It started with a free companion ticket expiring January 31, 2015… And ended in California.

Why did we go to California with a 6 day notice? Someone on Instagram said because you could. How true is that! Great timing with Kevin’s work and the boys are settled at college and so we went. 

I’ve always wanted to meet the redwoods. And that was our plan. 

Nothing can prepare you for the wonder. The trail is on the top of a tree and Kevin is at the other end. Walking among these giants…fills you with awe and humbleness and gratitude. 

We spent time in Muir Woods, Humboldt and Jackson walking in the woods. Wood Sorrel surrounding our feet, ferns brushing our shoulders and the trees soaring above. This tree fell some 20 years ago and could be felt 10 miles away. It registered on the Richter scale. We visited the biggest and then the tallest. We followed the trails deep into the woods and saw a momma doe and her babies with speckled bodies. We picnicked in the parks. We visited the cemetery where the early settlers are buried and we walked along the streams. EVERYONE needs to meet the redwoods.

And drive thru one. 

Next we headed to the coast.

We hiked and hiked to an empty beach. 

2,362 steps one way! I had so much sand in my shoes I kept it and it now sits in a bottle with my sea glass. We stayed in B&B’s that were from wonderful to creepy, and ate breakfast on the deck and in the car. We sought out lighthouses and scenic drives and good coffee.  This beautiful cemetery in Elk overlooked the Ocean. We stopped to visit and found we had great cell phone coverage so we returned several times during our stay. Each time I would capture more images of the beautiful pink flowers and markers.  In Elk we found the sweetest Inn called Griffin House Inn. They have little cottages overlooking the ocean and they deliver your breakfast to your room!

Nice little restaurant there too. The best place we stayed and we didn’t want to leave. Another stop was in Point Reyes. It is the windiest place in North America and the second foggiest. We walked down 500 steps to tour a historical lighthouse here. They had resting benches every 100 steps. The sign states it’s equivalent of walking up a 30 story building. I would agree.

There a Park Ranger stood in the door way and gave us a wonderful lecture on this amazing lighthouse and historical lens while our legs trembled from the hike down. The lighthouse began operation in 1870, the lens came from France and took six weeks just to get it down the cliffs.

We went to Glass Beach in Fort Bragg. Years and years of the garbage being dumped down the cliffs of the ocean here have left an astonishing amount of sea glass. I carefully collected a very small few and enjoyed every minute of the gathering.

Sand and ocean making a pattern along the shore.We drove back to San Francisco stopping for the night in Sonoma. It was beautiful.Back to San Fransisco we visited Fisherman’s Wharf. We stumbled upon an Arcade that housed only vintage games and novelties. Walking through the rows and rows of these wooden games and shows, we carefully chose how to spend our quarters. Everyone would gather around whenever a quarter was inserted to watch the show. We watched monkeys in a band play, a guillotine fall on a criminal, a larger sailor belly laugh, a dancing quartet, a cowboy riding a bucking bull, and men arm wrestling.

The best quarters spent was a little game where it told what kind of kisser you were. You put your quarter in and then held down the handle. The light would rotate around and then stop on your descriptive word.

Mine was BLAH!

Kevin was UNCONTROLLABLE!We laughed and laughed!

California is amazing. We found the people friendly,

An Alabama fan served us dinner in Eureka. She had an Alabama key chain in her apron. Her first love moved back to Alabama. She told us nothing was like an Alabama boy.

I bought two apples at a farmers market and he gave me a carnation.

Even staying in a haunted B&B that use to be a hospital was neat. (sort of).

My Nikon camera chip for the first part of the trip was corrupted I suppose through the airport screening. I was heart-broken at what I lost but was glad I had taken many on my iPhone.

Driving from San Francisco to Eureka the temperatures went from 60 to 100 to 50. So diverse and all in one state. We had an amazing time being in nature and seeing God’s greatest works.

The last day I saw this sign and I thought that summed up our trip and experience. All trips should be so good.

Katey