Images of an American Christmas

Driving Highway 1 – Day 2

Sunrise brings birdsongs, the mist and two small boys who don’t like to sleep in. But on this day I was pleased to join them. We left our luxury accommodation as quiet as we could and stole down to the beach. Sea Lions frolicked in the water, an early morning surfer was carving it up, jet-stream shadows crossed the sky and the playground on the beach was empty just asking for fun. While the boys played I photographed the scenery and talked to the locals. On our return we woke the rest, went for another walk, enjoyed sea salt cookies and hit the road north for an amazing day of sights and sounds.

First stop was the astounding Hearst Castle. Perched atop the mountains near the sea surrounded by a wildlife reserve, this place was the epitome of decedent opulence. Arguably the best and most amazing one person can create in a lifetime it follows a reading of Ecclesiastes 2:1-11. Beautiful grounds, gardens pools and buildings, a playground for the rich and famous – now all dead and the castle is likewise falling into slow disrepair. Grand and beautiful yet everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Below the castle on the seashore, Elephant Seals call out their incessant cry bringing the next generation to birth in a never ending cycle evident of the effortless sustaining care of the Lord.

After a lunch break we took on the most challenging part of the coast as we entered the section famously known as Big Sur. Soaring cliffs, landslides, and high bridges all with the churning ocean below. For the Aussies reading this, imagine the Sea Cliff bridge but higher, windier and running on for 30kms of hair-pin turns. Stunning! We stopped often for photos and for churning stomach relief. Particularly exciting was the 10min drive through Big Sur town-ship where a bush fire had attracted more than 50 fire trucks. We saw the fire from the road but thankfully were un-threatened.

As the twilight fell we journeyed through the outskirts of Monterey and then on to our accommodation at lovely Santa Cruz. Discovering the first of our less-than-salubrious accommodations, we ate out at a magnificent Chinese Restaurant and went food shopping at the local strip. Bedtime in a shared room with strange lights, odd bathroom and little floor space was “entertaining”. A day of enormous contrasts from beginning to end left us exhausted and exhilarated with the things we are so privileged to experience.

I left my heart...

.....in San Francisco

San Francisco was an utter surprise and a delight for us. People kept telling us how much they love SF, and that we would too, but we were slightly sceptical. We were wrong!

We arrived late at night to our apartment at 822A North Point Street. It was a gorgeous home, nice kitchen, good heating, two bathrooms, washing machine and dryer... all the important things! The next morning we set out to buy public transport passes for our 4 days here, and turned the corner to see the bay and parkland one block away. We all fell in love instantly!

The public transport was a cinch. We caught a bus to the Golden Gate Bridge and climbed up on it and went a way along it. After a few hours there we then caught another bus to Union Square and caught a cable car down to Lombard St (the crookedest street in the world) and then called in at home, then after an icecream extravaganza at Ghirardelli’s we caught another cable car back up to Union Square.

Cable Cars are fun! The driver encouraged the boys to ride on the outside – gotta love public transport which lets you ride while hanging off the side! The streets are as steep as all the movies show.

We finished our day with dinner at a pub round the corner. Aidan seems determined to sample every variety of chicken nugget in the country, and Max all the burgers.... fortunately for us, the pub served both!

Only in America!

Driving Highway 1 - Day 1

On Monday morning we packed up, said farewell to Anaheim and all things Disney, and headed north. This drive was Michael’s most anticipated part of our odyssey. He has fond memories of driving this route as a child and was keen to repeat it.

Once we hit the coast at Santa Monica we then started our trip north on Highway 1. We stopped for lunch at a play on the beach at Ventura (and had our first fantastic coffee of the trip, thanks to Kay’s Coffee Shop, the lemon pecan pie was pretty good too!).

There is a fabric shop at Paso Robles which I had seen online so we went there too. Such beautiful fabric! I had always planned to learn to quilt once all our kids went to school but I started teaching instead... but I bought a quilt kit there as my reward for after my accreditation is completed at school next year. Nothing like a bit of incentive for a task I’m not all that keen about...

From Paso Robles we went west to the coast and our first night’s stop at Cayucos. It was a spectacular drive – as we came over the mountains the sun was setting and so we stopped and took heaps of photos. We don’t often get to see the sun set over the ocean! And finally we made it to Cayucos. Our apartment was a winner, we had a fun dinner at Duckies Diner (seafood all round) and drifted off to sleep listening to the waves crash.

Breakfast with Goofy

Two hours of food and fun. We left nothing behind but our dignity!