Hello, all!
This is our last day in La Jolla. Tomorrow will be the first day of our journey back home.
We’ve been eating and bookstore-ing and Whole Foods-ing and beach-ing.
Warwick’s has been in existence for decades and I used to visit this store when we lived here. Seeing it with fresh eyes after having been away, I applaud this independent book shop for its well-curated (yes, I’m using that over-used word) selection of books. They have everything here; many of the books would be impossible to find in a chain bookstore. Displayed beautifully, the books are able to show off and beckon you to pick them up and explore the world between the covers. Warwick’s also has a stationary and office supply/gift shop, as well.
But it’s the books I’m interested in.
We bought a Rand McNally road atlas, a map of California, a couple of spiritual books, Noah Hawley’s Before the Fall (for me) and Al Franken’s new book: Al Franken, Giant of the Senate (the title makes me laugh out loud.) That’s for Don, but I’ll read it, as well.
Beach:
Next time, we’re going to kayak.
So frigging beautiful. And the weather has been glorious. Yesterday was the first day I felt any humidity. That is why I couldn’t live in Florida. Too humid.
Ironically, with no more time left to visit the beach, I bought a bathing suit yesterday. Go figure.
While Don was doing a matinee, I walked to a shopping center nearby that has a Marshall’s, DSW shoes, and a World Market. I found two adorable hand towels at World Market for our bathroom, a bathing suit (sort of 40’s retro style) at Marshall’s and these shoes at DSW:
I couldn’t resist them.
As Don gave a ‘Va-va-voom!’ when he saw me in the bathing suit, I guess I made a good choice. Even though I miss my younger, slimmer body, Don loves my curves. Bless him!
Today, I’m going to do our laundry while Don is at the matinee and then I’ll see Escape to Margaritaville again tonight for the closing performance. Don has had such a terrific time doing this show. He loves the cast. They are wonderful people who are also a lot of fun. I’m so grateful that he’s had this experience.
We’ve decided to drive up the coast of California to San Francisco, where we’ll catch I-80 and travel through Nevada and Utah and Wyoming and Nebraska and Iowa and Illinois and Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. We’re really looking forward to the drive up the coast. I did it with my friend Rick when we first moved out here, but that was 24 years ago! Can’t wait to see it with my sweetheart.
Happy Sunday.
Have fun on your coastal trip! I love exploring the smaller coastal towns, especially Cambria, Morro Bay, and the Monterey Peninsula. I take San Francisco for granted since I was born and raised here and live nearby. If you want to eat at a terrific vegan Chinese restaurant, go to Enjoy Vegetarian. You can google the info. There’s one on the outskirts of Chinatown, and one in the mid-Sunset, south of Golden Gate Park. My favorite is “riblets” with broccoli. What I love about the restaurant is the different authentic sauces and gravies. Each dish is different and tastes like the food Dad used to cook, only with vegan substitutes for the meat.
We’ll probably stop in Cambria. We won’t go into SF, though, no time and we’ve both spent a lot of time there. We’ll veer off northeast to head toward Nevada.
Oh, I envy your drive tomorrow…I’ve only been on parts of Pacific Coast Hwy. (I assume that’s the one you were talking about?) Regardless…enjoy your drive…and Don’s last performance today! Travel safe!! ;)
Thank you, Donnamae!
There used to be a wonderful vegetarian restaurant in Cambia not sure now! Enjoy your beautiful drive! What a great trip you have planned!
I want to stop there, so I’ll let you know if we find one, Dottie.
Enjoy your trip home.
Louise Penny was on CBS Sunday Morning today. I thought of you as I was watching it. I think you can watch it on their website.
Thank you, Mary. I’ll try to watch it this afternoon while Don’s at the matinee.
