Can you say Hairpin Turn!!!

7-7-2010

We drug ourselves out of our comfy bed in Monterrey, loaded the car and reconnected with our friend Hwy. 1 North (we were friends at the start of the day..details to follow) with 521 Miles traveled and 59 degree temp.

We reached the town of San Mateo and briefly had the Pacific on our left and redwoods on our right...so surreal having experiencing both simultaneously. I did spot the trips first lighthouse at "Pigeon Point" so we had to stop and take a quick photo.

Half Moon Bay was our lunch stop at Sam's Chowder House, the best clam chowder place along the coast of California, so said the clerk at the local Ace Hardware store.  We arrived to see a large posting that it was rated number one by the Today Show for the best Lobster sandwich of 2007....still true in 2010!  I had the clam chowder as the winding road was starting to get to me...Bob had the Lobster sandwich that was packed with lobster, slathered in butter on a lightly toasted roll. My one bite (had to try it) confirmed why it was  awarded the best of..  Photo above was the view from our table.

The highlight was probably seeing and going over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Really is something, though I couldn't understand why anyone would want to walk over it?  Highway 1 after the bridge is very narrow, very much constant hairpin turns, and I'm here to tell you it never changed all day.  I've now been out of the car about and hour or so and I still feel nauseous and I still feel as though I am going through the curves.  I have ruled out the idea of every becoming a road course driver in my (fantasy) racing career!

Today we went through two more "Eisenhower" :-) tunnels, and again saw some incredible sights, some I am including for your viewing pleasure.....and not without showing more evidence of the roads!

  
Gotta run, I think my color is starting to return and my next cup of stomach settling tea is done.

P.S.
San Diego, sorry we missed today's 5.4 earthquake...hope everyone is OK, no cell service where we are at days end.  Hugs!

Short day of Travel

7/6/2010

Today we decided to sleep in and enjoy the setting around us.  We started our day with 480 miles on the road and headed about 17 miles North to Moss Landing for brunch at Phil's Fish Market.  Bob had fish and chips with a mix of cod and halibut, I went for the halibut fish tacos.....Great food, great atmosphere and no doubt a gold mine for the owners.  Thanks again for the tip from Rebecca our

Monterrey adviser :-)

Thought I would include a couple photos of our great hotel as well.  We were able to catch a trolley from out front of the Hotel to Cannery Row. Cannery Row had a Nestles Store which of course I had to pop in to for a choc. chip walnut cookie and a fresh cup of black coffee...happy girl was I.  We road the trolley back to downtown near our Hotel where a Farmers Market was going on.  Streets were lined with great smelling food and the best looking vegetables I've seen.


Many different types of people here in Monterey both locals and visitors.  The teens thus far look as though they could use some people praying for them.  No life in their eyes, no smiles even when smiled at.  So feel free to lift up a prayer for them all :-)


 We have retired to our room for the evening to get some off our feet time just relaxing prior to our early morning call to hit Highway 1 North once again.  Our plan is to reach Bodega Bay or above for tomorrow.

Though I'm looking forward to what and who we have left to see in our travels, I'm already missing our friends and family....how many days left?

Hugs with love !

Another Day on the Road...

7/5/2010
Morning got off to a somber start with a phone call that Bob's brother Larry passed away last night.  He had not been ill, due to retire at the end of August, mowed his lawn and appears to have had a heart attack.  Bob will fly to Spokane for the memorial service from wherever we happen to be at the time.  We know we will be with Larry again someday, until then we have memories...

Checked out of our Hotel with 322 miles on our trip odometer and the world at my feet? not sure why I always store everything where I am supposed to stretch out, headed to the Splash Cafe for a great breakfast.  Hopped back onto Hwy. 1 North, 12 miles down the road to Morro Bay to find very low clouds and cool temperatures.

