NEW YEAR'S SO.CALIFORNIA: EVERYTHING CAME UP ROSES!
Jan 24th, 2016, 03:48 PM
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NEW YEAR'S SO.CALIFORNIA: EVERYTHING CAME UP ROSES!
MONDAY, DECEMBER 28th, 2015
TRAVEL DAY
We couldn’t resist the tempting invitation of MaiTaiTom & Tracy to attend the ROSE BOWL PARADE with them on New Year’s Day, 2016! Liking California as we do, and having relatives closer to San Francisco, we made plans in July for our visit
Our flight from CVG to LAX left at 2:30 PM. How nice to take our time for last minute packing and have an easy mid-day drive to airport. Direct flight to LAX was about 4 hours in-the-air, and upon landing the sun was still shining, so we had momentary hopes of a quick trip to the ocean. But a 45 minute wait on the tarmac in LAX as the ground crew wasn‘t ready, plus an excessively long walk to baggage claim, through old corridors that seemed to go on and on and on, dashed those hopes.
We were glad that we had booked our first night at the Renaissance LAX Hotel, as they have an airport shuttle, and the car rental pick-up is just across the street. That would be handy in the morning. Nice to get settled in our room, as we’re tired and it’s after midnight our time, even though it’s only 9:30 California time.
The Renaissance has a comfortable bar, so we used it to advantage to view their large TV, while enjoying onion soup, a tasty shared HB, beer, topped off with a dish of vanilla ice cream. We enjoyed watching the Bengals vs. Broncos in Mile High Stadium. Disappointing as Bengals lost in overtime!
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29th
COASTAL EXCURSIONS
After a restful night, we awoke to CA sunshine. Tom got coffee and pastries from the hotel restaurant while Margie finished up in the room, packing our stuff as we had only a one-night stay here. Tom journeyed across the street to the Budget rental car agency where the KIA was awaiting us for $349…not bad through Costco.
Off we went armed with our Garmin to Manhattan Beach. Parking was fairly easy, using a Visa Card for the $1.25 per hour fee.
The Strand Restaurant, which was under construction when we visited four years ago, was the perfect place for our close-to-noon brunch. What a nice first day treat to be seated at a window table overlooking the Manhattan Pier and Beach! Margie especially liked her chicken sandwich while Tom was less enthusiastic about the chicken sausage with his eggs. Within a few minutes of our being seated, the restaurant was filled to capacity. Overall, the Strand was a very nice experience and a future repeat, without the chicken sausage choice for Tom.
Even though California was experiencing chillier than usual temps for this time of year, the sun felt warm on this 60 degree day, perfect for walking the Manhattan Pier, and enjoying all the activity: surfers, joggers, beach-goers, dog-walkers, and bikers. It seemed that the little city was out in force. And glancing back at all the homes along the coast, we noticed ROSES still blooming in many of their gardens. A hint of what was to come!
As we were walking the pier, we received a welcome call from MaiTaiTom confirming final details of our plans. The Rose Parade is held in Pasadena, and it seemed that half the world was in town for the occasion. Hotels were fully booked. Tom and Tracy had anticipated this, and graciously invited us to accept their hospitality for the event.
We really love hanging around the ocean coast, hopping from one beach to another. So, after brunch at Manhattan Beach, we traveled to Hermosa Beach for our later cappuccino. This area, too, has a wonderful pier, with many shops and restaurants lining the wide walking area. Later, we moved a bit farther south through Redondo Beach and onto the opulent area of Palos Verdes, a peninsula which protrudes into the Pacific Ocean.
The steep hills of the Palos Verdes peninsula curve around forming somewhat of a bay. Wow! We read that in 1914 a wealthy magnate named Vanderlip compared it to the Sorrentine Peninsula and the Amalfi Drive in Italy. We experienced the reason. The coastline there affords dramatic ocean views enhanced by the lapping of the waves against the shore. The affluent residences along the main street still had ROSES in their gardens.
it was getting later in the afternoon, and we had the feeling that an appetizer might suit us, as we had had an ample brunch. We returned to Hermosa Beach with a stop in the Killer Shrimp Restaurant, anticipating a shrimp cocktail, but succumbed to ordering a warm shrimp in their “luxurious spicy sauce” served with pieces of French baguette. A bit too spicy for us! But it was a nice place to view the sunset!
Heading back for our check-in at Marriott in Marina Del Rey felt comfortable, as we had stayed there on previous visits. It would be our home for the next two nights. We confirmed that we had complimentary in-room Wi-Fi. Our Room 946 had a great view of the harbor where hundreds of mostly sailboats are moored.
Tom parked the car overnight at the lot across from our Hotel, $6. vs. the $27 valet charge, and then walked out the back door of the hotel to a local pizzeria to purchase a little dinner. . .$25! (about the most expensive medium-sized pizza we’ve ever had!) with beer and diet cokes from the neighboring mart.
After enjoying this pricey pizza in our room, we visited the Marriott lobby to enjoy some music. Returning to our rooms, we caught up on some notes. Margie looked up info regarding Yorba Linda, the location of the Nixon library which we intended to visit in the morning. We turned in early, as we were both tired, and trying to adjust to California time.
WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 30th
NIXON LIBRARY
Up just after 7 am…Tom walked to Noah’s, a little neighborhood carry-out, for egg sandwiches and coffee. We wanted to be on the road to the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda by 9 or just a bit later, hoping to avoid the highest traffic times.
Being from a much smaller city than L.A., the drive was instructional in that it reminded us about L.A.’s congested the traffic. The drive seemed very long and intense…probably almost 2 hours…a 46 mile one-way venture through L.A.
From our hotel, we caught CA 90 (feels like an interstate) to the infamous 405 to 105 to the gawd awful CA 91 (the most trying road of all). For us, the drive presented a challenge with the constant variance of speed: 65 mph and then 20 and then 15 and sometimes complete standstills; many lane changes on six-lane highways and strenuous exit ramps and entrance ramps joining 20 mph traffic. Now we know from experience the traffic issues which plague an otherwise paradise state.
The GPS was invaluable until it couldn’t seem to find the actual location of the Nixon Library. So a friendly man walking along the street told us that the library was another ¾ mile or so down the road…not well marked.
We did not know that the Library is partially closed for a $15 million remodel job that will end in the fall of 2016. So the entrance fee was only ½ price. One could visit the house where Nixon spent the early part of his life, the Presidential helicopter, the little cemetery where President Nixon and Pat are buried, and a hallway containing exhibits of crystal and China, plus photographs of significant events.
The most interesting part of the building was a replica of the East Room in the White House. The Rose Garden, filled with hundreds of different kinds of ROSES still in bloom, was well-groomed and very beautiful. Before leaving, we did view a film of the Nixon years, which seemingly needs updating.
The Nixon Library marked our fifth presidential library visit, having visited the libraries of the Presidents Truman, FDR, Reagan, and Clinton. The others were very impressive. It probably seems fair to reserve judgment on the Nixon Library until renovation is completed, as the gallery of happenings during the administration is closed. The café was so minimal and uninviting that we decided to head back to the coast at about 2PM, knowing we would “rather be hungry but avoiding lots of traffic” than the opposite.
By now, we were becoming somewhat accustomed to the six-lane highways, which seemed to change configuration as they blended from one route to another.
After about two hours, we arrived at one of our ol’ faves, Tony P’s, situated on the Marina Del Rey. We were just in time for Happy Hour (b/w 3-6) to imbibe their $4 drafts and $7 nachos which were quite filling.
While at Tony P’s, we received a call from our brother Ray who lives in Santa Cruz, confirming plans to meet in a week in Santa Barbara. This was a change to our original plans, but we were able to adjust our schedule and reservations, and were really looking forward to our visit with him.
Nachos and beer made viewing the early sunset from Tony P’s most comfortable.
Our Marina del Rey Marriott was just a mile or so down the road. Again, Tom made use of the $6 parking across the street. After enjoying the hotel lobby for a while, we returned to our rooms. It was only 6 pm, but felt like 8 or 9 pm. The nachos at Tony P’s were so filling that we had no desire for dinner. Again, we used our time to catch up on notes, and do some packing.
Our planning for New Year’s Eve Day was to have an early lunch in Santa Monica before heading to Pasadena in the afternoon for our anticipated visit with Tom and Tracy.
THURSDAY, DEC. 31st
AM SANTA MONICA
PM TRAVEL TO PASADENA
After packing and checking out of the Marriott, we made the easy fifteen minute drive to Santa Monica, Ocean Ave. Parking in the 4th St. garage, we took a cut-through to 3rd St., a pedestrian-only street. Margie had forgotten a belt, and found that she definitely needed one. How convenient that we emerged from the cut-through just across from an H & M. Success! A belt and a cotton sweater.
Lunch was at the corner Café Crepe’s sidewalk area. Another delightful day! Margie’s best-ever banana/strawberry crepe with an abundance of fruit! We couldn’t resist a walk down to the beach for a stroll along the path of Palisades Park looking up to Malibu. On former trips, the drive up to Malibu stopping at some restaurants directly on the ocean is a fave of ours.
While enjoying the walk, we encountered a British couple who wanted a pic, so we exchanged favors. They said they were really enjoying themselves. And who could not? The weather was gorgeous. After that last coastal view, it was an easy walk up to the garage to point our little KIA in the direction of Pasadena to meet Tom & Tracy.
Directions worked fine. In addition to the trusty Garmin, MaiTaiTom had given us hints on a couple of critical turns. We left Santa Monica about 12:45, arriving in Pasadena a few minutes after 2.
Our drive to the Casa de MaiTai led us from freeways onto lovely streets in Pasadena with stately trees and homes with beautiful landscaping, including Tom and Tracy’s. As we pulled into their driveway, Tracy’s interest in landscaping was evident. The green lawn was attractively bordered with shrubs and flowers. We would later see their backyard which has quite an array of ROSES, with a few blooms still hanging on. We could just imagine how beautiful the garden would be at the height of the season.
We were enthusiastically greeted by Tom and the two cute Corgis, Frankie and Remi, who were barking up a storm. It seemed that the Corgis were saying, “Welcome, welcome, welcome!” as they instantly became our friends. Tracy was working, so she missed the rousing welcome that the Corgis gave us. The two cats, Spencer and Mo, were not around. Perhaps the hub-bub of our arrival had them spooked.