I just watched it here, later in the day; had ‘DVR’d’ it. Wasn’t it excellent; a really good Sunday Morning piece. I found I had tears in my eyes as it ended. I still know very little about Louise Penny, introduced to me here on your blog, Claudia; you sold me on the books. I rather obsessively went out and bought all twelve because I love hearing about a good series; don’t want to miss a thing! But there they sit, waiting for me, so I’ve decided they will be my Fall/Winter relaxation endeavor, if my eyes can just take it (as I’m aging, it’s getting harder to read although, of course, large-print books ARE available); will just have to take my time at it. I still prefer a hardcover over a Kindle (that may have to change).
I enjoyed seeing where Louise Penny lives…hearing her speaking voice; seeing people of the area they interviewed for the show feature. I also loved listening about how she-herself described what her books are about; how she views it and how she approaches the stories; the background on the Three Trees; all fascinating. She strikes me as eloquent; very intelligent; soulful. Just the thing, her novels, to sink into on a colder afternoon with a mug of cocoa or cup of tea. She’s had real tragedy in her life; seems she truly writes from the heart. I’m just in general, so glad I found out about her; another case of I guess having lived under a rock, except that I’m generally not ‘into’ murder mysteries, so that’s probably part of the WHY.
Quebec has been a place to want to go to; is in my bucket and on the list, ever since an ex-boyfriend of mine vacationed there in the 1970s and made it sound so enticing…and I speak a wee (big wee) bit of French, so maybe I could get along okay up there for a couple of weeks! I look at the whole of Canada as our very refined, sophisticated neighbor to the north, at least from the very little of its western part I’ve had the privilege of touring. Claudia, do you know from what part of the country your own ancestors hailed from; have you been able to ever go there, to Canada?
Sounds like a great trip you have planned. Be sure to wave to my heart, in San Francisco. That’s where I left it—no, really! I wasn’t born there, but it will always be Home. I hope they’ve cleaned up the PCH near Big Sur, since the big landslide. But I’m sure they’ll have well-marked detours, if not.
I’m glad you’ll be there for the last performance. Don’t forget tissues!
I’m not sure if it’s cleaned up yet. We’ll find out!
Oh, Claudia, I have SO enjoyed reading about your time in California with Don! I’m so happy you were able to get out there and the drive back cross-country sounds like a dream to me! I must admit I’m not that familiar with southern California, having only been to the LA/Newport Beach area only only once, but having lived in northern California (Santa Clara) for 3 years, I visited San Francisco many, many times. Have a wonderful time and a safe journey home!!!
Thank you, Donna!
Okay, keyboard is acting up, sticking and repeating words for some reason – should have proofed before clicking Post Comment – please forgive!
xo
Gotta weigh in here!
If you’re going to Santa Monica and through Malibu (Malibu enclaves to your left being sort of in ‘segments’ as you continue to head north), take a right further up the highway at Pepperdine University and make a loop through their campus to see awesome views of the Malibu coastline or find a tree to sit under for lunch out of the van. It might be a nice respite from the Malibu traffic (which does thin out the further north you go through it). You probably can’t even find a place to park at Paradise Cove (a scene of much filming for movies and TV); it’ll be too crowded; also is expensive. If you make a stop further out of Malibu, in Ventura, get off at California Street (to your right) where, at the top of the hill, is the lovely and historical City Hall and on the opposite end of the street is the pier/boardwalk.
Further up the 101, Rincon highway along the ocean (I love Bates Road but it’s private; gated off for the wealthy folks)…you’ll hit some road construction around the area of Carpinteria (a small town) but it won’t last for long (they’re widening the highway…my unsolicited advice[?], you want to best be on the road between Ventura and Santa Barbara from the timeframe of 10am to 2pm if at all possible because 101 traffic can get quite clogged even on a weekday…this is a major commuter route…).
