Sun, Sea, Sand, Seagulls and Surfers - Did I Say California?

I'm just back from a week or so in California, mostly southern California, and it was a terrific getaway. The rains had stopped and every day was sunny and warm. Three days in San Francisco, including field trips to Mt. Tam, the Muir Woods and Stinson Beach, and then a drive down to Santa Monica, where I stayed on the beach with a friend. He worked and I sat by the ocean every day, watching the surf, the surfers and soaking up sunshine. 

In SF I stayed in The Mission at this lovely B&B, the Inn San Francisco, where I had a lovely room with high ceilings, period decor, four poster bed, en suite bath, cable TV and good WiFi! Also, they put out a sumptuous breakfast buffet. There's a garden and a hot tub, too. 

Day tripping to the north was a feast of incredible vistas, including the classic of the Golden Gate Bridge, and Stinson Beach from on high and then down on the beach with my traveling companions, my son Spencer and his girlfriend Dana. "FOOD" may be the ultimate restaurant statement and location...and view. And how about that picnic table? 

Spencer and Dana remained in SF when I headed south. Due to the recent rains the Pacific Coast Highway was open in parts and closed in parts but where it was open it was, as always, reliably spectacular: 

When I got to Santa Monica I just stayed there, no mad touring around LA., and thus avoided the famous traffic. There was a night at the Troubadour, though. In the mornings I'd have breakfast at Cora's Coffee Shop, sometimes I'd have breakfast, or lunch, on the terrace of Shutters on the Beach (Spencer and Dana rolled through for one of those), and other meals at a variety of good SM restaurants, including Ivy at the Shore, Chinois, the Water Grill, or eat "at home." It was in almost every way a beach holiday. Lots of great sunsets. 

The fog arrived only on my last day, but that didn't stop the surfers.