The Lodge at Pebble Beach

... more ideas to make the Floride trip easier; don't forget the pot to make coffee & tea and find more comfortable mattresses for under our sleeping bags. Shona slept like a dog.

Shona still thinks she is going to the vet (alittle anxious) everytime she gets into the car. But she settled down and did great at the camp site.

Can't wait to start the trip. Florida or bust!

... 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!   

... Ryan and I did a bit of waterfall showering. The water was cold but like always, exhilarating. I kept laying on/hugging the rock where the water fell, just rolling down over my head and body. Standing under a waterfall is something I will forevermore seek out. Especially if it's a little chilly. I kept drying off but getting back in. Next to the waterfall was a Redwood tree that I contemplated moving in to. It was hollowed out along the ...

... visited an old country estate previously lived in by Clint Eastwood (who still owns it btw) which is known as the ranch with old fashioned buildings with a few acres of farmland out front.

We just had time to visit the Monterey aquarium which is one of the must see aquariums in the country. It has a huge living kelp tank 28 feet tall with variety of sea life, we also managed to capture a live feeding session here. The lady on reception let ...

... schedule thoroughly. On Sunday morning we enjoyed a breakfast potluck and presentation by Friend Jamie McLeod, an environmental planner for the County of Santa Clara Water Department and a member of the Santa Clara City Council who gave an impressive talk about the sustainability initiatives to use clean energy that Santa Clara is doing and her role in that. After worship, a large group of San Jose Friends joined us to walk on the Los Gatos River recreation ...

... I guess. We then took off for the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Totally awesome. They have a new otter exhibit. They are so cute. We walked around for aabout 2 hours. I had the best time in the kiddie section. I made a drawing of dolphins and posed with a whale tail. Its really a spectacular place. Well worth visitng if you are ever in the area. Then we took off for 17 Mile drive. It's also ...

... all types of activities for the kids like slides and batting cages. They also had every kind of food imaginable. We were told we had to have the Gilroy garlic fries. I think that was about the 4th thing we ate..(right after the kettle corn and peanuts, but not before the pizza and hamburger) To make it a perfect day the Giants were down almost the entire game but came back in the 7th inning and ended up winning the game. All in all it was an incredible day!

Heading south I loved the town of Santa Cruz which was a real surf town & very cool. Nath & I walked for miles along the foreshore which was covered in pretty dune flowers & had lovely ...

... were going to Mexico ! Going to see April in Aptos is taking it's toll on our humour. Down the north side we go through small towns of no consequence and evening is approaching. We start looking for a campsite but then end up in Palmdale a huge sprawling town at the base of the mountain and no place to camp. We decide it's time for a motel and good shower. We end up at the Days Inn, have some diner, TV, fight with the WiFi that never does work and fall asleep ...

... doing what you like. And that is just what I attempted to do at my next stop which was Monterey's Fisherman Pier area again where I set up my paintings in an attempt to get some income from my odyssey. However it ended up that I was just out $.30 for the parking meter. After a stop to get supplies from the grocery store I parked a couple of ...