Ride through Big Sur,Santa Cruz and San Francisco

Wooooo!!! I can't believe it... Just a few months ago I was terrified by the ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway and since then have traveled some interesting roads not the least of which was the drive to Taos, NM in the fog at 9pm. If I can do that? Well, you know the rest... So as I left Ventura, I had to decide if I should go up Highway 1 to Santa Cruz to stay with a friend's brother and sister-in-law. Lots of people said do it and some others said, "don't, it's long,windy and scary". I decided since one of the things I've always wanted to see was Big Sur that I'd just give myself plenty of time and take Hwy 1.
I am sooo glad I did. It was spectacular! I did notice halfway through, "Hmm, this is steep and windy and there was no cell reception for hours and I couldn't have been happier watching the waves (far below)crashing against the cliffs. The sun shining and fog banks off to the distance, starting to roll in.It was gorgeous and everything I imagined! I can't believe how different I feel on these drives... Each one with it's own adventure and I notice how much I've eased into them. I've had so much practice leaving and getting comfortable with the unknown. It's been pretty great!
On the way I saw the sign for the HEARST castle so I pulled off. I didn't want to take the tour but I got to see it and look up at the fact that, yes, it is indeed a castle at the top of a mountain/cliff.


I arrived in Santa Cruz on a Friday night. I stayed with Denise and Tim who I met for the first time when I arrived at their house. They had to go away the first weekend and it worked out that I could take care of their house/dog/cat and bird while they were away. The timing was perfect. It gave me a chance give back to them for being so gracious considering I didn't even know them and they were allowing me to stay with them. Let's just say we bonded. By the end of the, over a week, we were joking about me being their roommate. They had referred to me as, "Roomie" which I loved.
The first day there, Denise and I went to the "Cliffs" for a little run. She explained that Santa Cruz is the most famous surf area in California. This is a really popular place for surfers and little surf museum at a lighthouse nearby.

We were about an hour and a half from San Francisco. I'd been to San Francisco but there were a few things I wanted to see. For instance, the Golden Gate bridge, which I had seen before but at the time was covered with fog. I was happy to discover that the visit to my customer meant driving over the bridge. There were two places I wanted to go on this little journey so I made a plan to spend the day investigating the area. I wanted to see Muir Woods, a Redwood forest and spend some time in Sausilito which I had heard so much about. After visitng my customer I drove right to Sausilito. It was a quaint community on the water with a tremendous view. The landscape included a view of Alcatraz,the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay area beyond that. It was great to sit by the water with my lunch and enjoy that along with my favorite activity of people watching.


Muir Woods is like an Oasis among trees. I really enjoyed hiking through the park for a couple of hours.

I was awed by the beauty of those massive creations. Boy, the stories those trees could tell. They've been around for so long and have seen so much. I decided to lie down on a log and rest under the wisdom.
When I was getting ready to leave, it was about 6pm and I didn't want to get caught in traffic so I went to Muir Beach. It was a small peaceful beach near the forest. I journaled there and watched families and friends arriving at sunset with their kindling wood and coolers for a cookout on the beach.
Later I drove back to Santa Cruz to spend time with my new friends/roomies. I enjoyed their company so much. We had alot of laughs. It was nice to have dinner as a family and just hang out getting to know each other.
The next day I went to the beach. I didn't bring my camera because, well, how many pictures of a beach can you take? Well, this particular day I got there and there was a big sign "Unsafe waves, stay out of the water". I couldn't believe the waves. I felt like the beach ended and where the water began there was a film displaying tidal waves. It was surreal. The waves were at least 15 feet high. I've never seen anything like it. I stayed and watched for hours.