After our initial greetings and conversation, Tom showed us around their lovely home. As overnight guests, we were fully prepared to sleep on air mattresses. But were we in for a pleasant surprise to be shown to a lovely first floor bedroom, newly-painted, attractively furnished with a large comfortable bed, and a nice bathroom nearby. We immediately knew that this was going to be a wonderful visit.
When Tracy arrived home from work a short while later, as we were attempting to exchange our mutual greetings, she was most enthusiastically greeted by Frankie and Remi!
The four of us enjoyed drinks with tasty cheese, salami, & crackers. Although it was September of 2014 when we had that wonderful meeting at the restaurant in Paris, through e-mails, etc. it felt like we were meeting up with old friends. We chatted for quite a while, until it was time to begin dinner preparations.
Margie accompanied Tracy to the kitchen, and passing through the dining room, the elegantly set table gave only a hint of what would be a New Year’s Eve banquet. If you have read MaiTaiTom’s Web Site postings of Tracy’s Kitchen, you know what a culinary expert she is.
Tracy said that the evening’s menu was inspired by Barefoot Contessa and that she had prepared several items ahead of time. The delicious meal included a tasty chicken entree, a baked potato specialty, and accompanying pureed veggies dish. The dessert chocolate/orange mousse was to die for!
Of course, with the Bowl Games in their final competitions, the two Toms were watching TV with the Corgis and exchanged lots of sports talk. Margie tried to be of some assistance to Tracy, but she seemed to have most things under control. Pouring water around the table settings was about the extent of Margie’s help. Nearer to dinnertime, friends Bert and Paula joined us for the New Year's Eve celebration.
The dinner was excellent, and the conversation was enjoyable as well. Not long after dinner, we gathered in front of the TV to witness the NYC dropping of the ball with our accompanying champagne toasts. We weren’t sure if Californians waited until midnight their time! But, in view of the fact that we would be rising very early, readying for our 5:30 departure to secure Tom’s special Rose Parade parking spot, we were happy that we had celebrated on NYC time. Lots of good feelings for the New Year and entertaining conversation followed our champagne toasts.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 1st, 2016
THE ROSE PARADE
The night seemed short, but by 5:30 AM all four of us were layered up and on our way, having coffee and a bite of coffee cake to get us going. Tom made the five-minute drive and arrived in the desired parking area just before they were ready to put the barriers up, allowing no more cars. He had successfully gotten in!
In the still darkness of the morning, we made the hike up to the Rose Parade area at Orange Grove and Colorado Blvds. We were excited to be witnessing the 127th Tournament Parade of ROSES, whose theme this year was “Find Your Adventure”.
Pasadena is only about 50 miles from the location of the recent terrorist attack in San Bernardino, and tight security was in evidence, as they had multiple checks of tickets, heavy police presence, and even explosive sniffing dogs. Upon entering the parade area to walk along and view the floats up close before the start, we ran into a reporter for the LA Times. He had been previously covering the San Bernardino attacks. He took our names, asked where we were from, etc. and asked for our impressions so far. Lo and behold, our names appeared in the following morning’s paper, with a quote from Cincinnati Tom regarding the obvious security, especially the dogs.
Having a couple of hours before the 8 AM start of the parade, we appreciated the opportunity to walk the boulevard and see the floats up close. One float was more beautiful than the next. It was so interesting to inspect the details of the tremendous works of art demonstrated on the floats; amazing to see that all the art work is done with flowers, seeds, leaves, or fruits, and of course, 1000’s and 1000’s of ROSES. ROSES galore, as the Parade’s name would suggest.
The Grand Marshall of the Rose Parade was Ken Burns, who recently produced a series for public TV on the subject, "National Parks", which blends in perfectly with the “Find Your Adventure” theme.
The weather cooperated beautifully, as the sun appeared and took off the morning chill, and the blue skies were brilliant. Thanks to MaiTaiTom for securing our excellent seats, right at the corner of Orange Grove and Colorado Blvds.! And to Tracy for bringing blankets to take the chill off the metal. Those good seats enabled us to have an up-close view of the outstanding floats, horses, and band performances as the TV cameras and press reps were all around the area.
Having purchased a $10 program helped to get info on each passing attraction. We were especially proud of our local school band, Mason High School, who gave an excellent performance.
All the months of planning and preparation, including the painstaking work on the outstanding floats, certainly culminated in a magnificent event. Knowing the thousands of parade marchers, it was amazing to think about all the organization to get them ready to perform starting at 8 AM. But the show went off without a hitch.
With our excellent seat location, as the last floats passed, we were able to get ahead of the crowds and begin our hike back to the car. Our walk was probably shorter than most, and along the way we were entertained by skywriting which stood out in contrast to the brilliant blue cloudless sky. It spelled out, “America IS Great, Trump!”
Because of our primo parking spot, we were able to get home with no traffic problems in only a few minutes. Tom’s promise of his specialty pancakes had us salivating.
Soon after our arrival at the Casa de MaiTai, Tom and Tracy began prepping blueberry pancakes, mixing their special kind of batter, for this post-parade pancake fest. Tom’s sister Deanna joined us for a while. She is and has been very active with the floats in Pasadena, and we enjoyed talking with her while Tom and Tracy worked their pancake magic.
Five hungry parade goers savored the pancakes, with turkey sausages and fruit salad to embellish. There were calls for seconds. But as we enjoyed the feast, we were all feeling pleasantly exhausted. So following that great breakfast, we did take naps, watch the football games, especially the two Tom’s, while Tracy took Frankie and Remi for their walk.
After some welcome downtime, we all showered and dressed for dinner at Crossings, a classy little restaurant in South Pasadena. While sitting in the living room before leaving, Spencer and Mo did make a short appearance, and received a little petting, but soon retreated.
At the Crossings Restaurant, MaiTaiTom thought his steak surpassed the steak he had had at the Strip House in NYC on their recent trip. Quite a compliment to the Crossings Restaurant! Again, it was another delightful experience filled with more good conversation.
After returning to Casa de MaiTai, we talked for a while. The two Toms enjoyed some of the leftover chocolate/orange mousse, while Margie and Tom enjoyed coffees from the Nespresso coffeemaker. We all needed sleep, so we agreed that calling it a night would make for a more enjoyable day on Saturday.
It had been a super stimulating day! It was great for us to experience the Rose Parade live, and with the comraderie of Tom and Tracy! Never have we witnessed so many roses! It will make our TV viewing of the parade in future years so much more meaningful and enjoyable.
SATURDAY, JAN.UARY 2nd
HUNTINGTON GARDENS & MUSEUM;
TRAVEL TO SANTA BARBARA
Awakening from a refreshing night’s sleep, the aroma of bacon permeated and was so inviting. Tracy had been busy preparing breakfast, including tasty frittatas. Naturally curious Frankie and Remi came around in their cute way for the attention they could garner.
What a great early morning treat to have that wonderful breakfast with more stimulating conversation. As we cleared up the kitchen, Tracy and Margie discovered a common interest, in addition to travel and gardening. They are both avid Macy’s shoppers. Tracy displayed her packet of Macy’s coupons, similar to ones that Margie had at home.
Our plan was to utilize our last morning to visit the nearby Huntington Gardens and Museum with Tom and Tracy. Upon entering the area, we were impressed with the vast size of the Huntington complex, including huge garden areas with several buildings spread throughout the acreage. Tom and Tracy, who are rightfully proud members, graciously invited us as their guests.
Tracy was our knowledgeable docent as she knew the attractions in each gallery; which galleries had John Singer Sargent’s portraits and where the George Washington painting was located. One very special painting in their collection is the Blue Boy by Thomas Gainsborough. Tracy also guided us around the grounds. The Japanese Gardens were beautiful and well-groomed. Some ROSES were still in bloom.
A souvenir calendar from the Huntington Gallery hangs in our home as a memory of our visit. The Huntington Museum and Gardens is a definite cultural attraction for any L.A. visitor. MaiTaiTom’s Website has an excellent write-up about the Huntington as well many other attractions in the L.A. area.
Since we had a 2+ hour drive to Santa Barbara, close to 1:30 we drove back to the Maitai Estate, feeling lucky to have been introduced to the Huntington Gardens and Museum. We were all packed, and with overwhelming feelings of much appreciation to Tom and Tracy for their royal hospitality, and hopes of future meetings, we bid a fond farewell to them, and to Frankie and Remi. On our drive to Santa Barbara we were savoring the many memories of our visit with Tom and Tracy.
Our trip was just the usual heavy interstate traffic. By this time, we were becoming acclimated. Actually, it was a pretty straightforward driving Route 134 (like an interstate) and then merging past Ventura on to “the 101”. Our hotel for the night was the Hyatt Santa Barbara, located on the coastal road, Cabrillo Boulevard.
The exterior of the hotel looked pleasant and blended with the architecture of the area. However, we were disappointed to see that the interior is looked dated. We are Hyatt members, and having made our reservation in July, were disappointed when the receptionist told us how crowded they were with a basketball team and some other busloads staying there, and our room wasn’t quite what we had booked. That turned out to be an understatement! She assured us that we’d get a better room when we returned on Tuesday for two nights. Our reason for a split visit to Santa Barbara was a change in our brother’s plans to meet us.
Again, aware that sunsets are really early here in CA, around 4:30 we headed to the Santa Barbara Harbor area, where there is a variety of seafront shops, restaurants, and a couple of small museums. And, of course, the Yacht Club. We arrived just in time to enjoy and photograph the brilliant sunset and admire its golden hues over the boat harbor. The scene, with the hundreds of sailboat masts and the massive mountains in the background, was quite impressive. We took advantage of the beautiful evening by strolling along their oceanfront walkway.
Following a local recommendation, we headed to the Brophy Bros. Restaurant for dinner. There was quite a wait list, so we accepted the offer of eating at the bar which offered a view of the harbor lights. The Coronas were refreshing. We voted the clam chowder some of the best anywhere, and enjoyed a shared serving of fish and chips.
On our return route to the Hyatt, we saw that the south end of State Street, the main street through downtown Santa Barbara, was under some construction. We detoured around the area and enjoyed the holiday lights along the two or three mile stretch of stores and restaurants.
