8~ July Trip

Well in the last post...I quickly hit publish without telling you of the most excellent bookstore in Morro Bay (where some of the garden pictures were taken).  It is called Coalesce and is one of those independent bookstores with a coastal, hippie, liberal feel to it.  One you could stay in for hours!  The garden/chapel area was just wonderful!  Another reason to live in this town in my book!!  Haha no pun intended!! Really.

The other garden pictures were behind a fantastic bead store.  I kinda mixed them up, but no matter.  This was the music store: Central Coast Music.  I wouldn't feel right not linking them...giving them all their moment in the sun!  Such cool stores and folks up that way!
I just think it would be wonderful to live somewhere that has gardens behind their stores!


So, on our way home, we made some stops in Avila Beach, a beautiful Central Coast town.
We walked on the pier...

Lots of fish happenings and a cold breeze on this pier.

First pier I've been on that I've seen a fish cleaning station and men hard at work on that task.

The view to the right of the pier (above) and to the left of the pier (below).  I marveled at how different the water looked.  It really was green VS blue as shown in these photos!

The seals were loud and hysterical.  With this whole platform for them to sunbathe on...they all crowded on the corner together.  In fact, they not only crowded, but they fought over space there!  I had to chuckle as I felt the connection to my classroom!

Then we stopped at a farm...AND MORE stand.  There was tons of fruits and vegetables of every kind.  Super delicious white nectarines!! Plus, there was breads and specialty candies and honey...and more!

What a scene!

Right along side the edibles, there were all sorts of animals!
Horses, goats, chickens, rabbits...and more!  I of course thought of Grace when I saw the goats.  Their floppy ears looked so soft, I wanted to feel them!

Crazy Beatles haircut!!

This one was super tall

This place was jam packed with families with young children.  It was really nice to see so many out enjoying the beautiful day together.  It reminded me of something I would have done when my children were young.

Enjoying a tractor ride

For how many posts I made out of this short trip and for how long it has taken me to post them...one may get the idea that I really like looking back on this trip.  Well, they'd be right!  It was a wonderful trip that I'd do again in a heartbeat.  Like I said, I'd love to live on the Central Coast!
Next post: some animals and cloth...

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2014

6~ July Trip 2014

Moonstone Beach...

cairn

We stop at this well-known beach on our way back down the coast.  We notice this large ocean-side cairn right away.

This beach is made up of thousands and thousands of tiny rocks.

Each one unique.

So many

The boy added another rock and I tried to capture the sunlight shining through.

Adding his own

Sunlight

We hung out for a while inspecting tiny rocks.  

The boy spent some time trying to knock down the cairn he had just added to!

Not to worry, it was still standing when we left!

Standing strong

Treasures

I get it into my head that a cairn should be built on my hand, making a cool photo!

Except, I am laughing so hard that I can barely stand still!!

It's super hard to be still while laughing and taking a photo!

First my guy tries...

...and then the boy gives it a shot.

He succeeds by thinking a little bit differently about how they should be stacked.

Thinking outside the rocks!

Ta-Da!!

We hunt around some more, finding beautiful rocks, stitched seaweed, sticks

and proof others were here before us.

Treasures on a nice flat skipping stone

Stitched

The zebra stick ( a silly naming!) and sea stitches

Feathers in a rock circle shrine

Fish bones!

Cairns aplenty

That's it for this installment.
Coming soon gardens, seals, artistic expressions...

I hope you'll join me,
Nancy

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2014

5~ July Trip 2014

After that long, steep and amazing hike...

we headed over to see the 

McWay Falls. 

*AS ALWAYS, CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE*

This is an easy walk on a man-made trail.

The Boy and his Girl lead the way

The trail starts out very unassuming,
but when you get there...ahhh!

View

We were told that this is the only waterfall 

that feeds directly into the ocean off California, 

however there is also Alamere Falls

further North.

Anyway, this trail was thick with tourists like us, but what I noticed was that everyone was happy.  This was true on the hiking trail of the previous post too.

There is much to be said about being with nature.
It's good for us humans.

We see the cove and the waterfall!

Cove and McWay Falls

Where the falls meet the sea

California Yucca plants in bloom

Layered sea and sky

A gathering of sea birds

Julia and friend

Beautiful views

Old Foundation

Changes

Standing in this open area, reading the informational signage,
one only has to look to the South (to the Falls) and the North to this view below
to begin dreaming.

Looking North at the rugged coastline

There is nothing like this coast, like the ocean hues here, the trees, the cliffs...the everything.
(((sigh))))

A pulled back view

On the rocks

OK, folks that is it for this part of the trip.
A few more stops before we must head home.
Hint: A beach of little rocks!

Thanks for coming along with me.

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2014

4~ July Trip 2014

As you may remember, our last Summer Trip 2014 installment 

had us hiking in Big Sur.

As promised, here are the photos from the top (West side actually) of the lollipop!

Just in case you want to listen again:

California Saga: Big Sur

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93Gl7DmmNvE
10.4 minutes

A view of the coast from the top!

I zoom in for a closer look!

I can't get enough of the milky ocean waters

Lunch spot

 After we stop for a while for a hiker's lunch, we hike back down, 

completing the loop part of the trail. 

Patched Ocean

Manzanita branches

Moss weaving

Leaf variety

Leaves and evergreens

Brilliant!

I hope you've enjoyed this section of the hike.  

I was very proud of myself for keeping up well enough with the young folks. 

I wish I could hike here more often (read that as every day!). 

It was awesome!

Thank you for joining me.

Coming up next: A waterfall....

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2014