traveling

hello from california's central (and northern) coast! we are traveling, on a road trip (and boat trip). this adventure is a bit different (for us) and is actually three adventures in one. part one and two are complete (mission accomplished!) and so the most fun part, part three is left, which we are on right now!

part one ~ 

a few hours up the coast, san simeon ~ we spend the evening watching the surf, the sunset and eating fish and chips, and waiting for friends to arrive.

next morning, we all head north to big sur

 in big sur, we cart and carry one kayak, two paddleboards, paddles and several days of equipment and food over a mile down to the beach

making preparations

there they go, can you see the 3 of them out at sea? i watched and made my wishes for nearly an hour, and then slowly began the hike back alone.


part two ~

on my own in big sur i went to my favorite place, nepenthe. such a beautiful day! i ate lunch, knit and watched three acorn woodpeckers and one stellar's jay in the tree directly in front of me!

this is the bathroom at nepenthe. the art painted on the walls is so lovely, everytime i see it it's a thrill. 

 went to the henry miller memorial library next

found a couple books and a tote

 at the hotel (one of the books, and the tote, and knitting!)

 another day i went to hearst castle

 even though i've taken all the tours a few times, i could take the upstairs tour a dozen more (or even more!). the library is amazing. each guide offers something a bit different too, different stories and anecdotes. this time i learned that first lady grace coolidge was once trapped in the elevator. when she was finally found and asked if she were okay, she answered yes, she could yodel and she had her knitting.

part two and a half ~

the adventurers arrive! they'd kayaked and standup paddleboarded 36 miles of big sur coast. returning safe, healthy and happy = successful adventure.


part three ~

patrick and will head back to their homes and families

and now, time for chucks and my adventure together. we spend time with the elephant seals

central coast zebras, and then head north...

to san francisco

then marin county

our bed and breakfast came with chickens  :)

this place!

heading further north still, point reyes seashore

point arena lighthouse, mendocino (we are in the top of the lighthouse!)

and because this happened nine years ago today, we are staying at our favorite place on the entire california coast to celebrate...

here. we'll be back soon, there is so much to share about mendocino and magical alegria!

thank you, as always, for coming along! xxx lori

at the inn

redwood forest, big sur, california

deetjen's big sur inn*in the early 1930's, helmuth deetjen, a norwegian immigrant, came with his wife helen to big sur. they bought a hundred and twenty acres of land in castro canyon and began building a homestead. before highway one was completed in 1937, castro canyon was a traditional stopover for travelers making their way along the coastal wagon road. the deetjens welcomed overnight guests, and thus, the big sur inn was created.
over the years, deetjen built norwegian-style rooms and gave each of them a name:antique apartment, new room, champagne, chalet and granpas. all work was done by "granpa" deetjen and friends using locally milled, scavenged redwood.
the inn exists today because, when deetjen died in 1972, he left the inn "to be forever enjoyed by transient guests wanting to experiance the
peace, friendship and beauty that can be found at the inn".
the inn is a registered national historic site. it is operated by the deetjen's big sur inn preservation foundation.*

last friday, at daybreak, we took off for the anniversary weekend we had planned since october. unstormy weather finally permitted, after two cancellations, the third time was a charm! our destination was deetjen's big sur inn, two hundred miles up the coast...

we spent 3 wonderful days with no phones, internet, television. the weather was cold and clear. we hiked, we sat and did nothing, we listened to the creeks run, so full with water this time of year. we ate beautiful meals and drank wine (me) and beer (him). we took lots of photos. we slept late (for us) in our lovely cozy down bed. and we spent hours in the emergency care clinic when chuck cut his leg, requiring 13 stitches (and 15 shots). but he's okay, we were extremely grateful it wasn't worse and that he recieved such good care in this wilderness area.

we are back now, but my head is still in the redwood forest...



surf check on the way up the coast, moonstone beach, cambria

elephant seals, san simeon

bixby bridge, big sur

view from our room

breakfast at deetjen's

the forest

dinner at the inn

the start of a nearby trail

what happened on this trail

point sur lighthouse (on top of the big rock)

inside the lighthouse, i learned these prisms drew light down inside

illuminating the room where the lighthouse keeper worked

the lighthouse, i think it's scary up here

the prisms, a source of light before electricity

to get to the lighthouse, you park at the bottom of the rock and climb, first the road leading up and then many stairs

my new camera

happy cows that live near the lighthouse

moo = hmm?

back to the forest

knitting in our room

looking and listening closely revealed small critters of the forest...

big sur banana slug

ladybird beetles or ladybugs

webs i didn't mind seeing

happy anniversary honey

(glad to have figured out the self timer on my new camera)

nepenthe at night

meditative knitting by the creek

found at the big sur bakery, someone else's knitted coffee sleeves, cute!

saying goodbye to granpa's room... goodbye mouse (that lived in the room), goodbye racoons, goodbye wood stove, and cozy down bed, and record player with the scratchy records, goodbye rushing creek and goodbye redwoods...

goodbye big sur, till next time

thank you honey for such an unforgettable time, and thank you for coming along, it is always such a pleasure to share great adventures!
♥ lori