Next stop Cambria, one of my favorite little towns.  Made it down one block and had to photograph a street sign that read "nitt witt" no joke.  We then discover Nitt Witt is a historical landmark so, we had to check it out.  Just for grins I popped out of the car while Bob was taking the photo and told him it occured to me I should take his photo next to the address sign :-) the sign hanging in front of the toliets read, "next tour at 1:00".......we passed.

Just prior to Hearst Castle we passed a herd of cattle....bummer to be a cow on the beautiful Pacific huh?  I spied several Zebra's as well which I was pleasantly surprised to see.  The next sign for viewing was Elephant Seals.....Zebra's , elephants and seals??? Well of course not, they were elephant seals...that was for grins as well.... We had a little photo opp of the big guy..it sounded as though it had very bad heart burn or about to deliver!

Those who know me know I am not at all fond of crooked roads, especially the kind with huge drop offs, hundreds of feet down.  You may be asking yourself what I was thinking agreeing to this trip..First of all, I wasn't. I'm simply being a good sport as my husband has wanted to do this for some time now.  After experiencing some mild yet all the same.... car/sea sickness from occasionally looking left....I did make it crystal clear that I would not agree to traveling south on highway 1..ever!  Not a lot of room for error if you are on the south bound lanes.  I have some documentation of the treacherous conditions I "volunteered" for....however beautiful ..and it was that indeed. The above bridge was the two lane road we traveled across....yikes!

We arrived in Carmel only to find the rest of the our fellow road trippers of the world in the same spot....another quick exit as we again escape the crowds.  Big Sur was so beautiful, I loved all the forests lining the narrow road, I long for the redwoods and then my beautiful Montana.
If you look at the lower left corner of the photo to the right, that is the roof of a house just under the green tree tops.... Not enough medication for me to even stop by for a cup of tea!

It has been brought to my attention that I haven't posted photos of our little Wilson.  Many of you have met him as he did make the 2005 road trip with us and he is still living at home with us.  On the towel rack above sits Wilson.  Long story short; I dug him up in my flower bed thinking I had an archeological find in my hands..  I shared this thought with many people over a period of several weeks.  Then the day came I showed it to my oldest son Mike, who with a smirk told me "that is the rock that was in my aquarium".  I was disappointed to say the least.  Nuff said, Wilson became a part of the family and it has been said (if even just by me) that Wilson's little smirk does change to fit the mood of his surroundings.  So be on the look out, Wilson will be in our road trip photos and may even visit you one day!
Spending the evening as well as tomorrow in Monterrey, maybe a little shopping and a trip to the famous aquarium.  We have a lovely room at the Hotel Pacific (thanks Rebecca), showered, fed and sitting by the fire.....yes a fire, it cold here.  Until tomorrow :-)

Road Trip July 2010

7/3/2010

Shared a nice breakfast with our good friends and current house sitters George and Lynn the morning of July 3rd.  We parted ways at 10:33 A.M, trip odometer set a zero and the adventure has begun.

Carol King and James Taylor cd  playing us down Highway 15 North and if you can believe it, as I write the song is "So far Away".  All actuality we are only traveling to Arcadia today which is near Pasadena, home of the Rose Bowl.  Blue skies, 70 degrees and we are ready to connect with loved ones and friends for an annual Stanley Independence Day get together.  Great food, drink and lots of laughs....visits with those we see only once a year at this event and others we try and see much more often.  All the kids have grown, the adults, well, we are a mellow bunch.....at last :-) Always a great time and this year was no exception.  Thanks Stanley family!

7/4/2010
After a wonderful time at the Stanley residence we shared a cup of coffee with them this morning, and after shared hugs and I love you's we hit the road for day two of our adventure. At the start of day two we have put a mere 105 miles on the car, and we headed North toward highway 101 along the Pacific Ocean.

