Day 5 & 6 in California

Day 5

Today Amy and Mark visited wineries in the Carmel Valley.  I stayed home at the cabin and vegged.  I read a lovely book I found in the cabin but was disappointed with the ending.  I started another book, read several magazines, tried to organize my life, ate junk food and contemplated the universe.  Amy and Mark returned with 6 bottles of wine and then went to Rocky Point for another cocktail and to enjoy the sunset.  I stayed in my pajamas.  It was a very relaxing day.  Tomorrow we plan on hiking to Mount Carmel from the end of our road.

 

Day 6

Well the hike to Mount Carmel was postponed.  It is a least an 8 hour hike and we were going to get up early but we didn’t wake up until after 9.  By the time we make breakfast, get ready and hit the road, it was too late for Mount Carmel.  Plan B – Garrapta and the Rocky Ridge trail.  This time I am happy to report that we were successful.  We took the right path, only got off trail once, hiked up the easier side and we made it to the top after 3 hours.  While we celebrating our summit, two men ran up and one said to the other what’s our time?  The other responded 40 minutes.  I asked if they ran the trail and he replied “in areas where they can”.  WTF!!!!!! It took us 3 hours walking and they ran it in 40 minutes.  I wonder if they are on meth or steroids.  I was so proud that I made it to the top without pain or gasping for air.  I need to exercise more.  Next time I am running up the trail.  Who am I kidding?  I will hire a sherpa to run me up on his back.  We made it back to the trail head and did a non-moving victory dance.  Back at the cabin we relaxed eating pasta and meat.  It is only 6:15 pm and I am ready for bed.  I don’t think we will be hiking to Mount Carmel tomorrow.  I am willing but is my body?  Decided to take some pictures of the stars.  After a few attempts and reading my camera book I figured it out.  Tomorrow is our last full day in California.  We are heading to the beach to relax.

 

Trying to Catch Up

It is fabulous on a vacation not to have Internet access or cell phone reception.  We actually have to relax and talk to one another.  So, we finally made it to our favorite Safeway where I am will quickly catch you up to date.

Day 1 & 2

We made it Monterey late on Saturday night.  Flights were delayed but in the end we arrived safely and with our luggage.  Win Win.  Kathryn’s daughter Lindsay kindly picked us up from the airport because the car rental agencies close at 8 pm and we arrived at midnight local time.  Quick ride home to the cabin and off to bed.  Fast forward 10 hours, we wake up and head to the airport to pick up our ride for the week.  We have a lovely Ford Fusion (hybrid).  We head off to our favorite Safeway to pick up provisions for the week but first a stop at Starbucks.  They built a new Starbucks at Cross Points and we stopped in for breakfast.  It was interesting shopping with Mark, he wanted meat.  What the? Meat, we never buy no stinking meat.  The highlight of the shopping expedition was the fact that they sell fresh gluten-free cheese ravioli which I had for dinner with a lovely creamy vodka pasta sauce.   Back at the cabin we unload and then head out for our first hike. 

We scrambled down cliffs, over rocks enjoying the scenery and looking always for the elusive sea otter.  No otters today but a quick sea lion sighting.  We head back to the cabin for dinner (ravioli for me) meat for Amy and Mark.  Again, what is with the meat?  There is so much I don’t understand in this world and a craving for meat is one of them.  Fleshy goodness according to Mark.   With our evening meal, we enjoyed a lovely selection of Angry Orchard cider and Blue Moon Harvest beers.  I am currently enjoying the Cinnful Apple Cider a bit too much.  It is damn good.  And when I say damn good, I mean I am ready for bed and it was only 6:45 pm.  It’s like those little cinnamon candies with a lovely kick.  Of course with drunkenness, comes witty repartee.  We are so witty right now. 

The weather is fabulous, the cabin peaceful, and the company priceless.  Later Gators.

 

Day 3

I awoke with a headache courtesy of Angry Orchard.  Now I understand the name.  The apples are angry and are taking their revenge on any that partakes of the cider.  Today we visited Monterey.  First stop was the fabulous aquarium.  They had a lovely jellyfish exhibit but we were unable to find the peanut butterfish exhibit. 

I know, don’t give up my day job to write jokes.  The bay was quite active with otters, seals, sea lions and even humpback whales.  Yes, I saw my beloved humpbacks.  They stopped in the bay for a quick snack before heading south to Hawaii or Mexico.  We had lunch at a lovely restaurant on the water.  It was quite enjoyable to eat your lunch and enjoy sea otters swimming by and whales feeding.  We walked over to pier to view the sea lions and then continued our walk to the wharf.  It is now 7:22 and we are ready for bed.  Vacation can be so tiring.  Tomorrow we once again return to nature and hiking with a visit to Point Lobos and Andrew Molera.  We are saving Garrapata’s hike for Friday. 

Day 4

We awoke early and headed to Point Lobos.  The sea lions were barking and the otters were cavorting but we missed our seals.  Not sure where they hiding but we only saw one.  The surf was huge and we took several hundred pictures of the waves and the spray as the water hits the rocks.   We then traveled to Andrew Molera where we dined had a lovely picnic and were joined by a local squirrel who would only eat Amy’s cheetahs.  It was quite windy and when we got to beach we were sand blasted.  Showers for everyone tonight.  We also ran across our first rattlesnake.  He was teeny tiny, only about 9 inches long with two tiny rattles on the end of his tail.  We were discussing on Sunday morning all the ways we could die in California.  We now have another to add to the list.  The list so far is:

Rattlesnake

Mountain Lion

Driving off a cliff

Falling off a cliff

Rogue wave

Fire

Redwood tree falling on cabin

Hit by a tourist

Flood/Mudslide

Earthquake

Choking a piece of See’s candy

 

Interesting conversations we have when we don't have cable or Internet.