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| San Simeon Beach |
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| Adorable Happy. (Total surfer magnet, BTW) |
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| Pier at San Simeon Point. One of my favorite spots of all time. |
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| Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Paso Robles. A modern day Wonka Factory of Awesome. |
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| Sweet Salted Caramel and Dark Chocolate HEAVEN |
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| Duckie's Chowder Shack in Cayucos. AMAZING food. Go. Now. |
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| This is my 'I'M SO EXCITED FOR FISH AND CHIPS I CAN'T BREATHE!' face. |
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| Behold. Fish and chips in all of their glory. Seriously, the best I've ever let grace my lips. |
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| Pier in Cayucos |
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| Non profit Art Gallery. Fantastic work and people here. |
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| This is my beach face. |
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| Sunset on the way to Cambria Thursday. SO beautiful. |
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| This is my best bud and his gorgeous, incredible wife. Aren't they adorable? |
Sunday: San Simeon Point
Monday: Errands,cleaning, freak out/ scolding. (Bad kids day)
Tuesday:Cayucos, CA
Wednesday:Downtown Paso Robles.
Thursday: Cambria night life.
Friday: Running, running, fuming, running...
Hey pals! Ready for the second installment of my fantastical adventure?! Let's start on Sunday. I thought I'd take Happy to the beach because he had been on the best behavior ever. So we jumped in the blue pickup and hit the road. He sat in the passenger seat, tongue hanging loosely to the side, tail wagging, and eyes wide with excitement as the fresh sea air pelted our faces. He sat tall with his paw rested casually on my knee, so like an eager, love-struck man enjoying a casual adventure with his girl on a sunny afternoon. We zoomed through countless vineyards with rolling green and golden hills, misty hilltops, glades of lush oaks, winding narrow roads, and towering pines. We kept our eyes peeled for sparkling azure waves and the occasional zebra roaming with the horses near Hearst Castle.
We arrived at San Simeon, a dog-friendly, family friendly alcove; complete with fishing pier, picnic tables, a children's museum and a creek to wade in if the waves were a big deal. Next to Moonstone beach, this is my second favorite place to be. The water is pristine, the sand warm a midst black and green cliffs separating the sea from the road, and onlookers wander occasionally down the long stretch of rocky beach. After a lovely picnic lunch of gourmet peanut butter and honey sandwiches, Happy and I ran gleefully up and down the beach, playing tag with the roaring waves and each other. We slept under the sun, read together, met some new friends and climbed upon towering rocks as the salty spray whipped our faces and soaked our feet. After a delight-some, full afternoon, we climbed back in the blue pick up and puttered home. As if the day wasn't lovely enough, John Mayer's smokey voice echoed through the canyon on the cool, evening breeze as the sun set below the mountains.
Monday was spent picking up poop, running errands, more poop, walking naughty dogs, and picking up more poop. Was I amused? I think not.
Tuesday I needed to leave the house. So I jumped in the pick up again with my pal Happy and decided to go down the old highway to Cayucos. The day was colder and overcast, but I wanted to see what Cayucos beach was all about. First thing, I gave Happy some food and water and let him chill in the back with the windows blowing air through and walked back to my favorite chowder shack, Duckie's. The thought of not knowing when I'd have this beautiful food grace my lips again made me sad, so I ordered the fish and chips once more. I sat at a bar, in front of a window overlooking the beach. Sun-bleached and faded photographs of old sea vessels and fishing paraphernalia strewn the walls, people coming from every seam of the shack to greet old friends with hugs and smiling faces. My food arrived with a flourish and I relished every. single. bite.
Across the street, a non-profit art gallery held portraits of the roaring sea and its hearty, yet delicate, foliage, strange sculpture, and poignant pieces beautiful enough to make you want to cry. I purchased a hand painted water color original postcard and chatted a bit with the wonderful volunteer and wandered out the door delighted, with a brighter hope for the world. I grabbed Happy and wandered down to the gray sand and swelling waves speckled with families and children screaming with delight. We watched a senior tai chi class, exhales lost amid the whistling wind and crashing waves. We played tag again between the tangled mess of seaweed and made friends with adorable surfers.( Happy was quite the surfer magnet. These sun kissed Adonises in surfer suits would come out of nowhere to pet and compliment my "awesome dog" as he showed off and listened oh so well. Needless to say, I didn't mind one bit. ) I watched happy children giggle as their mother's held tightly to their pudgy fingers and kiss their cheeks. I spent the afternoon people watching and daydreaming of my family in the future.
Wednesday I spent the day cleaning like a mad woman, but escaped as twilight started to settle in the valley. I wandered to down town Paso Robles to visit my favorite sweet shoppe, Powell's. Inside is a miniature Wonka Factory, candy and sweets covering every inch of wall space, glittering counters and overflowing tables. The 1970's classic, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory plays and echoes through the shoppe, completing the atmosphere of wonder and delight of a world of sweets. Handmade chocolates and bon bons sit in pretty wrappers, candy dispensers line every wall neatly, new and vintage candies are showcased everywhere. At the heart of the store stands the holy of holies; a local authentic gelato counter, made with fresh, California flavors. I tried a shovelful of the sweet, salted caramel and the purest dark chocolate. I sat in the park across the street, watched the sunset and scooped the airy goodness into my mouth as the light of the day faded and the golden lights flickered on the quaint town square. OH, and did I mention I heard Van Halen play live? Sick.
Thursday was the day Mam and Lindsey and Micah would make the journey westward and we'd spend the day in Morro Bay. Due to crazy flight delays, they weren't able to make it until late afternoon, early evening. Mam felt bad, so she and I jumped in the rental car and drove to Cambria to say goodbye before my flight the following morning. As we drove along the winding highway, the sun put on display unlike one I'd never seen before. Vibrant red, gold and orange lit up the sky, purple and silver hues caressing the outermost edges of the wispy clouds floating overhead. The air caught in my throat as I sat in awe. We arrived at moonstone beach as dusk kissed the sea and the tide crashed upon the jagged rocks. I blew a kiss to the invigorating breeze with a happy heart and the promise of eventual return and turned into the twilight toward town. After a dinner of warm pizza and laughter, Mam and I headed back to Paso with the stars blazing overhead.
Friday was a day filled with running, delays and frustration. Halfway to the airport, I realized I was without my wallet, phone and boarding pass. Luckily, we were able to turn around and get me to the air port in the knick of time, only to realize that my flight would be delayed for nearly two hours. By the time I got back to Vegas, we taxed on the tarmac for another 30 minutes or so. I sprinted through the airport to get to my ride, hug my friend goodbye and get stuck in an hour of bumper to bumper traffic and travel to get back to a best friend's wedding in St. George that started at 5. Needless to say, I showed up to the wedding looking like a disheveled hobo right as the bride and groom were leaving. It was crazy. BUT! They were adorable and I'm so lucky I got to see them before their departure.
That...was pretty much my adventure house sitting. Well, the happy, great parts, anyway. I hope you enjoyed reading about it as much I enjoyed living it. If you ever get the chance to go to Cambria, Morro Bay, Paso Robles area, GO. It's gorgeous, wonderful, peaceful and a piece of heaven here on Earth. Remember the beauty of exploration and culture. Go find it. :) Until my next adventure kids.