If you want to experience Santa Barbara (I couldn’t even begin to tell you of all there is to see and do there!), exit the 101 on your left at Cabrillo Boulevard (the beach boulevard). The bird refuge (big pond) on your right is named for the sister of copper heiress Huguette Clarke (NYC socialite/later quite reclusive) whose family’s estate/mansion is on the bluff opposite although you can’t see it from the road; it will hopefully be open some day to the public as it was bequeathed to the city. The pier/wharf will be eventually on your left but the summer crowds might be less if you just keep going up Cabrillo Blvd to where it becomes Shoreline Drive, along the marina and up the bluff to Shoreline Park which is actually a residential area near Santa Barbara City College and there’s generally a place to park your vehicle; it’s a nice walk in this park high above the beach, many views of the coastline; the water is right THERE beneath you, though…and, used to be although I don’t know if it’s like that now, there was a (steep) stairway to the sand so you can dabble your toes in the water if it’s not high tide. If you keep driving on Shoreline Drive…it’ll curve and become Cliff Drive (area of town called The Mesa), continue on Cliff Drive past Arroyo Burro State Beach on your left (we locals [yes, I was once a local!] called it Hendry’s Beach; there used to always be a little clapboard restaurant there [walk off the sand and through the door]; modest prices but I think it was replaced about ten years ago with something newer whereas it had been so ‘vintage’; sigh…but maybe it’s still got good food!) and you’ll eventually wind, on this same beach road, through the exclusive and well-tended Hope Ranch area (very horse-y, with glimpses of the ocean; gated estates) which will take you back to the 101 freeway at La Cumbre. I haven’t been through these areas for a couple of years but I doubt there’s much/any change.
Whatever you do, do NOT take the San Marcos Pass/Highway 54. It’ll be hot and dry and there’s probably a lot of smoke from this week’s wildfires. We came through there a few weeks ago and our older car could not handle the altitudes on this mountain pass and the vehicle overheated with absolutely nowhere to pull over; the area is remote. And it can get a lot of traffic because it’s a shortcut for locals/commuters but also for people wanting to get out to Lake Cachuma (which to me, is a sort of unremarkable lake, but that’s just ‘me’). The Pass is what connects Santa Barbara to the Santa Ynez Valley (wine country, inland) and is the movie “Sideways” route (when the characters were touring vineyards/wineries near Los Olivos) but I just think (my humble opinion!) it’s not a good idea for you this trip; you’d best enjoy hugging the coast route. Cooler temps for summer.
I love the drive north of Santa Barbara/Goleta at the coast…you’ll pass by favorite local beach areas (camping) called Gaviota; Refugio. Somewhere off to the right in the dry hills was Ronald Reagan’s ranch. (Wish you could have seen all this back in April when the hills were green from all the rain but they’re just ‘straw’ now although the drive is always enjoyable, to me; I love it.)
I used to like a little beach called Jalama Beach, which is near Lompoc off the Highway 1. It’s a Santa Barbara County seaside park. Jalama Road is something I recall as being very scenic. Off-season at least, this is a less-visited beach park. Avila Beach, just outside of San Luis Obispo by ten miles or so, is where the Diablo Nuclear Power Plant is located but you can’t see it, and their little downtown area has been revamped; supposedly trendy and nice now. There are three piers there, one of which I think belongs to Cal Poly University.
I personally love the Five Cities beach areas…Pismo, Shell Beach, Arroyo Grande (where Susan Branch has her studio/West coast home; her mother formerly lived in Cayucos [closer to quaint and scenic Cambria, north, which is the closest you’re probably gonna get to the feel of Monterey/Carmel , because I think Big Sur and the road is still a problem?]). I also like Morro Bay. (Paso Robles is another big ‘wine country’ area now but it’s inland and you will be hot. My vote would be no for Paso.)