At the Hyatt, we saved the $28 Valet charge by parking on a nearby street. Again, it seemed later than 7 PM as it was so dark. We had coffee in the room as we caught up on trip notes and e-mails, and mapped out our plans for the following day. We were in bed by about 10:30; early for us.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 3rd
SANTA BARBARA MISSION AM-EARLY PM;
TRAVEL TO CAMBRIA
Our plan for the day was to visit the Santa Barbara Mission in the morning and early afternoon, have lunch in downtown Santa Barbara, and then make the 2 ½ hour drive to Cambria. Why Cambria? We liked the location of our lodging right on the ocean, and were hoping to explore the southern part of the Big Sur coast.
After having coffee and a pastry in our room, and checking out of the hotel, we headed to the Santa Barbara Mission, an easy drive from Cabrillo Blvd and then north on Garden Ave. Parking was easy in their ample lot. We had some time to walk around and take in the exterior of the church. A stop at their little info booth provided highlights of the mission grounds. Good timing. The girl in the booth advised us to enter the church early for the 11:00 Mass as it tends to be very well attended.
Following her advice, we were able to obtain a place in the 3rd pew. The church was festively decorated for the Christmas holiday season. The liturgy for Epiphany was inspirational as the choir sang beautful Gregorian chant, the congregation had great participation, and the sermon was meaningful. What a parish! We were impressed by the Franciscan Mission and its leadership.
After Mass, we encountered Ruby, a 90+ year-old woman who had been seated directly in front of us. We commented that so many people seemed to know her. She was delightful and told us about staying in Cambria for the 2nd day of her honeymoon, 66 years ago! She introduced us to the Franciscan priest who had masterfully conducted the liturgy; even with a small sparrow that flew around the sanctuary for the entire mass. The priest told us that he had something in common with us as he was also from Ohio.
Following the Mass, we stood at the front entrance and admired the impressive view out to the ocean. A stop in the visitors’ museum gave us some details about the Mission. We learned that it was the first mission which was not established by Father Junipero Sera who had, unfortunately, died the previous year. Mission Santa Barbara, founded December 4, 1766, the feast of Saint Barbara, is called the “Queen of the Missions”.
Much of the interior decoration of the church contains examples of 18th and 19th century Mexican art. The Chupah tribes were the dominant peoples in the area at the time the missions were established in this area. Over the years of visits to CA, we’ve visited several missions, as they are bound with the history of California. The Santa Barbara Mission is one of the more impressive, and is still a very active parish. We found the same with the Mission at Carmel.
Exiting the visitors’ center, we walked the Stations of the Cross located near the picnic area. Each was a beautiful mosaic artistically designed by a Franciscan priest. The walkway was peaceful. We wanted to spend more time at the mission, but felt the need to return to downtown to have a quick lunch before heading north to Cambria.
We traveled the short way to downtown Santa Barbara where we headed for lunch into the popular Paseo Nuevo. This area off State Street has brick walkways, inner patios, fountains, and greenery which provide an attractive atmosphere for the many popular shops and small restaurants. We chose a little place, Pizza Rey, where you choose any number of ingredients for the $8.95 price. It worked out well, as it was served quickly. We wanted to move on for our long drive ahead.
We left Santa Barbara close to 2:30 for the drive to Cambria. The route led through mountains via Route 154, where the speed limits were necessarily slower. Back on Rt. 1, our stop for gas and coffee, which wasn’t right off the freeway, was longer than expected, making our drive to Cambria almost 3 hours.
Arriving just after dark, we were pleasantly surprised when we pulled up to The Blue Dolphin Inn for a two-night stay. Its location on Moonstone Drive, the ocean road, was perfect for us. The receptionist Irma checked us into a nice room, and provided some helpful maps and info for the surrounding area.
For dinner, we walked a long block down the road along the ocean boardwalk to the Sea Chest Restaurant. The half-hour wait passed quickly as we enjoyed a glass of wine and chatted with some nice people. The wait was worth it. Our meal consisted of a tasty salad followed by a superbly prepared blue nose sea bass accompanied by a potato dish. Dessert was a strawberry/basil sorbet. Cash only: $80. including tip. This place would definitely be a repeat for us.
After that terrific meal, we walked back to our inn on the ocean boardwalk, enjoying the sound of the surf. Although we’re in CA, we were aware that our home team, the Bengals, were playing. So we watched them beat the Ravens, and caught up on a few e-mails.
One unique aspect of the Blue Dolphin Inn was their method of serving breakfast. Each evening, you’re given a sheet for checking your choices for breakfast in four categories. Breakfast is then brought to your room at the time you designate. We liked that feature.
On the following day, our hope was to drive the Pacific Coast Highway. For the past few days, there had been weather predictions of an El Nino front moving into So. CA. Only yesterday did we begin to see some clouds. Since this area has lived under drought conditions for so long, and was in desperate need of rain, we had mixed feelings. We knew their need of rain was greater than our vacation desires for good weather.
At about 11 PM we turned in, taking an IAD attitude for our next day’s plans.
MONDAY, JANUARY 4th
WHAT WILL THE DAY BRING?
ELEPHANT SEAL ROOKERY?
BIG SUR COAST?
The rain which had been predicted came down hard during the night. We fully expected it to continue. But, to our amazement, the sun came out about 10 AM. We were pleased with the in-room breakfast which arrived about 9:15 and after we had showered and were set to go.
We steered north to the viewing area of the Elephant Seal Rookery. The location was only 15 minutes or so and was obvious with the hundred or so cars parked along the coast…and the PCH highway 1 is right there. Hundreds of them were beached. Having seen harbor seals in San Francisco and along the coast further north, the huge size of these seals was amazing.
The newborns looked to be the size of the adult harbor seals. It was fascinating watching them spread all over the beach: huge males, some with trunks like elephants, females and the newborns. This is their season for mating and birthing; the young are fatting up; the alpha males challenge each other; the noises are full of mystery; they spray sand on themselves when stressed or for sun-reduction. The several 100 yard boardwalk is well-positioned and allows so many visitors to have viewing spots. And the views on the coast are outstanding.
Although it wasn’t raining, the area was puddly from the hard rain the previous night. The prize for the best-dressed in rain gear was a little dog who was modeling a rain outfit, complete with hat. We thought Tom and Tracy’s Corgis might want to emulate that fashion statement!
After being fascinated with the actions and noises of the elephant seals for quite a long while, we proceeded north. We passed San Simeon and the Hearst Castle and Ranch which we had visited a few years back. We learned that it had been donated to the California Department of Parks and Recreation. We passed by the light house and Ragged Point, which we would visit on our return route.
We felt so fortunate to have a partially sunny day to travel one of our favorite areas. We consider the Big Sur coastline to be one of the most outstanding we have witnessed anywhere. As is our normal pattern, we stop often to take in the amazing views. We decided to have lunch at a tiny place, Gordo, at the Whale Watcher Café. We should have known better than to order fish ‘n chips at a little mountainside restaurant miles from anywhere! But the dramatic view made up for the miserable meal.
It would have taken at least another ½ hour to drive 15 more miles up to Lucia, a favorite of ours, allowing for not stops. We decided not to save that for a future trip. The views were outstanding, even better, heading south. We took many pics.
Our stop at Ragged Point, which is dubbed “The Southern Entrance to Big Sur”, provided outstanding coastal views with long walking paths and landscaped gardens, even a few late season ROSES. And birds of paradise! The stop was rewarding as we hadn’t heard of Ragged Point as a place for lodging where all the units look out to the Pacific. Ice cream provided a sweet end to our visit. We were glad that we weren’t in need of their $4.69 per gallon gas!
As the day progressed, it became successively cloudier. Proceeding down the PCH, we drove up to the visitor’s center of the Hearst Castle. But neither of us felt motivated to tour it. Perhaps it was our feelings that our European trip this summer had satisfied our desire for viewing the opulent life combined with the fact that it was getting late and beginning to rain.
It would be dark by 5, so we decided to check out the little downtown of Cambria. We felt quite sure from what we had heard from others that downtown Cambria is quaint and attractive. But weather often affects a feeling about an area. With the heavy overcast, the beginning drizzle, and the early darkness, Cambria didn’t appear very inviting to us.
We drove around the business area before settling on a very low-key dinner at the Main Street Grill. It was a “cash only, order at the counter, and wait for your number to be called kind of place”. Unremarkable, but satisfied our needs for the evening.
Fortunately, we had an attractive and comfortable place at our Blue Dolphin Inn, so spending the evening having coffee by the fireplace wasn’t so bad. Margie fell asleep by 7 PM, highly unusual for her, a night-owl. We sent a couple of e-mails, watched a little TV, and got some things packed.
In the morning we would be heading south to meet our brother Ray in Santa Barbara.
We felt very fortunate to have had a mostly clear day to enjoy the coast, our reason for visiting Cambria!
TUESDAY, JANUARY 5th
TRAVEL TO SANTA BARBARA/ MEET BROTHER RAY
Set alarm for 7:15. . .wanted to be ready, and on the road to Santa Barbara early. Breakfast arrived about 8:45ish. By the time we ate, loaded the car, checked out, and walked down to the shore for one last look, we were pulling out at 9:38!
Our plan was to meet Ray for lunch at the Santa Barbara Harbor. Given the weather prediction, and having already experienced the beginnings of rain, we offered Ray a way out, as he would have a 4 ½ to 5 hour drive from Santa Cruz. . .probably in the rain. But we felt complimented that he wanted to join us, rain or shine!
True to predictions, this began as a rainy day, following another night of hard rain. It was only drizzling when we left the Blue Dolphin Inn, and the roads were fairly dry for the first part of the drive. We made a good stop for gas/restroom in San Luis Obispo, and would have liked to visit the Mission, but it would have been several blocks south and then a return of several blocks to the freeway. A longer time than we thought we should spend, given the drive over the mountains ahead. On a future trip, maybe.
As we drove on, we made good time…only one brief pause for clearing of a wreck. We made it to Santa Barbara in about 2 ½ hours…not so bad. We were thankful that it didn’t rain as we were driving through the mountains.
The cell phone service was terrible, so we were glad that we had communicated meeting time/place with Ray. Since we had made good time, and knew that Ray had a much longer drive, with heavy rain north, we checked into our Hyatt Santa Barbara on our arrival a little after noon. With such an early check-in, we were surprised that our room was ready.
