately right on Fern and immediately get off your bike and catch your breath.
3. Back on the bike, ride down Fern on a dirt road. At the bottom get off the bike and walk up to Amherst. This is all shade and beautifully green and lush with Acorn Woodpeckers high up in the trees.
4. The top is very steep to walk but if you stay to the right it is a little less steep...every little bit helps.  At the top get back on the bike and ride straight to Trenton, turn left.
5. Ride to Kenneth. Turn right and go as fast downhill as you can so that you can almost glide to the top, although not quite, at least never for me. :)
6. Turn left on Tipton and ride to Ardath.
7. You will turn right on Ardath. But, first you make sure there are no cars coming or going. Then, turn it lose downhill and you will coast right to the top that overlooks a spectacular view of the ocean.
8. Take the second left on Benson and come on home. Yes, it is uphill there, too. But, it is gradual and you are almost home where a Mickey's Big Mouth Beer is waiting to be shared with your cohorts in crime. Of course, you must figure out the riddle inside the lid before your oh-so-wonderful sip!


Heading south. Jan 3

I would like to do a bit of blogging again. I can use Facebook, but I like the blogger format. So, I am going to do a bit of blogging on our trip. I will try to not be longwinded. ;)

1801 Benson St Cambria
1801 Benson Street, Cambria, California
We had a circus getting out if town on Sat. Outside of Jordan Valley, right after our favorite stop at the little Rockhouse Coffee Shop with the "cutest restrooms." The Subaru started to overheat. We pulled over and Lee checked it out, not liking what he saw. (I didn't look as it is all plain magic to me.) We decided to go another 30 miles and see if it was an anomaly. Nope, it would go down when the road went down, but rose on the uphills. Considering the uphills we were faced with in California, we decided to go home and pick up the Pathfinder.  Back at home, Lee, the magician/mechanic, checked the tire pressure, when the last oil change was and all the hoses, etc. We unloaded the Subaru, loaded the Pathfinder and went down the street for some lunch. Heading once again towards the freeway, Lee realized he had left his phone in the Subaru. So back to the house. Third time is the charm, we headed for the freeway, back to Jordan Valley (no stop at the "cutest restrooms"). We spent the night in Winnemucca.

Through this first travel day little Nanni was great. There was a little worry anytime we loaded and unloaded. The funny little "house" we stayed overnight in was a bit strange, but she did get her own bed. The next night was an even smaller house made of fabric, our tent, where we camped one night at San Simeon State Park. But, the next day was a glorious run above a great big lake that had white water (a color she can see), which made big noise. Oh!the smells and the birds and harbor seals and even an elephant seal swimming off-shore. More on those big guys to come.

Hugs,
Cindi

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