JULY -- AUGUST 2013
WATERFALLS: Our hikes up the coast continued into July. Our first stop was at Pfeiffer Falls at Big Sur, roughly a two mile hike up a steep hill then back to the parking lot.
Our second waterfall was the McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park located about 12 miles south of Big Sur. The Falls are about a half mile from the highway. These are the most photographed falls near Big Sur and the only falls that end up falling directly into the ocean or beach below.
POINT LOBOS: The day before our Seacliff Beach reunion, we met Maggie and Carson at Point Lobos for some sightseeing:
SEACLIFF: Joyce and Mike arrived early to reserve at spot at Seacliff beach, followed closed behind by Sean and Chris and family:
Erin and Veronica were close behind...
...then Maureen, Salesi, Lava, and Loviana
By noon, Jim and Barbara arrived with Maggie and Carson:
Then the Acevedo clan arrived from Ventura to join the fun:
MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM
After a day on the beach we were ready for another adventure, this time to the Monterey Bay Aquarium:
SOLEDAD: After a day at the Aquarium we were ready for some rest at home...
...followed by some more fun at the playground...
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: A few days later we joined Rachel at a funeral for Fred (Linus) Utsch in San Pedro and the reception at the Trump Golf Course in Palos Verdes:
GETTY VILLA: On the journey home we stopped in Malibu to visit the Getty Villa
which was featuring a special collection of ancient artifacts from Sicily.
LINCOLN: The Old Folks group met by Eric and Tina's pool in Lincoln to cool off and enjoy a lunch together:
SOLEDAD VISIT WITH SUE AND ROGER
Cousin Sue and Roger visited from Oregon along with Bev and Pat.
We ended up with this panoramic view of Soledad from the Paraiso Winery
but not until we had put in some time on the trail at the Pinnacles.
The girls and guys lined up for photo shots before the trek began to the caves:
The Pinnacles beckoned in the morning sun as the California condors circled some of the peaks.
Soon Roger, Jim, and Sue were on the trail. Bev and Pat and Barbara watched the condors then prepared a great lunch.
Along the way Roger saved us from enormous rolling boulders and we marveled at natural pyramid shapes.
Then we started down a canyon to the entrance to the caves. The gate reminded us of the nearby Soledad prison and local inmates.
Inside there were light leaks like aliens forms, miners, and gawking tourists.
It was a hot, blistery, but scenic walk back to the car.
The aches and pains were soon forgotten with a fine lunch and a sampling of estate wines from the Paraiso Vineyards
Young at heart, lighter in spirit, and slightly heavier, we headed down River Road toward Carmel Beach where there were still more thrills and discoveries before the day ended.
IMPRESSIONISTS ON THE WATER
It was time to return to work at the end of July so a quick trip to the Legion of Honor's
Impressionists on the Water exhibit was in order. It was a gloomy, foggy day by the bay.
But inside the Legion of Honor Museum Impressionism brightened the day.
Artist: Claude Monet. Title: Boats Moored at Le Petit-Gennevilliers (Barques au repos, au Petit-Gennevilliers) (traditionally Sailboats on the Seine). Date: 1874.
Pierre-Auguste Renoir: Oarsmen at Chatou (Les Canotier à Chatou), 1879
"Regatta at Argenteuil" (1893), in oil on canvas by Gustave Caillebotte
From the Legion of Honor we took the bus to the DeYoung Museum, listened to a band concert,
then boarded another bus to Pier 39 for an early dinner and trip on BART back to Fremont.
Next: EMMA SIDLER