It was, for sure, a nicer room than the one we had a couple of days earlier. Still old, but in much better condition. We learned through our stay there that some Hyatt are franchises, this being one. It has had a couple of ownership changes in five years, plus several managers, and is in the process of updating; just not our section. Oh well! Live and learn!
We wandered up to Brophy Bros. Restaurant at the harbor to hold a table and enjoy a beer at the bar while waiting for Ray. We finally made phone contact, and when we told him that there were actually some blue skies in Santa Barbara, he teased that we must be hallucinating, as he was driving in pouring rain.
Within a short while, Ray arrived. It was so great to see him! When he walked in, it was as if we had been together only last week, though it had been 15 months.
We weren’t hallucinating about blue skies and sunshine, so what’s not to like about a great outdoor table? It seemed that Ray left Santa Cruz at 7 AM and stopped for an hour to handle some urgent business issues. After our extended lunch . . . Ray had oysters, we shared a shrimp cocktail, all had chowder, and we shared a fish’n chips . . . we walked a bit around the marina.
The tenor of our trip had just changed. From coastal touring, the wonderful Rose Parade and enjoyment of friends, to the Elephant Seal Rookery and Big Sur enjoyment, we would now transition to topics such as sailing, and technology.
Ray pointed out the Channel Islands where he said they used to go diving. A sailboat race was in progress, and we enjoyed the play by play description of the event. The waves which we had witnessed on our walk the previous evening were now churning up, a few crashing over the height of the seawall. Premonitions of the incoming storm! We walked into the Maritime Museum taking the elevator to the 4th floor to enjoy the view of Santa Barbara.
Suddenly, there was an awareness of the parking meter expirations. Fortunately, both Tom and Ray were spared parking tickets even as we were over the 90 free minutes!
Following our heartwarming initial lunch and enjoyment of the harbor, we took a break for an hour and half so that Ray could check into the Hotel Santa Barbara on State Street and do a little business. Our Hyatt Hotel was about 1 ½ miles down the main ocean road from downtown Santa Barbara. The break gave us a chance to freshen up and later return downtown to meet him for dinner.
Thinking that we had the route to the Hotel Santa Barbara mapped out, with awareness of the one-way streets, we encountered not only construction, but State Street blocked off for their Farmers’ Market. Getting to his hotel area and parking there proved challenging in the now pitch dark. We did find a public lot and walked several blocks to Ray’s hotel.
For dinner, we walked about three blocks up State Street to Pascucci’s Italian Restaurant which had been recommended by a couple of people. It was a nice ambiance with good food, even if a bit chilly. We had fun teasing around with a bunch of Brits who brought up how awful Trump is. After a walk back to the Hotel SB, and a little more conversation, we made plans to meet Ray around 9:30 AM at his hotel.
Initially, we were disappointed that the Hyatt was full when Ray tried to make reservations. But that turned out to work to our benefit. Although the Hotel Santa Barbara is old, it seemed well-kept, and afforded us a few benefits. We could park behind the hotel, a Starbucks was conveniently located next door, and the comfortable lobby afforded us a place to have our visits and catch-up conversations during the couple of very rainy days.
It was so good to spend some time with Ray! Aware that we might have rain during the next two days, we checked out a few “indoor” activities, such as the impressive S.B. Art Museum. Although Ray would usually be interested in such, he said that he just wanted to visit. And that was fine with us. In fact, the predicted rains had us resigned to saving Montecito for a future visit, and spending our time in the downtown area where there is no dirth of restaurants.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6th
RAINY DAY!
GREAT FOR VISITING!
Up at 7 and same old routine as Tom goes to dining room for croissants and coffee from the lobby. We’re off to the Hotel SB to join Ray in the lobby.
Last night the promised deluge came; the streets were flooded by the 3 ½ inches! After fording the heavy streams, and steering clear of road blocks, thanks to Ray’s arrangement we were able to park in the rear of the Hotel SB for the price of a tip when we exit. Cappuccinos from the next door Starbucks provided energy for great dialogue in the lobby which provided a comfortable place to visit, undeterred by the rain.
We were glad that we had had that earlier time in Santa Barbara where we could experience the downtown in more favorable weather. On a rainy day, the open courts of Paseo Nuevo did not look so appealing!
Just after noon we headed down State Street to Stearns Wharf, the popular area of restaurants and shops. Thankfully, there was ample parking, as not too many venturesome souls seemed to be around in the pouring rain. We chose Moby Dick’s Restaurant, requesting a table view of the breakwater. It was amazing to watch the high surf! Margie ordered a salad and shared a meal with Tom: Alaskan Cod Fish Veracruz, with rice and spicy Hispanic touches. Ray smartly chose a fish sandwich. We were some of the very few patrons, so there was no need to hurry.
As we finished the meal, the rain subsided and we walked the wharf for a while. Ray was pointing out the markers used by sailboaters to negotiate the harbor, as the high surf was pounding. Before long the drizzle became more and more intense, and there were a few bolts of lightning. Time to leave the area! The threatening sky sent us to the car and back to the lobby of Hotel SB.
Tom visited Starbucks for another round of cappuccinos and we sat for a couple more hours in the lobby continuing our discussions of family, economics, world events, politics, travel, plus Ray’s business. Ray intermittently needed to attend to business issues as he is at the height of a project.
After our afternoon “session”, we took a short break, as Ray caught up with things and we all had a chance to freshen up for dinner.
Although we had more appropriate clothes to dress-up for dinner, knowing that we would probably be walking in the pouring rain made us decide against it. The El Nino Storm hitting the coast had delivered its promised punch: 3.6” very fast, with much run-off. That was followed by a day of a constant drizzle, the kind that was needed.
Ray suggested The Wine Cask Restaurant, which was about a 4-5 block walk, and of course, it was drizzling. So where were the ROSES which we had continually experienced on this trip? Well, many beautiful yellow ones were on the tables at the Wine Cask Restaurant. The experience there was exceptionally rewarding. The atmosphere was classy. We began by sharing a toast over a bottle of Pinot Noir. After beginning with salads, Ray said that his duck was fabulous. Margie had a wonderful sea bass, and Tom chose a meal of scallops.
During the meal, our stimulating discussions continued. The experience was a wonderful finale to our visit which, sadly, would end late tomorrow morning. The rain did let up for our return to the Hotel SB. We planned to meet in the morning at 9 AM for a little breakfast before driving in separate directions. More rain was predicted.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 7th
FINAL FAREWELLS!
RETURN TO LA
Up at 6:30 and time to get “rolling”. When checking out of the SB Hyatt, we found it a strange rule that a customer cannot roll the luggage carrier, but an attendee must do it “for liability reasons”. So we were somewhat delayed in meeting Ray in the Hotel SB. (How convenient this has been!)
Joe’s Café, directly across the street, was recommended to have good omelettes. We were seated in a nice booth. During breakfast, Ray showed us more of his business goings-on via Apple Air. We ended our meal around 11:15, and since the day seemed to be dry and sunny, the pressure to leave promptly was relieved. So we spent a few more minutes over a Starbucks in the hotel lobby.
Finally, it was time for our heartfelt farewells and “til next time” wishes with each of us leaving on the 101, Ray heading North toward Santa Cruz while we turned South toward LA. Our 2-hour drive was fairly easy as we had a sunny day, dry roads, and good old GPS. Since we made such good time, we aimed for a last visit to Santa Monica. We were happy to have a last evening visit there.
Margie was able to have the @#! security device taken off the sweater which she had purchased at H & M three days earlier, but was unable to wear. Two employees had missed the device! We again were glad to enjoy crepes outdoors at our favorite Café Crepe before walking the Palisades Park along the ocean. We saw our last ROSES of the trip in Santa Monica.
For our return from Santa Monica to our Hotel Renaissance LAX, a relatively short distance, we trusted the Garmin. Instead of back streets, she directed us back on the I-405 and I-10 with the crowded, slow 20 mph crawl. Since we weren’t under any pressure, the drive wasn’t too bad. As we pulled off the exit, we conveniently found a gas station, and got our rental car fill-up. It didn’t take long to return the KIA Optima to Budget Rent-a-Car and walk across the street to return to the Renaissance Hotel.
It was about 6 PM, and dark. A phone call confirmed that Ray had safely arrived in Santa Cruz. Following our airline check-in, we watched the news before eating dinner in the hotel restaurant. Amazing that a Corona beer cost $8. Our simple dinner of onion soup each, a shared burger, and drinks cost $87 including a tip. But it was cconvenient. Following dinner, we organized our luggage for our return flight in the morning.
We took the Renaissance shuttle to LAX at 9:30 AM and were off to CVG at 12:10 PM. It was a smooth flight, only 3 ¾ hours! Luggage was retrieved quickly, and soon we were heading to our home. We were happy to return as we were both fighting colds.
Everything in So CA really did come up ROSES. It was a wonderful trip, experiencing great times with friends Tom & Tracy, and our brother Ray. Together with the natural beauty of the coast, we’ll have many happy memories to cherish.
TRAVEL DAY
We couldn’t resist the tempting invitation of MaiTaiTom & Tracy to attend the ROSE BOWL PARADE with them on New Year’s Day, 2016! Liking California as we do, and having relatives closer to San Francisco, we made plans in July for our visit
Our flight from CVG to LAX left at 2:30 PM. How nice to take our time for last minute packing and have an easy mid-day drive to airport. Direct flight to LAX was about 4 hours in-the-air, and upon landing the sun was still shining, so we had momentary hopes of a quick trip to the ocean. But a 45 minute wait on the tarmac in LAX as the ground crew wasn‘t ready, plus an excessively long walk to baggage claim, through old corridors that seemed to go on and on and on, dashed those hopes.
We were glad that we had booked our first night at the Renaissance LAX Hotel, as they have an airport shuttle, and the car rental pick-up is just across the street. That would be handy in the morning. Nice to get settled in our room, as we’re tired and it’s after midnight our time, even though it’s only 9:30 California time.
The Renaissance has a comfortable bar, so we used it to advantage to view their large TV, while enjoying onion soup, a tasty shared HB, beer, topped off with a dish of vanilla ice cream. We enjoyed watching the Bengals vs. Broncos in Mile High Stadium. Disappointing as Bengals lost in overtime!
