I set my alarm for 7:20 this morning. Anyone who knows me is now simultaneously rolling their eyes and laughing. But I tried. I hit snooze a few times, sure, but I was up and at 'em before 8 rolled around. A bath for the dog, a shower for me, a stop at Wal-Mart (they're so community-conscious - did you know that have a no knife sales to under-16's policy?) and at the vet (needed a copy of Zacks innoculation records for entry into Canada - you should have seen his face when we pulled up there - did you know dogs can swear with their eyes?) and we were on our way.
Here's todays picture story:
This was before I put the cooler in, and I'm not even gonna show you the back seat.
Somebody was NOT about to get left behind.
Somebody was NOT about to get left behind.
He alternated between this, and....
This.
This is California's version of the NY-NY's garage security technique. Spend money to build a guard station, hire people to staff, then just waaaaaaave everyone through.
The SUV is blocking it but this is the worst car fire I've ever seen. FD wasnt even on the scene yet - jsut looked like an orange fire ball surrounded by a metal cage. Scary.
The rain coming in over the mountains near (in?) the San Bernadino Nat. Forest. It looked like that in three directions. I almost crashed rubbernecking.
Finally (says Zack), almost there!
A little house near the beach in Ventura. A lot of the houses were like this: small and adorable with gorgeous (and often very green and/or heavily flowered) yards and walls/fences/gates.
Just to the side of a house.
Couple blocks from the beach - the sand blows up this far!
The beach - I should've got a better shot, its way nicer than this shows.
Houses on the beach. I want to live in there.
Dinner.
the beach is a mixture of super soft sand, rocks worn smooth by countless waves, and sea life (plants that look like little purple turnips, seaweed, tiny crabs, mussels, etc)
Sand dollar! Or, um... sand half dollar?
Happy feet.
My own little Tippi Hedren moment.
"Duhrrrrrrrr... Mommy? Dith thand no tathe good."
Oh... um... whoops?
Ventura Pier - the longest wooden pier in California. It was a commercial docking point up till about a hundred years ago (they shipped everything from pigs to seaweed) but now its a fairly popular fishing spot and its base is home to several cute looking eateries.
The SUV is blocking it but this is the worst car fire I've ever seen. FD wasnt even on the scene yet - jsut looked like an orange fire ball surrounded by a metal cage. Scary.
The rain coming in over the mountains near (in?) the San Bernadino Nat. Forest. It looked like that in three directions. I almost crashed rubbernecking.
Finally (says Zack), almost there!
A little house near the beach in Ventura. A lot of the houses were like this: small and adorable with gorgeous (and often very green and/or heavily flowered) yards and walls/fences/gates.
Just to the side of a house.
Couple blocks from the beach - the sand blows up this far!
The beach - I should've got a better shot, its way nicer than this shows.
Houses on the beach. I want to live in there.
Dinner.
the beach is a mixture of super soft sand, rocks worn smooth by countless waves, and sea life (plants that look like little purple turnips, seaweed, tiny crabs, mussels, etc)
Sand dollar! Or, um... sand half dollar?
Happy feet.
My own little Tippi Hedren moment.
"Duhrrrrrrrr... Mommy? Dith thand no tathe good."
Oh... um... whoops?
Ventura Pier - the longest wooden pier in California. It was a commercial docking point up till about a hundred years ago (they shipped everything from pigs to seaweed) but now its a fairly popular fishing spot and its base is home to several cute looking eateries.
So Z and I walked a couple miles down the beach (he's scared of waves) and back through the bike trail in the national park. It really is beautiful here - the beach and park are set up to be super family friendly, with tons of picnic and grill areas, nice permanent bathrooms, etc. One of the park rangers pulled up in his beach truck and we talked for a minute - he was apologizing for the crappy weather, being as it was hovering just under 70 and overcast, but I was in love with the salty, fresh-smelling wind and the feel of the sand underneath my feet.
We passed couples strolling, artists gathering twisted driftwood and stones, a dude jogging with his dog (super friendly "can he [the dog] come say hi [to Zack]?), remnants of little sand sculptures shaped like castles with feathers stuck in the top. It was lovely.
By the time we got back to the hotel Zack, who nearly choked himself out with his leash when we started the walk, slurped a bowl of water and flopped himself on the floor. He's there now. You can probably hear him snoring.
I enjoyed some great pizza and salad from a local pizzeria and a diet coke, and am quite thoroughly content.
Now: sleep. Tomorrow: Monterey, with a tentative side trip to Carmel.
We passed couples strolling, artists gathering twisted driftwood and stones, a dude jogging with his dog (super friendly "can he [the dog] come say hi [to Zack]?), remnants of little sand sculptures shaped like castles with feathers stuck in the top. It was lovely.
By the time we got back to the hotel Zack, who nearly choked himself out with his leash when we started the walk, slurped a bowl of water and flopped himself on the floor. He's there now. You can probably hear him snoring.
I enjoyed some great pizza and salad from a local pizzeria and a diet coke, and am quite thoroughly content.
Now: sleep. Tomorrow: Monterey, with a tentative side trip to Carmel.