I’ve always heard so much about Harmony Headlands State Park just north of Cayucos (on your way, probably not much out of the way). I guess it’s pretty and scenic at any time of year but was especially beautiful in Spring with wildflowers this year. Susan Branch talked a lot about it in her blog posts a few months ago and I know a woman who works at one of our local museums who says it’s one of her fave places on Earth. I looked it up just now: 784 acre coastal park located approx 5 mins north of Cayucos on Hwy 1. The park is open for day use hiking from 6am to sunset (I don’t know for sure but neither Susan nor my acquaintance [in her late 50s] talked of any of it being a strenuous hike, and Susan’s blog photos, and my friend’s phone-photos were stunning with amazing ocean views). “A small parking lot is visible along the west side adjacent to the southbound lane of Hwy 1; parking lot can accommodate approx 10 vehicles. One and a half mile trail.”
Back to further points north, I do hear conflicting stories about whether or not there’s a way to get to Big Sur now, beyond Cambria. Hwy 1 suffered all that damage in our winter storms. You might only get as far as those fun elephant seals sunning on the rocks (Piedras Blancas lighthouse and seal rookery, just a little past San Simeon/Cambria; although I haven’t been up that far for a long time, I remember the road as being quite close to seal action, like maybe just three or four miles from Hearst Castle; it’s all in the general vicinity; I love this area…beaches are more craggy, wild; little coves and often less-visited beaches; Moonstone Beach in Cambria is loved by a lot of people; you won’t find box stores/chain stores in Cambria!).
You both are going to have a WONDERFUL California vacation! Cheers!
Thanks, Vicki. We’ve been to Pepperdine – don’t know if we’ll stop – we’ll see. We’re playing it by ear. I do know I want to stop in Cambria. The rest is mostly scenic – we do have a loose schedule to keep to and motels cost money and we have a long way to go. So, if we stop, we’ll stop somewhere where we can do a little sightseeing but we can’t linger too long anywhere, unfortunately. As it is, I’ll only have 3 weeks at home before I have to go to Hartford and I have to do all my prep work on Midsummer, so we really have to be home by the 20th at the latest.
Well, I always feel rushed whenever I’ve traveled anywhere; always want to spend more time than I ever have, but you’ll see what you’ll see, and it’ll all be terrific, just so fun to have a vacation together before life gets so busy again, when this time it’s you who’s gone and Don can mind the cottage, at least for awhile. Keeping it loose on the road is a good way to do it; it’s good when you don’t have to be on the interstates the entire way but, again, ‘time’ and always more to do than you can fit in. I’ll read up on I-80; oh, how I wish I could stow away on such a fun trip! Love road trips!
I do recall, from long-ago family vacations with my parents, a place in Nevada called Virginia City, an old/historical mining town, something to do with Mark Twain. Maybe it’s too far out of your way. And my husband has background in Nebraska, Iowa, Wyoming…I did travel to NE and WY with him when we were first married (a long time ago). I enjoyed seeing that area in Nebraska of the Platte River. There’s a town across the river called Scottsbluff (is a national monument/national park, that ‘bluff’); I think it was the start of (??) the Oregon Trail (need to review my history!!) for the pioneers in their covered wagons, or else it was a ‘rest’ point along the way; very historical and I remember it also being sort of poignant, reading about their successes & hardships. There’s a visitor’s center there, like all nat’l parks. Maybe I’m dreaming it now, but I could swear I actually saw deeply-set wagon ruts in that grassy earth.
My husband says that on I-80 thru Iowa, you’ll see mostly farmland. Or so he thinks, since he hasn’t been there now for probably 35 years!! But he once lived there…am I crazy, or did you tell me once that Don lived in Omaha?
Are you going to be revisiting any of your places in Michigan? Again, I’ll look on the map to see if I-80 crosses Michigan at any location. Will you see Notre Dame? My cousin from Pittsburgh, formerly of San Francisco, is coincidentally visiting us here in SoCalif in just 3 weeks; says Pittsburgh is quite the city of rebirth and not the 100% steel town of old. They seem to have a lot of bridges and a lot of river. Her ex-husband is a very enthusiastic cyclist; I guess they also have a lot of good bike trails.