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29th
COASTAL EXCURSIONS
After a restful night, we awoke to CA sunshine. Tom got coffee and pastries from the hotel restaurant while Margie finished up in the room, packing our stuff as we had only a one-night stay here. Tom journeyed across the street to the Budget rental car agency where the KIA was awaiting us for $349…not bad through Costco.
Off we went armed with our Garmin to Manhattan Beach. Parking was fairly easy, using a Visa Card for the $1.25 per hour fee.
The Strand Restaurant, which was under construction when we visited four years ago, was the perfect place for our close-to-noon brunch. What a nice first day treat to be seated at a window table overlooking the Manhattan Pier and Beach! Margie especially liked her chicken sandwich while Tom was less enthusiastic about the chicken sausage with his eggs. Within a few minutes of our being seated, the restaurant was filled to capacity. Overall, the Strand was a very nice experience and a future repeat, without the chicken sausage choice for Tom.
Even though California was experiencing chillier than usual temps for this time of year, the sun felt warm on this 60 degree day, perfect for walking the Manhattan Pier, and enjoying all the activity: surfers, joggers, beach-goers, dog-walkers, and bikers. It seemed that the little city was out in force. And glancing back at all the homes along the coast, we noticed ROSES still blooming in many of their gardens. A hint of what was to come!
As we were walking the pier, we received a welcome call from MaiTaiTom confirming final details of our plans. The Rose Parade is held in Pasadena, and it seemed that half the world was in town for the occasion. Hotels were fully booked. Tom and Tracy had anticipated this, and graciously invited us to accept their hospitality for the event.
We really love hanging around the ocean coast, hopping from one beach to another. So, after brunch at Manhattan Beach, we traveled to Hermosa Beach for our later cappuccino. This area, too, has a wonderful pier, with many shops and restaurants lining the wide walking area. Later, we moved a bit farther south through Redondo Beach and onto the opulent area of Palos Verdes, a peninsula which protrudes into the Pacific Ocean.
The steep hills of the Palos Verdes peninsula curve around forming somewhat of a bay. Wow! We read that in 1914 a wealthy magnate named Vanderlip compared it to the Sorrentine Peninsula and the Amalfi Drive in Italy. We experienced the reason. The coastline there affords dramatic ocean views enhanced by the lapping of the waves against the shore. The affluent residences along the main street still had ROSES in their gardens.
it was getting later in the afternoon, and we had the feeling that an appetizer might suit us, as we had had an ample brunch. We returned to Hermosa Beach with a stop in the Killer Shrimp Restaurant, anticipating a shrimp cocktail, but succumbed to ordering a warm shrimp in their “luxurious spicy sauce” served with pieces of French baguette. A bit too spicy for us! But it was a nice place to view the sunset!
Heading back for our check-in at Marriott in Marina Del Rey felt comfortable, as we had stayed there on previous visits. It would be our home for the next two nights. We confirmed that we had complimentary in-room Wi-Fi. Our Room 946 had a great view of the harbor where hundreds of mostly sailboats are moored.
Tom parked the car overnight at the lot across from our Hotel, $6. vs. the $27 valet charge, and then walked out the back door of the hotel to a local pizzeria to purchase a little dinner. . .$25! (about the most expensive medium-sized pizza we’ve ever had!) with beer and diet cokes from the neighboring mart.
After enjoying this pricey pizza in our room, we visited the Marriott lobby to enjoy some music. Returning to our rooms, we caught up on some notes. Margie looked up info regarding Yorba Linda, the location of the Nixon library which we intended to visit in the morning. We turned in early, as we were both tired, and trying to adjust to California time.
WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 30th
NIXON LIBRARY
Up just after 7 am…Tom walked to Noah’s, a little neighborhood carry-out, for egg sandwiches and coffee. We wanted to be on the road to the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda by 9 or just a bit later, hoping to avoid the highest traffic times.
Being from a much smaller city than L.A., the drive was instructional in that it reminded us about L.A.’s congested the traffic. The drive seemed very long and intense…probably almost 2 hours…a 46 mile one-way venture through L.A.
From our hotel, we caught CA 90 (feels like an interstate) to the infamous 405 to 105 to the gawd awful CA 91 (the most trying road of all). For us, the drive presented a challenge with the constant variance of speed: 65 mph and then 20 and then 15 and sometimes complete standstills; many lane changes on six-lane highways and strenuous exit ramps and entrance ramps joining 20 mph traffic. Now we know from experience the traffic issues which plague an otherwise paradise state.
The GPS was invaluable until it couldn’t seem to find the actual location of the Nixon Library. So a friendly man walking along the street told us that the library was another ¾ mile or so down the road…not well marked.
We did not know that the Library is partially closed for a $15 million remodel job that will end in the fall of 2016. So the entrance fee was only ½ price. One could visit the house where Nixon spent the early part of his life, the Presidential helicopter, the little cemetery where President Nixon and Pat are buried, and a hallway containing exhibits of crystal and China, plus photographs of significant events.
The most interesting part of the building was a replica of the East Room in the White House. The Rose Garden, filled with hundreds of different kinds of ROSES still in bloom, was well-groomed and very beautiful. Before leaving, we did view a film of the Nixon years, which seemingly needs updating.
The Nixon Library marked our fifth presidential library visit, having visited the libraries of the Presidents Truman, FDR, Reagan, and Clinton. The others were very impressive. It probably seems fair to reserve judgment on the Nixon Library until renovation is completed, as the gallery of happenings during the administration is closed. The café was so minimal and uninviting that we decided to head back to the coast at about 2PM, knowing we would “rather be hungry but avoiding lots of traffic” than the opposite.
By now, we were becoming somewhat accustomed to the six-lane highways, which seemed to change configuration as they blended from one route to another.
After about two hours, we arrived at one of our ol’ faves, Tony P’s, situated on the Marina Del Rey. We were just in time for Happy Hour (b/w 3-6) to imbibe their $4 drafts and $7 nachos which were quite filling.
While at Tony P’s, we received a call from our brother Ray who lives in Santa Cruz, confirming plans to meet in a week in Santa Barbara. This was a change to our original plans, but we were able to adjust our schedule and reservations, and were really looking forward to our visit with him.
Nachos and beer made viewing the early sunset from Tony P’s most comfortable.
Our Marina del Rey Marriott was just a mile or so down the road. Again, Tom made use of the $6 parking across the street. After enjoying the hotel lobby for a while, we returned to our rooms. It was only 6 pm, but felt like 8 or 9 pm. The nachos at Tony P’s were so filling that we had no desire for dinner. Again, we used our time to catch up on notes, and do some packing.
Our planning for New Year’s Eve Day was to have an early lunch in Santa Monica before heading to Pasadena in the afternoon for our anticipated visit with Tom and Tracy.
THURSDAY, DEC. 31st
AM SANTA MONICA
PM TRAVEL TO PASADENA
After packing and checking out of the Marriott, we made the easy fifteen minute drive to Santa Monica, Ocean Ave. Parking in the 4th St. garage, we took a cut-through to 3rd St., a pedestrian-only street. Margie had forgotten a belt, and found that she definitely needed one. How convenient that we emerged from the cut-through just across from an H & M. Success! A belt and a cotton sweater.
Lunch was at the corner Café Crepe’s sidewalk area. Another delightful day! Margie’s best-ever banana/strawberry crepe with an abundance of fruit! We couldn’t resist a walk down to the beach for a stroll along the path of Palisades Park looking up to Malibu. On former trips, the drive up to Malibu stopping at some restaurants directly on the ocean is a fave of ours.
While enjoying the walk, we encountered a British couple who wanted a pic, so we exchanged favors. They said they were really enjoying themselves. And who could not? The weather was gorgeous. After that last coastal view, it was an easy walk up to the garage to point our little KIA in the direction of Pasadena to meet Tom & Tracy.
Directions worked fine. In addition to the trusty Garmin, MaiTaiTom had given us hints on a couple of critical turns. We left Santa Monica about 12:45, arriving in Pasadena a few minutes after 2.
Our drive to the Casa de MaiTai led us from freeways onto lovely streets in Pasadena with stately trees and homes with beautiful landscaping, including Tom and Tracy’s. As we pulled into their driveway, Tracy’s interest in landscaping was evident. The green lawn was attractively bordered with shrubs and flowers. We would later see their backyard which has quite an array of ROSES, with a few blooms still hanging on. We could just imagine how beautiful the garden would be at the height of the season.
We were enthusiastically greeted by Tom and the two cute Corgis, Frankie and Remi, who were barking up a storm. It seemed that the Corgis were saying, “Welcome, welcome, welcome!” as they instantly became our friends. Tracy was working, so she missed the rousing welcome that the Corgis gave us. The two cats, Spencer and Mo, were not around. Perhaps the hub-bub of our arrival had them spooked.
After our initial greetings and conversation, Tom showed us around their lovely home. As overnight guests, we were fully prepared to sleep on air mattresses. But were we in for a pleasant surprise to be shown to a lovely first floor bedroom, newly-painted, attractively furnished with a large comfortable bed, and a nice bathroom nearby. We immediately knew that this was going to be a wonderful visit.
When Tracy arrived home from work a short while later, as we were attempting to exchange our mutual greetings, she was most enthusiastically greeted by Frankie and Remi!
The four of us enjoyed drinks with tasty cheese, salami, & crackers. Although it was September of 2014 when we had that wonderful meeting at the restaurant in Paris, through e-mails, etc. it felt like we were meeting up with old friends. We chatted for quite a while, until it was time to begin dinner preparations.
Margie accompanied Tracy to the kitchen, and passing through the dining room, the elegantly set table gave only a hint of what would be a New Year’s Eve banquet. If you have read MaiTaiTom’s Web Site postings of Tracy’s Kitchen, you know what a culinary expert she is.
Tracy said that the evening’s menu was inspired by Barefoot Contessa and that she had prepared several items ahead of time. The delicious meal included a tasty chicken entree, a baked potato specialty, and accompanying pureed veggies dish. The dessert chocolate/orange mousse was to die for!
Of course, with the Bowl Games in their final competitions, the two Toms were watching TV with the Corgis and exchanged lots of sports talk. Margie tried to be of some assistance to Tracy, but she seemed to have most things under control. Pouring water around the table settings was about the extent of Margie’s help. Nearer to dinnertime, friends Bert and Paula joined us for the New Year's Eve celebration.
