Adventure 602: Morro Bay State Park/Post G

We'll soon bid adieu to the "rock".

We sent Liz off with a stomach filled with a breakfast scramble and a hot cup of coffee. She just now reported that her trip up the coast was spectacular, but not recommended for us to follow-too twisty. We've ridden along the Big Sur on bicycles in the past, so we weren't seriously considering that route with the trailer. On Monday, we'll follow our trusty GPS, Susie, and she will guide us on the most efficient route. Since it's Saturday, I watched a couple of basketball games, one of which was KU squeaking by the woeful K-State Wildcats. Then Judy and I did laundry, walked the beach, and watched a lively college regatta in the bay. The wind, as seems usual in sailboat racing, went from barely puffing to fiercely blustering. The small two person dinghies flopped over and back, some even capsizing in the challenging conditions, but the young enthusiastic college sailors didn't seem to mind. It was a party of the privileged class, complete with cheese plates and energy drinks. It was all good. For dinner, I'm cooking one of our delicacies, "TimChee" soup. We don't have real Kim Chee, so this fermented sour kraut we bought at Whole Foods will offer a surprising taste treat. The weather has turned cold and promises to drop another ten degrees tomorrow, so it seems we'll be headed North just in time. We plan to be Catholics once again tomorrow, and if the weather cooperates even a little, we'll take a hike to Harmony Bay. After all, we are at the beach. It seems proper to enjoy it. Regardless, life is good, especially today.

 My Bunny surveying the regatta.

Three schools at least participated today: UCLA, Cal-Poly, and UCSB. I think "regatta' is one of those SAT vocabulary words.

 Keep your dream alive.

 Selfie of the day: No texts with grand pix, so sad.

 Given the current medical threat, it's worth considering how "...way leads on to way...".

 Very cool nautically themed kids playground.

See you soon, Mrs. Liz. Thanks for your good will and "motivating" presence.

Adventure 601: Morro Bay State Park/Post F

Powerfully beautiful.

Fifty-four miles on the bike on Highway 101 the last two days. The smooth road, wide shoulder, and warm easy wind lessoned our anxiety about the traffic. In fact, since we were open to the ocean most of the way to the Hearst Castle sign where we turned around, we soon ignored any or all of the cars whooshing by. We heard sea birds cackling in the air, saw surfer dudes slipping down waves, a lone woman hitchhiking, and felt the awesome "cool" California winter. We feel privileged and a little decadent. After our ride we enjoyed a scrumptious waffle (Our second; Liz's first) at the Hidden Kitchen, and I must say, the waffle I ate today surpassed the one Judy and I shared earlier in the week. Liz concurred that the Hidden Kitchen qualified as a great "find". We'll temporarily lose Liz tomorrow as she'll head to the Bay area to get a little grandma time in with Emma, a little mom time with John, and give a little support to daughter-in-law, Sarah. We will hook up again on Monday in Half Moon Bay. In the meantime, my Bunny and I will gut it out here beside the estuary in Morro Bay. Tough duty, but someone has to do it. We'll also enjoy the next round of campers as they file in for the weekend. Right now, the six closest sites to us are empty. By this afternoon, it's very likely they'll all be filled. Earlier in the week, Judy and I were concerned about the traffic on Highway 101, but thanks to Liz and her undaunted spirit, we ventured out. It turned out to be fabulous. For that and for our time together, we're grateful. It solidifies the notion that life is good, especially today.

 Photo of the day: Mommy Leticia and her little guy, Falcon.

 We met this little cutie, Juniper, enjoying her basket on the porch of her Mommy's store.

 Dave and Scout, circa 2016. We wish they were here now.

 We think we're going to rent this place for next winter.

 Art shot of the day, taken right around the corner from where Juniper was nesting.

 Selfie number two of the day. Notice the winning grin on the face of the Wiley Cager.

 Photo of the photographer.

 These waffles literally would make me drive back to Cambria.

 Seventy degrees, very little wind, and the vastness of imagination. What could be better?

 Selfie number one: It's all good.

Adventure 600: Morro Bay State Park/Post E

Art is not stupid.

I thought for a moment that the stupid finder's spin swirled around me, especially after I found my lost credit card in my wallet this morning, but no, the stupid finder found Trump world front and center. Our President, after ludicrously professing an imminent, non-existent vaccine to the Corona virus, and further professing that America is still "greatly" ready to face what Rush pronounced as a hoax disease about as dangerous as a common cold, just held a press conference in the cobweb filled briefing room in the White House to announce that Vice President Pence will head our country's task force against the virus. The stupid part is this: I can hardly wait  (If this threat becomes pandemic) for Trump to say, "I barely know that Pence guy. I only met him once." That babble aside, I did my own stupid part when I found my credit card in my wallet. Simply stupid, just like panic always is. And as I predicted, my "pique" was exacerbated by cosmic forces. Eventually, I calmed down enough to enjoy a very nice day with two of my favorite women: my Bunny, and Liz. We began the day, pique free, at the French bakery in Morro, which was absolutely divine. We then drove up through the hardened oaks and twisted canyons to Paso Robles wine country to buy some wine. We luncheoned in a garden spot in Cayucos, and for dinner, we prepared a delicious home grown chicken salad, while sipping, of course, a cup or two of the fine Californian wine. Once again, life proved to be good, especially today.