First stop, Thousand Oaks, CA ~ The Cheesecake Factory for breakfast.....best egg white, spinach and cheese omelet ever.  After our meal we spied a Borders Book store and with only a tiny bit of feeling like I was cheating on Barnes and Noble we went in.  Made a purchase of a lap tray  and a pen so I could write easier as I found something "blog worthy" during our travels.  Oh, and since Bob will likely read this.. I admit freely.....I was unable, well, chose not to resist yet another book bag, this one covered with little owls :-)  Hey, it was only $6.00 if you bought (2) items, I felt I was obligated!  For those of you who are unaware, my book bag addiction could possibly catch up with my shoes  by 2012 or so.  For the record I have two in use on this very trip ...well, so now three... it's not like they just take up space in a closet.

As we passed through beautiful Montecito CA. the temp reads 65....but its early.  We decided to take a small detour just off the highway and stop in Santa Barbara at our favorite Bread, Wine and Cheese place....BAD, very bad idea.  We weren't thinking about the holiday and the main street was shut down we assume for a parade of sorts and traffic was ugly!  We got back on Highway One as quickly as we got off. 

Several miles down the road we (I) made my first Rest Stop break since hitting the road.  I only mention this because as we pulled in I spotted our first tunnel that we would be driving through just down the way.  Tunnels remind me of my Dad as he always honked the vehicle horn as we drove through one when I was a child : -)  Tunnels always make Bob and I laugh because on one trip I insisted we were at last going through the Eisenhower tunnel when in fact...I believe we went through three tunnels in a row before we actually went through the Eisenhower tunnel.  So, I choose to announce at the first sighting of any tunnel, "look the Eisenhower tunnel" before Bob announces it for me:-). We always get a laugh out of it.

After the excitement of the "first" tunnel I look to my left on Hwy. 101 and I'm faced with the beautiful Pacific Ocean, on my right I find another incredible view.  Rolling green hills, too many to count that look as though they have a patchwork of green covering them all and they appear to kind of fold into each other for as far as the eye can see.  Just when you think it can't get any better I look in the direction we are headed at the curvy road as we begin to go down hill and look up to see very large tan mountains with large groups of green trees plopped down all over them.  These mountains are high enough that the peeks are hidden in the clouds....very white clouds against a really blue July 4th sky.  My thoughts while taking every direction in, how can one doubt there is a Creator responsible for it all?

Approaching Santa Rosa nothing but what appear to be vineyards everywhere and we spy a Blueberry Stand/field....the sign reads, "Pick and box your own ".  For many reasons, just one being that the car is full(er) with yet another book bag, I didn't suggest we stop and pick.  We pull off for fuel in Buellton, Home of the Split Pea Soup, same exit for Solvang....the land of windmills and into beautiful Santa Maria.  More hill covered vineyards and even a large field of flowers in bloom.

We land for the day in San Luis Obispo, discovered a very quaint tastefully decorated wine tasting store front called, Pithy Little Wine Co..  We ventured in and we're treated to some free wine tasting by the young couple/owners who actually make their own wines with grapes grown in Paso Robles.  Not only do they produce their own wine but their own Root Beer, Orange and Black Cherry bottled soda!! We bought all three flavors so we can amaze others with the chance to taste for themselves some of the really awesome soda ....this coming from me, not a real fan of soda. I suppose their is a very good chance we will drink them ourselves on our little journey......

Checked out Mission San Luis Obispo and the river that runs under the city.....yes under it. Great dinner at a place called Firestone for Barbecued Tri tip Sandwiches ...and did I mention I left home with a total of a 16 pound weight loss...it just may be the last we speak of it, agreed?  We are checked into  our hotel, showered, lazy and full... can't wait for day three!

He was My First ....

He was my first  He was the first man to ever hold my hand.  He was the first to hold me, the first  to love me, the first man to kiss me. He was the first man to comfort me when I was sad or afraid.

He taught me the importance of hard work, the importance of honesty. He taught me by example, that family is everything and the importance of that family...each member with their own flaws.  He was my first example of what a man, friend, husband and father looked like. 

He taught me to believe in myself, that I haven't failed until I quit trying and that I was capable of anything.  He taught me that hard work won't kill me, and that laziness is very unattractive.