The dinner was excellent, and the conversation was enjoyable as well. Not long after dinner, we gathered in front of the TV to witness the NYC dropping of the ball with our accompanying champagne toasts. We weren’t sure if Californians waited until midnight their time! But, in view of the fact that we would be rising very early, readying for our 5:30 departure to secure Tom’s special Rose Parade parking spot, we were happy that we had celebrated on NYC time. Lots of good feelings for the New Year and entertaining conversation followed our champagne toasts.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 1st, 2016
THE ROSE PARADE
The night seemed short, but by 5:30 AM all four of us were layered up and on our way, having coffee and a bite of coffee cake to get us going. Tom made the five-minute drive and arrived in the desired parking area just before they were ready to put the barriers up, allowing no more cars. He had successfully gotten in!
In the still darkness of the morning, we made the hike up to the Rose Parade area at Orange Grove and Colorado Blvds. We were excited to be witnessing the 127th Tournament Parade of ROSES, whose theme this year was “Find Your Adventure”.
Pasadena is only about 50 miles from the location of the recent terrorist attack in San Bernardino, and tight security was in evidence, as they had multiple checks of tickets, heavy police presence, and even explosive sniffing dogs. Upon entering the parade area to walk along and view the floats up close before the start, we ran into a reporter for the LA Times. He had been previously covering the San Bernardino attacks. He took our names, asked where we were from, etc. and asked for our impressions so far. Lo and behold, our names appeared in the following morning’s paper, with a quote from Cincinnati Tom regarding the obvious security, especially the dogs.
Having a couple of hours before the 8 AM start of the parade, we appreciated the opportunity to walk the boulevard and see the floats up close. One float was more beautiful than the next. It was so interesting to inspect the details of the tremendous works of art demonstrated on the floats; amazing to see that all the art work is done with flowers, seeds, leaves, or fruits, and of course, 1000’s and 1000’s of ROSES. ROSES galore, as the Parade’s name would suggest.
The Grand Marshall of the Rose Parade was Ken Burns, who recently produced a series for public TV on the subject, "National Parks", which blends in perfectly with the “Find Your Adventure” theme.
The weather cooperated beautifully, as the sun appeared and took off the morning chill, and the blue skies were brilliant. Thanks to MaiTaiTom for securing our excellent seats, right at the corner of Orange Grove and Colorado Blvds.! And to Tracy for bringing blankets to take the chill off the metal. Those good seats enabled us to have an up-close view of the outstanding floats, horses, and band performances as the TV cameras and press reps were all around the area.
Having purchased a $10 program helped to get info on each passing attraction. We were especially proud of our local school band, Mason High School, who gave an excellent performance.
All the months of planning and preparation, including the painstaking work on the outstanding floats, certainly culminated in a magnificent event. Knowing the thousands of parade marchers, it was amazing to think about all the organization to get them ready to perform starting at 8 AM. But the show went off without a hitch.
With our excellent seat location, as the last floats passed, we were able to get ahead of the crowds and begin our hike back to the car. Our walk was probably shorter than most, and along the way we were entertained by skywriting which stood out in contrast to the brilliant blue cloudless sky. It spelled out, “America IS Great, Trump!”
Because of our primo parking spot, we were able to get home with no traffic problems in only a few minutes. Tom’s promise of his specialty pancakes had us salivating.
Soon after our arrival at the Casa de MaiTai, Tom and Tracy began prepping blueberry pancakes, mixing their special kind of batter, for this post-parade pancake fest. Tom’s sister Deanna joined us for a while. She is and has been very active with the floats in Pasadena, and we enjoyed talking with her while Tom and Tracy worked their pancake magic.
Five hungry parade goers savored the pancakes, with turkey sausages and fruit salad to embellish. There were calls for seconds. But as we enjoyed the feast, we were all feeling pleasantly exhausted. So following that great breakfast, we did take naps, watch the football games, especially the two Tom’s, while Tracy took Frankie and Remi for their walk.
After some welcome downtime, we all showered and dressed for dinner at Crossings, a classy little restaurant in South Pasadena. While sitting in the living room before leaving, Spencer and Mo did make a short appearance, and received a little petting, but soon retreated.
At the Crossings Restaurant, MaiTaiTom thought his steak surpassed the steak he had had at the Strip House in NYC on their recent trip. Quite a compliment to the Crossings Restaurant! Again, it was another delightful experience filled with more good conversation.
After returning to Casa de MaiTai, we talked for a while. The two Toms enjoyed some of the leftover chocolate/orange mousse, while Margie and Tom enjoyed coffees from the Nespresso coffeemaker. We all needed sleep, so we agreed that calling it a night would make for a more enjoyable day on Saturday.
It had been a super stimulating day! It was great for us to experience the Rose Parade live, and with the comraderie of Tom and Tracy! Never have we witnessed so many roses! It will make our TV viewing of the parade in future years so much more meaningful and enjoyable.
SATURDAY, JAN.UARY 2nd
HUNTINGTON GARDENS & MUSEUM;
TRAVEL TO SANTA BARBARA
Awakening from a refreshing night’s sleep, the aroma of bacon permeated and was so inviting. Tracy had been busy preparing breakfast, including tasty frittatas. Naturally curious Frankie and Remi came around in their cute way for the attention they could garner.
What a great early morning treat to have that wonderful breakfast with more stimulating conversation. As we cleared up the kitchen, Tracy and Margie discovered a common interest, in addition to travel and gardening. They are both avid Macy’s shoppers. Tracy displayed her packet of Macy’s coupons, similar to ones that Margie had at home.
Our plan was to utilize our last morning to visit the nearby Huntington Gardens and Museum with Tom and Tracy. Upon entering the area, we were impressed with the vast size of the Huntington complex, including huge garden areas with several buildings spread throughout the acreage. Tom and Tracy, who are rightfully proud members, graciously invited us as their guests.
Tracy was our knowledgeable docent as she knew the attractions in each gallery; which galleries had John Singer Sargent’s portraits and where the George Washington painting was located. One very special painting in their collection is the Blue Boy by Thomas Gainsborough. Tracy also guided us around the grounds. The Japanese Gardens were beautiful and well-groomed. Some ROSES were still in bloom.
A souvenir calendar from the Huntington Gallery hangs in our home as a memory of our visit. The Huntington Museum and Gardens is a definite cultural attraction for any L.A. visitor. MaiTaiTom’s Website has an excellent write-up about the Huntington as well many other attractions in the L.A. area.
Since we had a 2+ hour drive to Santa Barbara, close to 1:30 we drove back to the Maitai Estate, feeling lucky to have been introduced to the Huntington Gardens and Museum. We were all packed, and with overwhelming feelings of much appreciation to Tom and Tracy for their royal hospitality, and hopes of future meetings, we bid a fond farewell to them, and to Frankie and Remi. On our drive to Santa Barbara we were savoring the many memories of our visit with Tom and Tracy.
Our trip was just the usual heavy interstate traffic. By this time, we were becoming acclimated. Actually, it was a pretty straightforward driving Route 134 (like an interstate) and then merging past Ventura on to “the 101”. Our hotel for the night was the Hyatt Santa Barbara, located on the coastal road, Cabrillo Boulevard.
The exterior of the hotel looked pleasant and blended with the architecture of the area. However, we were disappointed to see that the interior is looked dated. We are Hyatt members, and having made our reservation in July, were disappointed when the receptionist told us how crowded they were with a basketball team and some other busloads staying there, and our room wasn’t quite what we had booked. That turned out to be an understatement! She assured us that we’d get a better room when we returned on Tuesday for two nights. Our reason for a split visit to Santa Barbara was a change in our brother’s plans to meet us.
Again, aware that sunsets are really early here in CA, around 4:30 we headed to the Santa Barbara Harbor area, where there is a variety of seafront shops, restaurants, and a couple of small museums. And, of course, the Yacht Club. We arrived just in time to enjoy and photograph the brilliant sunset and admire its golden hues over the boat harbor. The scene, with the hundreds of sailboat masts and the massive mountains in the background, was quite impressive. We took advantage of the beautiful evening by strolling along their oceanfront walkway.
Following a local recommendation, we headed to the Brophy Bros. Restaurant for dinner. There was quite a wait list, so we accepted the offer of eating at the bar which offered a view of the harbor lights. The Coronas were refreshing. We voted the clam chowder some of the best anywhere, and enjoyed a shared serving of fish and chips.
On our return route to the Hyatt, we saw that the south end of State Street, the main street through downtown Santa Barbara, was under some construction. We detoured around the area and enjoyed the holiday lights along the two or three mile stretch of stores and restaurants.
At the Hyatt, we saved the $28 Valet charge by parking on a nearby street. Again, it seemed later than 7 PM as it was so dark. We had coffee in the room as we caught up on trip notes and e-mails, and mapped out our plans for the following day. We were in bed by about 10:30; early for us.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 3rd
SANTA BARBARA MISSION AM-EARLY PM;
TRAVEL TO CAMBRIA
Our plan for the day was to visit the Santa Barbara Mission in the morning and early afternoon, have lunch in downtown Santa Barbara, and then make the 2 ½ hour drive to Cambria. Why Cambria? We liked the location of our lodging right on the ocean, and were hoping to explore the southern part of the Big Sur coast.
After having coffee and a pastry in our room, and checking out of the hotel, we headed to the Santa Barbara Mission, an easy drive from Cabrillo Blvd and then north on Garden Ave. Parking was easy in their ample lot. We had some time to walk around and take in the exterior of the church. A stop at their little info booth provided highlights of the mission grounds. Good timing. The girl in the booth advised us to enter the church early for the 11:00 Mass as it tends to be very well attended.
Following her advice, we were able to obtain a place in the 3rd pew. The church was festively decorated for the Christmas holiday season. The liturgy for Epiphany was inspirational as the choir sang beautful Gregorian chant, the congregation had great participation, and the sermon was meaningful. What a parish! We were impressed by the Franciscan Mission and its leadership.
After Mass, we encountered Ruby, a 90+ year-old woman who had been seated directly in front of us. We commented that so many people seemed to know her. She was delightful and told us about staying in Cambria for the 2nd day of her honeymoon, 66 years ago! She introduced us to the Franciscan priest who had masterfully conducted the liturgy; even with a small sparrow that flew around the sanctuary for the entire mass. The priest told us that he had something in common with us as he was also from Ohio.
