Big Sur

We left Hurst Castle and headed up the coast and pulled off Pacific Coast Highway 1......to Seal Beach....

It was magical. 

Seals, as far as you could see, on the sand sunning themselves....

Oh how I could relate to laying on the beach, hearing the waves crash, feeling the warmth on the sun on my skin and realizing what a big beautiful world God created.

This was a little curious squirrel.....

very unafraid of people, I'm sure he get fed very well.

The view was almost unbelievable.

This was almost unbelievable too......$5.32 A GALLON for gas.....

I told Boyd to just pump enough to get us to Carmel....where we would be staying the night....

this was painful to pay..

The Beauty of Big Sur was everywhere. 

It didn't quite make up for the horribly expensive gas, but the town was charming and inviting....and I would love to come back and stay for a day.....or three.

We grabbed lunch/dinner (linner) at The Restaurant at River Inn.  We sat on the patio by the creek that ran in the back....

afterward we walked along the Inn's gardens......

so relaxing, it was transformative....

I forgot to take a pic of our lunch.....but I did our dessert......

"Bucket List" check-off

Hurst Castle was on our bucket list.....as part of our "closing the gap" road trip 2014 to the Cali coast. 

It was spectacular, the bus ride, up to the castle was amazing and our tour guide was funny and knowledgeable.

William Randolph Hearst went to great lengths to bring back the best of European architecture.. ceilings from churches and monasteries – which were pieced back together.

The grounds were amazing.  I could have spent days in the gardens.

The Neptune Pool was being repaired when we were there. Its centerpiece is the façade of an ancient Roman temple that was imported to California......no big deal!!

Hearst Castle is located near San Simeon, California.

The estate is five

miles inland and the views of the ocean are spectacular.

  

The total square footage of the buildings on the estate exceeds 90,000 square feet.  There are (3) guest houses: Casa Del Mar, Casa Del Monte and Casa Del Sol...I would have loved to stay at any of them.  These were for sleeping and lounging, guests had to go to the main house to eat.....that's what WRH wanted....

I couldn't possibly live here.....too much dusting of the fine art....hahahaha

The Morgan Inn

This trip was a "fly by the seat of your pants" with no advance reservations, just call the day of and find someplace to sleep........

Man, we lucked out on this place. 

It was in San Simeon....not much in San Simeon. 

There were lots of foreign guests......it was very laid back......

what I imagine European Motels would be like. 

The real kicker was they had REAL keys to unlock the doors. 

No swipe cards....so cool.

The room was large and lovely and had a view on a lovely garden.  It was nice enough to keep the windows open. 

We could hear others in the hall at times, but for me it wasn't a distraction, just so inviting.

The best part was they had a huge grassy area

that led down to the beach. 

There were chairs and fire pits, and the sun setting on the ocean was so amazing.  Once again, I say:

"These Cali beaches are wasted on Californians!"

I love....and swoon......for Boyd and the sunset....

Quaint Cambria Ca.

Oh man, Cambria was so charming.....

these hens and chicks had me going crazy...

I laid on this bench and soaked in the sun on "Spy Glass Drive" enchanting, breezy sea air smell.  Boyd and I tried to decide if we could live in someone's garage or shed here....since that's probably all we would be able to afford......

Oh how I love the ocean.....these beaches are wasted on Californians....hahahaha 

Oh how I love this man....he understands my need to get to the ocean .....at least yearly.

These geraniums were growing like a huge shrubbery......

eeny, meeny, miney moe.....

This cracked me up.  The drought is so extreme that in the bathroom of the restaurant we went to it had a sign: "If its' yellow, let it mellow.  It it's brown flush it down."  What the heck? 

Then we see this sign about the new poo-pourri....hahaha

We wandered along this cemetery, so old and over-grown and cool.

Aren't all cats grumpy....Harmony, what do you say?

SANTA BARBARA

 

We made it to the ocean......and for me

it's a piece of Heaven.....

VICTORVILLE...............

Can you see the lovely Donuts & Deli....next to it was a little gem hiding,  and their food was so delicious........

The hand printed menu......

Carne Asada......ummmm

Tacos

We licked our plates clean.....

Road Trip.....1st stop

Well, this year for our 32nd anniversary Mr. Mr. and I decided on a road trip.  We started by going to Jakity-do-dah-day's missionary farewell in Washington, Utah.  It was great, so many family members were there to support him.  He is leaving to go to the MTC in Mexico City, then it's off to the wild wild mid-west of Oklahoma City Spanish speaking mission.  He will be AWESOME  We stayed in a condo with Travis & Mandi and those Lloyd kiddos...it was fantastic!  Such a great way to stay rather than a hotel.....Mr. Mr. was a bit apprehensive but it turned out GREAT.

Then we left and headed to Las Wages (Vegas)  It was Boyd's birthday on the 27th and I purchased tickets about 2 days prior...in such a panic of "what do I get this guy" mode. So we went to

see Cirque "Love" show.  But before we could go to the show we needed to eat.  We went to a yummy burger joint. BLT Burger in the Mirage.  The waiters had shirts that on the back it said: "Tip waiters not cows" we thought it was pretty funny.

We hit the gift shop that had all Beatle-mania crap  stuff and purchased Mr. Mr. a T-shirt and a tie.  He's pretty excited to wear the Tie to church....

This burger was B-I-G, even too large for my mouth!

I think the Las Vegas strip is a sewer and this trip did not do anything to change my mind.  We stayed at "South Point" about 10 miles south of all the nuttiness on Las Vegan Blvd. it was inexpensive and fit the bill.  I will stay there again....yeah like in 5 years when I forget I have Vegas and end up there again!!  That being said, the show was amazing.  We so loved it, and look forward to another Cirque show.  Happy Birthday Mr. Mr.  I love getting him presents that I get to enjoy with him!!

There was absolutely nothing that wasn't impressive in this show.  Save your shekels and get yourself some tickets to this show.....no regrets.....;I would so do it again...and again.