He never complained, never boasted about something he had done for another.  He served quietly...
He loved a sibling that chose to not be a part of his life, regardless of the sadness that brought him.

This man gave countless friends and relatives a hand up in life.  Be it a place to stay and call there own, a loan or a job.  He taught many of them skills that carried them throughout  their lives.  He was respected and loved by all who knew him.

This man was forever faithful, and his love was constant and unconditional.  His love was just as great even after you may have disappointed him.

This man was my Father.  He was my repair man, counselor, loan officer, teacher, gardening coach, Grandfather to my son's.....he was my best friend.  I am forever thankful to God for placing  me  with this man that I had the privilege to call Dad. 

I struggle with Father's Day more than any other day without him.  He was reassigned to heaven on June 20, 2008 and not a day goes by that I don't miss him.  Father's Day was the one special day I vowed to never miss with my Dad as long as I had him.  Though my Dad was a special man everyday, I knew in my heart early on the kind of Father I had was rare.  I chose to treat the holiday as though Father's Day was designed with only him in mind.

This year is my second Father's Day without my Dad, in fact it falls on the very day he left us. It still feels odd not to purchase just the right card for him.  June 15th, 2008 would be the last time I would spend Father's Day with my Dad.  That morning I decided to surprise him and arrive earlier than usual at the hospital in order to get to him prior to the nurses bringing him breakfast. I thought we would have breakfast together for Father's Day so I went to Mc Donald's and bought us breakfast burritos that he loved so much.

To my surprise I arrived only to find him with a rather serious  looking oxygen mask covering his face and he with a simple shrug of his shoulders when he saw me. He was letting me know....he had no choice but to just go with whatever lie ahead.  He was on his way to the Critical Care Unit where he was put on a ventilator and where he spent his last Father's Day. Five days later my sweet Dad's last breath with us was followed by his next breath in the presence of God.

I kept the Father's Day Card that I never gave to him that day.  I now keep it in my Bible between the pages of the Psalms that brought me so much comfort during the most difficult time of my life.  I still find it ironic that it was the best Father's Day card I'd ever bought him.....I know that he knew I felt all the things that card said about him, I always made sure he knew...

He, the first man to hold my hand....and I  was holding that hand right up until I passed it off to my Mother those last few minutes, for his last breaths with us.  He, surround by his family that he loved so perfectly.

Though I can't purchase a card to give to my Dad, I can and will honor him by holding Father's Day in my heart forever....yes, this is very much what echos in my heart today.

Starting new!

Wish I could say it's a boy/girl but I can't.  The baby dove  if you look close is under mama, was hatched last Friday and has begun  a new life.
I've named it John (as in the Baptist).  The dove is a constant reminder of the event in the Bible when John the Baptist was baptizing in the Jordan River and the Spirit of God descended from the heavens in the form of a dove.  "And I have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of God".
The dove reminds me that I too was free to have a new start in life by simply accepting Jesus as the Son of God and knowing He died on a cross for me.  Erased all my wrongs to begin again !  So I am thankful for John's arrival in a hanging basket in my garden.  My reminder that I am new....despite my wrinkles, lines and some loose skin here and there, I am new.

Also new in my garden are my hanging lanterns that I sanded down and painted red.  Red, a passionate color and I am passionate about my garden. Yes, even the old lanterns purchased many years ago are new again  and bring new life to my outside world.

Regardless of my yesterday, I can start new everyday and so can you!
This is what echos from my heart today......

Remember the art of letter writing ....

Remember the days we used to write letters?  Do you remember how excited you would be if upon opening your mail box there was one for you?
If so fellow bloggers, check this blog out and take the challenge, I know I'm in!
A fellow blogger recommended this, Smiling Mama, her address to check out a cute blog (http://smilingmama.blogspot.com)

 Here is the letter Writing blog!

http://penpaperstamp.blogspot.com

Have fun,
debi