Following the Mass, we stood at the front entrance and admired the impressive view out to the ocean. A stop in the visitors’ museum gave us some details about the Mission. We learned that it was the first mission which was not established by Father Junipero Sera who had, unfortunately, died the previous year. Mission Santa Barbara, founded December 4, 1766, the feast of Saint Barbara, is called the “Queen of the Missions”.
Much of the interior decoration of the church contains examples of 18th and 19th century Mexican art. The Chupah tribes were the dominant peoples in the area at the time the missions were established in this area. Over the years of visits to CA, we’ve visited several missions, as they are bound with the history of California. The Santa Barbara Mission is one of the more impressive, and is still a very active parish. We found the same with the Mission at Carmel.
Exiting the visitors’ center, we walked the Stations of the Cross located near the picnic area. Each was a beautiful mosaic artistically designed by a Franciscan priest. The walkway was peaceful. We wanted to spend more time at the mission, but felt the need to return to downtown to have a quick lunch before heading north to Cambria.
We traveled the short way to downtown Santa Barbara where we headed for lunch into the popular Paseo Nuevo. This area off State Street has brick walkways, inner patios, fountains, and greenery which provide an attractive atmosphere for the many popular shops and small restaurants. We chose a little place, Pizza Rey, where you choose any number of ingredients for the $8.95 price. It worked out well, as it was served quickly. We wanted to move on for our long drive ahead.
We left Santa Barbara close to 2:30 for the drive to Cambria. The route led through mountains via Route 154, where the speed limits were necessarily slower. Back on Rt. 1, our stop for gas and coffee, which wasn’t right off the freeway, was longer than expected, making our drive to Cambria almost 3 hours.
Arriving just after dark, we were pleasantly surprised when we pulled up to The Blue Dolphin Inn for a two-night stay. Its location on Moonstone Drive, the ocean road, was perfect for us. The receptionist Irma checked us into a nice room, and provided some helpful maps and info for the surrounding area.
For dinner, we walked a long block down the road along the ocean boardwalk to the Sea Chest Restaurant. The half-hour wait passed quickly as we enjoyed a glass of wine and chatted with some nice people. The wait was worth it. Our meal consisted of a tasty salad followed by a superbly prepared blue nose sea bass accompanied by a potato dish. Dessert was a strawberry/basil sorbet. Cash only: $80. including tip. This place would definitely be a repeat for us.
After that terrific meal, we walked back to our inn on the ocean boardwalk, enjoying the sound of the surf. Although we’re in CA, we were aware that our home team, the Bengals, were playing. So we watched them beat the Ravens, and caught up on a few e-mails.
One unique aspect of the Blue Dolphin Inn was their method of serving breakfast. Each evening, you’re given a sheet for checking your choices for breakfast in four categories. Breakfast is then brought to your room at the time you designate. We liked that feature.
On the following day, our hope was to drive the Pacific Coast Highway. For the past few days, there had been weather predictions of an El Nino front moving into So. CA. Only yesterday did we begin to see some clouds. Since this area has lived under drought conditions for so long, and was in desperate need of rain, we had mixed feelings. We knew their need of rain was greater than our vacation desires for good weather.
At about 11 PM we turned in, taking an IAD attitude for our next day’s plans.
MONDAY, JANUARY 4th
WHAT WILL THE DAY BRING?
ELEPHANT SEAL ROOKERY?
BIG SUR COAST?
The rain which had been predicted came down hard during the night. We fully expected it to continue. But, to our amazement, the sun came out about 10 AM. We were pleased with the in-room breakfast which arrived about 9:15 and after we had showered and were set to go.
We steered north to the viewing area of the Elephant Seal Rookery. The location was only 15 minutes or so and was obvious with the hundred or so cars parked along the coast…and the PCH highway 1 is right there. Hundreds of them were beached. Having seen harbor seals in San Francisco and along the coast further north, the huge size of these seals was amazing.
The newborns looked to be the size of the adult harbor seals. It was fascinating watching them spread all over the beach: huge males, some with trunks like elephants, females and the newborns. This is their season for mating and birthing; the young are fatting up; the alpha males challenge each other; the noises are full of mystery; they spray sand on themselves when stressed or for sun-reduction. The several 100 yard boardwalk is well-positioned and allows so many visitors to have viewing spots. And the views on the coast are outstanding.
Although it wasn’t raining, the area was puddly from the hard rain the previous night. The prize for the best-dressed in rain gear was a little dog who was modeling a rain outfit, complete with hat. We thought Tom and Tracy’s Corgis might want to emulate that fashion statement!
After being fascinated with the actions and noises of the elephant seals for quite a long while, we proceeded north. We passed San Simeon and the Hearst Castle and Ranch which we had visited a few years back. We learned that it had been donated to the California Department of Parks and Recreation. We passed by the light house and Ragged Point, which we would visit on our return route.
We felt so fortunate to have a partially sunny day to travel one of our favorite areas. We consider the Big Sur coastline to be one of the most outstanding we have witnessed anywhere. As is our normal pattern, we stop often to take in the amazing views. We decided to have lunch at a tiny place, Gordo, at the Whale Watcher Café. We should have known better than to order fish ‘n chips at a little mountainside restaurant miles from anywhere! But the dramatic view made up for the miserable meal.
It would have taken at least another ½ hour to drive 15 more miles up to Lucia, a favorite of ours, allowing for not stops. We decided not to save that for a future trip. The views were outstanding, even better, heading south. We took many pics.
Our stop at Ragged Point, which is dubbed “The Southern Entrance to Big Sur”, provided outstanding coastal views with long walking paths and landscaped gardens, even a few late season ROSES. And birds of paradise! The stop was rewarding as we hadn’t heard of Ragged Point as a place for lodging where all the units look out to the Pacific. Ice cream provided a sweet end to our visit. We were glad that we weren’t in need of their $4.69 per gallon gas!
As the day progressed, it became successively cloudier. Proceeding down the PCH, we drove up to the visitor’s center of the Hearst Castle. But neither of us felt motivated to tour it. Perhaps it was our feelings that our European trip this summer had satisfied our desire for viewing the opulent life combined with the fact that it was getting late and beginning to rain.
It would be dark by 5, so we decided to check out the little downtown of Cambria. We felt quite sure from what we had heard from others that downtown Cambria is quaint and attractive. But weather often affects a feeling about an area. With the heavy overcast, the beginning drizzle, and the early darkness, Cambria didn’t appear very inviting to us.
We drove around the business area before settling on a very low-key dinner at the Main Street Grill. It was a “cash only, order at the counter, and wait for your number to be called kind of place”. Unremarkable, but satisfied our needs for the evening.
Fortunately, we had an attractive and comfortable place at our Blue Dolphin Inn, so spending the evening having coffee by the fireplace wasn’t so bad. Margie fell asleep by 7 PM, highly unusual for her, a night-owl. We sent a couple of e-mails, watched a little TV, and got some things packed.
In the morning we would be heading south to meet our brother Ray in Santa Barbara.
We felt very fortunate to have had a mostly clear day to enjoy the coast, our reason for visiting Cambria!
TUESDAY, JANUARY 5th
TRAVEL TO SANTA BARBARA/ MEET BROTHER RAY
Set alarm for 7:15. . .wanted to be ready, and on the road to Santa Barbara early. Breakfast arrived about 8:45ish. By the time we ate, loaded the car, checked out, and walked down to the shore for one last look, we were pulling out at 9:38!
Our plan was to meet Ray for lunch at the Santa Barbara Harbor. Given the weather prediction, and having already experienced the beginnings of rain, we offered Ray a way out, as he would have a 4 ½ to 5 hour drive from Santa Cruz. . .probably in the rain. But we felt complimented that he wanted to join us, rain or shine!
True to predictions, this began as a rainy day, following another night of hard rain. It was only drizzling when we left the Blue Dolphin Inn, and the roads were fairly dry for the first part of the drive. We made a good stop for gas/restroom in San Luis Obispo, and would have liked to visit the Mission, but it would have been several blocks south and then a return of several blocks to the freeway. A longer time than we thought we should spend, given the drive over the mountains ahead. On a future trip, maybe.
As we drove on, we made good time…only one brief pause for clearing of a wreck. We made it to Santa Barbara in about 2 ½ hours…not so bad. We were thankful that it didn’t rain as we were driving through the mountains.
The cell phone service was terrible, so we were glad that we had communicated meeting time/place with Ray. Since we had made good time, and knew that Ray had a much longer drive, with heavy rain north, we checked into our Hyatt Santa Barbara on our arrival a little after noon. With such an early check-in, we were surprised that our room was ready.
It was, for sure, a nicer room than the one we had a couple of days earlier. Still old, but in much better condition. We learned through our stay there that some Hyatt are franchises, this being one. It has had a couple of ownership changes in five years, plus several managers, and is in the process of updating; just not our section. Oh well! Live and learn!
We wandered up to Brophy Bros. Restaurant at the harbor to hold a table and enjoy a beer at the bar while waiting for Ray. We finally made phone contact, and when we told him that there were actually some blue skies in Santa Barbara, he teased that we must be hallucinating, as he was driving in pouring rain.
Within a short while, Ray arrived. It was so great to see him! When he walked in, it was as if we had been together only last week, though it had been 15 months.
We weren’t hallucinating about blue skies and sunshine, so what’s not to like about a great outdoor table? It seemed that Ray left Santa Cruz at 7 AM and stopped for an hour to handle some urgent business issues. After our extended lunch . . . Ray had oysters, we shared a shrimp cocktail, all had chowder, and we shared a fish’n chips . . . we walked a bit around the marina.
The tenor of our trip had just changed. From coastal touring, the wonderful Rose Parade and enjoyment of friends, to the Elephant Seal Rookery and Big Sur enjoyment, we would now transition to topics such as sailing, and technology.
Ray pointed out the Channel Islands where he said they used to go diving. A sailboat race was in progress, and we enjoyed the play by play description of the event. The waves which we had witnessed on our walk the previous evening were now churning up, a few crashing over the height of the seawall. Premonitions of the incoming storm! We walked into the Maritime Museum taking the elevator to the 4th floor to enjoy the view of Santa Barbara.
Suddenly, there was an awareness of the parking meter expirations. Fortunately, both Tom and Ray were spared parking tickets even as we were over the 90 free minutes!