Food, books, and the beach sound like heaven to me. Plus, your lovely spouse…what more could you ask for? Have a safe & fun journey home!
Thank you, Elle!
Love your shoes. We have kayaks. Just saying……..
Safe travels,
Eileen
Oh boy! I see some kayaking in our future. xoxo Claudia
Sounds like you had a glorious time…glad you get to travel back with your sweetheart. I’ve traveled from New York out to Illinois and back. To me it is a killer of a ride because I don’t like stopping, but to get from A to B is all worth it because my sissy and my 3 beautiful nieces are always waiting there to greet me. Besides Belleville is a quant little (or not so little) crafting and antique store(s) type town and there’s always something to do as my sister has no problem keeping us busy or exploring the areas around to find something to do. Need to get an RV to make the trip more enjoyable and maybe bring my hubby and 4 pups along:-)Miss my sissy:’-(
I miss mine, too!
Those shoes are gorgeous, Claudia!
May you and Don have a wonderful, and safe, trip~
Sounds like you are having a fantastic time! Absolutely love those shoes; they are gorgeous! I hope your drive home goes smoothly and you enjoy every minute.
I love Calif and every time I’m there I’m flooded with great memories. Enjoy your drive up the coast and then across the country! I know you will enjoy it with Don. The shoes are so cute and the bathing suit sounds cute also, I love the retro look. I’m glad Don has had such a great time with this show and cast! Enjoy your last night there and safe travels!
Oh what fun you two will have! If you drive through Indiana and pass the South Bend exit, wave!! I actually live in Goshen, but I don’t think you’ll drive by here. Take tons of pictures. Safe travels.
Love those shoes!…Time to be off on your next adventure!…My all time dream vacation…driving coast to coast!…Be safe in your travels my friends…Hugs, Nancy
Hope you and Don have a great cross country trip making even more wonderful memories together. Safe travels!
Enjoy the trip and I love your shoes!!!
Claudia your vacation has been beautiful!!! How can you leave that beautiful community!😊 Happy you are enjoying your time there and glad Don has had a great time!! Sounds like your trip home will be gorgeous!! Safe travels!!🚗
Corinne
So sorry we’re having this nasty heat wave while you travel through our state… but at least it doesn’t come with terrible humidity.
Have a wonderful trip and safe travels.
I’m so glad to hear that you will be driving up the coast to San Franciso! I hope you get to spend some time there. Have you ever been to Muirwoods? It’s not far from San Francisco and just over the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s a wonderful park with a gorgeous redwood forest! It will be wonderful to take this trip with your sweetheart! Bless our husbands for loving our curves as we age. I don’t think I could ever live in Florida just because of the high humidity. I don’t do well in humidity. Looking forward to hearing about your road trip up the coast and then back home! Keep taking photos along the way! The California coast is breathtaking especially around the Big Sur area, Carmel by the Sea and Monterey! Safe and happy travels to both of you and enjoy the last matinee!
Looking at Warwick’s book store makes me drool. It looks so inviting and tempting. I would probably go over board and buy too many books. Those shoes are gorgeous. I love anything pink!
Dear Claudia, I suspect you and your honey are on the road by now and I hope you have a safe and happy journey full of lovely discoveries. Road trips are so wonderful with someone you love whose company you enjoy. I have been away from blogging for some time for various reasons but am back now and I look forward so much to looking back over your blog to see what you’ve been up to and how you’re faring. So you may see overdue comments from me here and there. Take care and enjoy the drive home! – Haworth xx
I love California – at least from the little I’ve seen in San Francisco and the Napa area. From friend’s photos (travel, living there), makes me want to go back and explore a lot more. Wish we could afford to live there! Wow, you have quite a road trip ahead of you. What part of IL will you be going through? If you are going to be anywhere within 1-1/2 hours of where I live, I would love to meet up with you two, even if it’s just for a meal. Let me know, OK?
Love your new shoes. :-)