 Liz, adorned in her California poppy.

 My Bunny framed with roses.

 Sadly, despite the fine quiche and croissant egg sandwich, I suffered a skunking.

 "Better luck tomorrow, Pop Pops."

 Sarah, last summer, mastering the high pier jump.

French bakery goodies. I'll take one of everything.

 I celebrated finding my credit card by buying a case of expensive wine.

Young Miss Emily, our reader.

Young Mr. Sawyer, our craftsman.

Adventure 599: Morro Bay State Park/Post D

This is Living, Dewie.

It started off as a wonderful day. Warm sunny skies greeted us as we headed off on our twenty mile bike ride. We traveled the beach front to visit the bakery and the otters. The otters were floating serenely, but alas, the bakery is closed Mondays and Tuesdays, which means we'll have to delay ourselves for another day. Surely not the life we spoiled Americans have accustomed ourselves to. Nonetheless, off we went on our bikes after standing amazed at another of God's creatures, the otters. It's arguable that bay otters live quite the good life as well, maybe better than us spoiled humans. We ate lunch at the Mexican place in downtown Morro Bay. It's quite good. Then we headed for our highlight of the day, a hot tub soak at the Sycamore Resort in Avila Bay. We arrived a little early, and decided to have a drink on the beach. That's where I discovered that I didn't have my credit card. I think I lost it yesterday when we washed the truck. Grrrr! So now, we've decided to lock the card in case we put it in a pocket somewhere. It's quite morosely funny that in our haste to save a couple of car wash quarters, we've caused ourselves this administrative grief. Fortunately, we carry two different cards, but I can tell you, I'm not liking this turn of events. I had hoped to write tonight about the notion of hopeful non-violence. Right now I'd like to smash something (Quite non-violently, of course) to smithereens. I really hate it when the stupid finder points right at me, but not to worry, I'll pout like the fully formed spoiled adult I am until after I've consumed enough bourbon to percolate a little bit of amnesia, and then I'll probably knock my forehead on a cupboard door, or do something else as cosmically demeaning. That'll do it. I"ll be better then. In the meantime, i must say our soak in the private "Luna" tub at the Sycamore Resort was quite relaxing, and I must say, too, this first world problem notwithstanding, that life is still good, especially today.

 Emily, always thinking. I always tell her, "Smart girls rule."

 Sarah, always talking. Her good cheer will hold her in good stead, I do believe.

 I was especially interested in the top rule. Really?

 Bellying up to the bar. Cheers. Let's toast to "Stupid".

 Out at the mouth of the bay, there were thirty or more Otters.

 Avila Beach pier, a long way to nowhere. 

 Falcon says, "Chill out, Pop Pops."

Private tubs, all fed by the naturally hot mineral water, dot the hillside.

 The Luna tub.

Sawyer says, "Pop Pops, let's go! Leave that sad sack behind."

Adventure 598: Morro Bay State Park/Post C

So close!

Calooh! Callay! What a Frabjous day! Our friend Liz showed up in her "Liz Mobile". I welcomed her with a near win and a chagrin. I left her in the stink hole whimpering like a Democrat. No worries. She'll join us for the rest of the week and also at our next stop at Half Moon Bay, so she'll have plenty of time for pay back. This morning Judy and I drove up the road twenty-three miles to the town of Cambria to the Hidden Kitchen to enjoy a gluten free blue corn meal waffle smothered with eggs, bacon, and avocado. It was worth the drive. Our secondary objective was to check highway 1 out for riding purposes. Riding is less doable right around Morro Bay than we remembered, but it's pristine just twenty miles up the coast. I did do an exploratory ride around town after we got back. Morro Bay has a nice little bike path that's about ten miles long, and the back road to San Luis Obispo is also ridden quite frequently by the locals. We have a full agenda while Liz is here. We'll ride, visit the wine country, visit the hot springs, have another waffle at the Hidden Kitchen, and most assuredly play another few games of crib. It's especially enjoyable to share time with our good friend. In the meantime, I'm typing away, listening to birds, enjoying the not quite cool evening, sipping a wee bit of bourbon, and basking in the setting sun. Life is truly good, especially today.

Disco Falcon.

 

 Disco Emily.

 Disco Sarah (Some time ago).

 My half of the scrumptious waffle.

 The "Wiley Cager" came out on top in this game.

 A spot worth finding.

 Sawyer and his disco chicks.

 The "Liz Mobile."

 The Hidden Kitchen is an outdoor space.

My Bunny slurping her "Moonstone Buzz" this morning. I think that's why she won.

Fresh fish for dinner for this guy.

The tide's out, and the walk along the boardwalk in the setting sun is quite pleasant.