Comfort Inn Marina

... After a 3 week stay we have to leave that particular campground for 7 days prior to coming back.

Well, our 3 weeks in Manteca had come to an end. Fortunately TTN operates several other campgrounds in the Bay Area. Our choices for a new homesite included Yuba City, Marysville, Cloverdale, Hollister and Morgan Hill. We've spent time in all of these places but it had been years since ...

We packed up and went for a practice trip down to Pfeiffer State Park in Big Sur on Tuesday. The camp site was great; on the river with almost the whole park to ourselves. What a beautiful place to camp.
The tent went up without incident.
The food was great, thanks to Steve.....shrimp,asparagus and potatoes for dinner and breakfast burrito the next morning.

We have a ...

... colour in the sun, very exciting! Then found a half price jewellers and got a new ring to replace Charlotte's lost one yay. Then went on the 17 mile drive around the Monterey peninsula, saw big waves and the famous Lone Cypress Tree. Charlotte then fell asleep during the Day After Tomorrow, which was very exciting having now been to New York and LA!   

... right? I'm trying to decide which bag to bring - my regular suitcase with wheels or my duffel bag. I usually bring my duffel bag on my active trips - hiking and trekking. Although we'll be doing a lot of walking around, I don't think this will be an especially active trip. So I think I'll bring my biggest rolling suitcase. On Sunday I should be able to think about packing.

... despite my hit-or-miss training. Famous last words, eh? Haven't packed yet but don't plan on packing too much - 2 pairs of running shoes (as instructed); 2 pairs of sandals; my running clothes; a couple of capris, skirts, and dresses; and enough medicine to start my own pharmacy (daytime cold medicine, nighttime cold medicine, pain relievers of all kinds, antihistamines, pepto, etc.) as well as all kinds of straps and bandages that will hopefully make the run easier.

As the devil is in the details for some, the pleasure is in the planning for me. I have tentatively decided to run the Great Wall Marathon in May 2008. Vacation time approved? Check Finances reviewed? Check Marathon training plan developed? Check There's plenty of time to train for the marathon and plenty of time to regroup if I fall ...

... houses opposite the beach. We ended up at a huge bay which was packed with surfers.

















Further south was the beautiful ...

United Airlines has a very hectic and inefficient check in system. International travel seems to all start around the 10-2pm block for a variety of destinations. As a result, check in for economy class is slow and a complete nightmare. Since my first trip 6 months ago, there have been major improvements in the installation of self-service check-in kiosk for non-visa countries and the overall process is still slow and tedious. I could have used the Premier ...

Big Sur, CA to San Francisco, CA After awakening in Big Sur, I realized the coastline was still unsuitable for sea voyages and continued northward. On my way, I passed a spot called "Mavericks" were they are known to get 30 foot waves, this was surely no spot to set sail. Eventually I ended in the city of San Francisco, an ancient seafaring village. This was my chance to set sail. Unfortunately it had turned dark so I got some sleep before the morning.