Following our heartwarming initial lunch and enjoyment of the harbor, we took a break for an hour and half so that Ray could check into the Hotel Santa Barbara on State Street and do a little business. Our Hyatt Hotel was about 1 ½ miles down the main ocean road from downtown Santa Barbara. The break gave us a chance to freshen up and later return downtown to meet him for dinner.
Thinking that we had the route to the Hotel Santa Barbara mapped out, with awareness of the one-way streets, we encountered not only construction, but State Street blocked off for their Farmers’ Market. Getting to his hotel area and parking there proved challenging in the now pitch dark. We did find a public lot and walked several blocks to Ray’s hotel.
For dinner, we walked about three blocks up State Street to Pascucci’s Italian Restaurant which had been recommended by a couple of people. It was a nice ambiance with good food, even if a bit chilly. We had fun teasing around with a bunch of Brits who brought up how awful Trump is. After a walk back to the Hotel SB, and a little more conversation, we made plans to meet Ray around 9:30 AM at his hotel.
Initially, we were disappointed that the Hyatt was full when Ray tried to make reservations. But that turned out to work to our benefit. Although the Hotel Santa Barbara is old, it seemed well-kept, and afforded us a few benefits. We could park behind the hotel, a Starbucks was conveniently located next door, and the comfortable lobby afforded us a place to have our visits and catch-up conversations during the couple of very rainy days.
It was so good to spend some time with Ray! Aware that we might have rain during the next two days, we checked out a few “indoor” activities, such as the impressive S.B. Art Museum. Although Ray would usually be interested in such, he said that he just wanted to visit. And that was fine with us. In fact, the predicted rains had us resigned to saving Montecito for a future visit, and spending our time in the downtown area where there is no dirth of restaurants.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6th
RAINY DAY!
GREAT FOR VISITING!
Up at 7 and same old routine as Tom goes to dining room for croissants and coffee from the lobby. We’re off to the Hotel SB to join Ray in the lobby.
Last night the promised deluge came; the streets were flooded by the 3 ½ inches! After fording the heavy streams, and steering clear of road blocks, thanks to Ray’s arrangement we were able to park in the rear of the Hotel SB for the price of a tip when we exit. Cappuccinos from the next door Starbucks provided energy for great dialogue in the lobby which provided a comfortable place to visit, undeterred by the rain.
We were glad that we had had that earlier time in Santa Barbara where we could experience the downtown in more favorable weather. On a rainy day, the open courts of Paseo Nuevo did not look so appealing!
Just after noon we headed down State Street to Stearns Wharf, the popular area of restaurants and shops. Thankfully, there was ample parking, as not too many venturesome souls seemed to be around in the pouring rain. We chose Moby Dick’s Restaurant, requesting a table view of the breakwater. It was amazing to watch the high surf! Margie ordered a salad and shared a meal with Tom: Alaskan Cod Fish Veracruz, with rice and spicy Hispanic touches. Ray smartly chose a fish sandwich. We were some of the very few patrons, so there was no need to hurry.
As we finished the meal, the rain subsided and we walked the wharf for a while. Ray was pointing out the markers used by sailboaters to negotiate the harbor, as the high surf was pounding. Before long the drizzle became more and more intense, and there were a few bolts of lightning. Time to leave the area! The threatening sky sent us to the car and back to the lobby of Hotel SB.
Tom visited Starbucks for another round of cappuccinos and we sat for a couple more hours in the lobby continuing our discussions of family, economics, world events, politics, travel, plus Ray’s business. Ray intermittently needed to attend to business issues as he is at the height of a project.
After our afternoon “session”, we took a short break, as Ray caught up with things and we all had a chance to freshen up for dinner.
Although we had more appropriate clothes to dress-up for dinner, knowing that we would probably be walking in the pouring rain made us decide against it. The El Nino Storm hitting the coast had delivered its promised punch: 3.6” very fast, with much run-off. That was followed by a day of a constant drizzle, the kind that was needed.
Ray suggested The Wine Cask Restaurant, which was about a 4-5 block walk, and of course, it was drizzling. So where were the ROSES which we had continually experienced on this trip? Well, many beautiful yellow ones were on the tables at the Wine Cask Restaurant. The experience there was exceptionally rewarding. The atmosphere was classy. We began by sharing a toast over a bottle of Pinot Noir. After beginning with salads, Ray said that his duck was fabulous. Margie had a wonderful sea bass, and Tom chose a meal of scallops.
During the meal, our stimulating discussions continued. The experience was a wonderful finale to our visit which, sadly, would end late tomorrow morning. The rain did let up for our return to the Hotel SB. We planned to meet in the morning at 9 AM for a little breakfast before driving in separate directions. More rain was predicted.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 7th
FINAL FAREWELLS!
RETURN TO LA
Up at 6:30 and time to get “rolling”. When checking out of the SB Hyatt, we found it a strange rule that a customer cannot roll the luggage carrier, but an attendee must do it “for liability reasons”. So we were somewhat delayed in meeting Ray in the Hotel SB. (How convenient this has been!)
Joe’s Café, directly across the street, was recommended to have good omelettes. We were seated in a nice booth. During breakfast, Ray showed us more of his business goings-on via Apple Air. We ended our meal around 11:15, and since the day seemed to be dry and sunny, the pressure to leave promptly was relieved. So we spent a few more minutes over a Starbucks in the hotel lobby.
Finally, it was time for our heartfelt farewells and “til next time” wishes with each of us leaving on the 101, Ray heading North toward Santa Cruz while we turned South toward LA. Our 2-hour drive was fairly easy as we had a sunny day, dry roads, and good old GPS. Since we made such good time, we aimed for a last visit to Santa Monica. We were happy to have a last evening visit there.
Margie was able to have the @#! security device taken off the sweater which she had purchased at H & M three days earlier, but was unable to wear. Two employees had missed the device! We again were glad to enjoy crepes outdoors at our favorite Café Crepe before walking the Palisades Park along the ocean. We saw our last ROSES of the trip in Santa Monica.
For our return from Santa Monica to our Hotel Renaissance LAX, a relatively short distance, we trusted the Garmin. Instead of back streets, she directed us back on the I-405 and I-10 with the crowded, slow 20 mph crawl. Since we weren’t under any pressure, the drive wasn’t too bad. As we pulled off the exit, we conveniently found a gas station, and got our rental car fill-up. It didn’t take long to return the KIA Optima to Budget Rent-a-Car and walk across the street to return to the Renaissance Hotel.
It was about 6 PM, and dark. A phone call confirmed that Ray had safely arrived in Santa Cruz. Following our airline check-in, we watched the news before eating dinner in the hotel restaurant. Amazing that a Corona beer cost $8. Our simple dinner of onion soup each, a shared burger, and drinks cost $87 including a tip. But it was cconvenient. Following dinner, we organized our luggage for our return flight in the morning.
We took the Renaissance shuttle to LAX at 9:30 AM and were off to CVG at 12:10 PM. It was a smooth flight, only 3 ¾ hours! Luggage was retrieved quickly, and soon we were heading to our home. We were happy to return as we were both fighting colds.
Everything in So CA really did come up ROSES. It was a wonderful trip, experiencing great times with friends Tom & Tracy, and our brother Ray. Together with the natural beauty of the coast, we’ll have many happy memories to cherish.
Jan 24th, 2016, 04:26 PM
#2
Obviously the bribery money we paid Tom and Margie to say nice things about us worked like a charm. 
Seriously, it was great to be able to host you guys for a couple of nights. We had a blast. I'm glad we were able to provide some beautiful (albeit chillly for we wimpy So Cal people) Pasadena parade weather. You also experienced the only (so far) El Nino weather we have had.
I'm glad you're trip out here worked so well. Hope to see you somewhere in the not-so-distant future.
PS - Frankie and Remi say "hi."
Seriously, it was great to be able to host you guys for a couple of nights. We had a blast. I'm glad we were able to provide some beautiful (albeit chillly for we wimpy So Cal people) Pasadena parade weather. You also experienced the only (so far) El Nino weather we have had.
I'm glad you're trip out here worked so well. Hope to see you somewhere in the not-so-distant future.
PS - Frankie and Remi say "hi."
Jan 25th, 2016, 04:19 PM
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Maitaitom, thanks for your nice comments on our TR. We're so happy that Frankie and Remi remember us!
And, Barbara, thanks to you as well. Sounds as though you're familiar with the CA highways. We did get adjusted to the heavy traffic and multiple lanes, but tried to avoid the rush hour times. We did experience that the drivers were, on the whole, considerate.
And, Barbara, thanks to you as well. Sounds as though you're familiar with the CA highways. We did get adjusted to the heavy traffic and multiple lanes, but tried to avoid the rush hour times. We did experience that the drivers were, on the whole, considerate.
Jan 26th, 2016, 07:08 PM
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Maitaitom, of the Santa Barbara Restaurants we experienced, the Wine Cask ticks all the boxes for a classy establishment. And if you enjoy the harbor, the Brophy Bros. is fun.
We're sure that you and Tracy will visit before we can return.
We're sure that you and Tracy will visit before we can return.
Jan 27th, 2016, 08:03 AM
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Great report of some familiar places and some new ones that I'd like to visit.
I could spend my entire vacation walking the beach, eating, enjoying the sunset and then moving on to the next beach town
We had narrowly avoided the Hyatt in Santa Barbara in early December. I'd heard it was dilapidated.
The Hyatt House in Manhattan Beach turned out to be a better option for us.
I could spend my entire vacation walking the beach, eating, enjoying the sunset and then moving on to the next beach town
We had narrowly avoided the Hyatt in Santa Barbara in early December. I'd heard it was dilapidated.
The Hyatt House in Manhattan Beach turned out to be a better option for us.
Jan 27th, 2016, 05:45 PM
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Barbara, we think that the Golden State has so many wonderful attractions that dealing with the traffic hassles is just something that's part of the package. As visitors, we just try to avoid the rush hours.
Thanks for your interest in our report.
Sassy_cat, thanks for your nice comments on our report. We agree with you as far as the beach areas are concerned. And the Paradise State surely has its beautiful ones from north to south.
Thanks for your interest in our report.
Sassy_cat, thanks for your nice comments on our report. We agree with you as far as the beach areas are concerned. And the Paradise State surely has its beautiful ones from north to south.
