Day 9: Carmel - Cambria

What another awesome day today!

We were woken up to a damn seagull that wouldn't stop chirping or whatever it was doing. So we left our hotel and walked around the town. The town of Carmel is cute, however overpriced stores with a lot of not-so-great art... AND.... Carmel LOVES Kinkade....ugh....

Then we drove down route 1 some more and stopped at the 40 foot waterfall that drops into the ocean at the Julia Pfeiffer Burns national park. It was absolutely breathtaking. And then a little further on our walk and we came to the sight of a landslide that went right into the water.

Our next stop was the Hearst Castle in San Simeon. Perhaps the coolest and most fascinating thing I've seen this trip! What a lot of interesting history, architecture and landscaping.... AND.... the site of my new home? I wish! There are still zebras that run free along the property from his days of having his own zoo.

Now we are laying in our beds at the Cambria Pines lodge. We haven't been able to see it during the day yet but our room is HUGE and has a fire place so we can't complain!

UGH
A fantastic stop at the Big Sur Bakery
Can't get enough of these waves!
At the waterfall!
Beautiful wildflowers everywhere!

Leftovers from the landslide



badass bridges
Surfing anyone?
Hearst Castle
Oh this is just part of the parlor
Oh that old thing? It's just the front door!

Amazing gardens!
The Neptune Pool (if you swim in it you get a $650 fine)

The family home (of the 4 on the property)
Succulents!
Another view of the pool (one of 2)
The roman pool (that's the diving deck on the top)- and below the tennis courts
ZEBRAS!
Mommy and Baby

MOMMA'S NOTES

I think it's getting a little warmer as we head South. We still turn the heat on when we put the top down and it would have to snow to prevent us from chillin' in our convertible.

The road sign indicated 74 miles of S turns and that was pretty much it. When not averting my eyes from the edge I was enjoying the beautiful coast and (as usual) looking for whales.

Hearst Castle was the highlight of the day. Eliza wants to marry into the family and I thought we might have to pay the $650 fine, the pools were so appealing.

Day 8: Monterey & Carmel

BADASS DAY TODAY! The photos will explain it all

NOTE: The lack of a photo of a Great White Shark is due to the fact that THERE ISN'T ONE!

NOTE 2: The aquarium will be having one soon AND WHEN THEY DO, I'LL BE THERE!

Cool houses

YAAAAAAHHHHH
Mom's silhouette
A starfish that was just a little slow
How much money is in there?


JELLIES!


It isn't a great white, but it'll do







Fisherman's Wharf

A mommy and baby otter!
Just having a snack on the peir

Friends like to share
All by his lonesome he's sunbathing
Airing out his pits

Pelicans (are you overwhelmed by the wildlife yet)
Tidepools are badass

Hello ladies
Can you spot the coyote?
Baby deer!
The Lone Pine

MOMMA'S NOTES

There was great excitement as we drove to the Monterey Aquarium. Eliza reverted to her inner six year old but fortunately showed great maturity when told that they no longer had the great white shark.

It was generally a walk on the wild side today: as much wildlife outside the Aquarium as inside.

The sun was out and so were the seals and the otters. We walked along Fisherman's Wharf to the tune of the seals barking and drove along the 17 mile scenic coastal road through Pebble Beach. We watched surfers on wild waves and and scoured the horizon for whales as we've done since we first saw the Pacific.

Tomorrow we leave for Big Sur and the Hearst Castle. Every day is an adventure.