Tim and Denise offered to drive me to Carmel by the Sea on a Saturday. We took the adventure together and I was excited because I've wanted to see it since the 80's when Chevy Chase was in "Seems like Old Times". He lived in Carmel and it was beautiful. We took Molly, their dog and here's a picture of Molly enjoying the ride.
Carmel was beyond beautiful and quaint. The strip of cottages (Inns) shops, art galleries and restaurants was something else. It was like the beach version of Rodeo Dr. At the bottom of the street was open ocean and after walking through this pristine community I loved feeling the contrast of opening out to the wild untame sea. It was overcast that day which made it even more pronounced. I really enjoyed the day.We even stopped and smelled the flowers!

The next day Denise was running a 10K. It was called the "Wharf to Wharf". It was for charity and a very popular event in Santa Cruz. Over 40 bands lined the street to cheer on the runners and thousands participated. They had an extra number because Tim had gotten injured and couldn't run so they asked me if I wanted it. I said I'd do it and walk,just for the fun of being in the crowd. Much to my surprise, I was able to run just about all of it. It was such a lesson for me in not limiting myself. I don't think I would have ever imagined running a 10K race and it was a symbol for any limitations I may put on myself without even trying. Always something new to discover whether it's internal or external. Have I mentioned lately how blessed I feel?

Last but not least, on my way out of Santa Cruz, I went back to San Francisco. My friend Bic's granddaughter owns an auto repair/maintenance garage there called "Lucious Garage". He had told us about her business and is so proud of her. I was excited to meet her and was thrilled to visit a garage owned and operated by a woman and she specializes in Hybrid engines. The garage was beautiful, if there is such a thing.


She was great and we talked for a few minutes and I told her I'd keep in touch hoping we will get together whenever she comes to Massachusetts.
So it was a great week. I loved getting to know Tim and Denise and am really looking forward to continuing to get to know them and staying in touch.
I can't believe this is it. I'm leaving California and taking the scenic route to Oregon. It has been a great 5 weeks in California. I am finally ready to move on and see what is left to see in this vast and magical country.

More to come....

Santa Barbara/Ventura, CA

I just have to share that as I write this, I'm looking out the window and see a bright red Dragon Fly. I've never seen a bright red one. I thought it was a bird at first. What a beauty!

So, I have always wanted to go to Santa Barbara... Who knows why?I didn't know. When I made reservations, I couldn't afford to stay within 20 miles of Santa Barbara so I got a reservation in Ventura. I had no idea what I would feel like being so far from the city I've always wanted to see. I got to my hotel and saw the amazing fact that I could look at the mountains and the sea at the same time. I was thrilled! It was too early to check in so I drove up to Santa Barbara for the afternoon. The mountains on one side, the ocean on the other..It was dizzying it was so beautiful. I didn't know where to look first!
So I get to Santa Barbara !!! OH MY GOSH!!! It is gorgeous! Even writing about it makes me want to cry! The first church I drove by had a sign: "Courage is the power to let go of the familiar". That expression embodies all of what this journey represents. I ended up going back to Santa Barbara 2 more times. Once to visit a client and once to see the beach.
I had such a great afternoon with our client. He showed me his library and we went out to lunch. After I left him, I walked around Santa Barbara. I can't really describe it. It's a beautiful beach community with, again, ocean/mountain view. The downtown area is very upscale and filled with great restaurants, shops and theater. The beach community is also beautiful! The beach is not directly connected to the center of town and has it's own feel. It is a beautiful beach lined with Palm trees and there were volleyball nets everywhere. Also filled with surf shops,restaurants, shops and galleries.


Ventura, itself, became a sanctuary for me. Pictures? I don't know what I was thinking. I didn't take very many because I just really spent time there going for long walks on the beach, watching sunsets and meditating by the water. Every night I'd walk down the boardwalk to a place called "Surfer's Point" . All the Kite surfers would be there at dusk, after work,I'm guessing, surfing. I got such peace watching them. They were suspended in air and it looked so freeing.



My hotel was just down the street from the largest wooden pier in California. I guess they are known for that so I thought I'd throw that in. A little trivia for those who care.

Someone told me about a place in Ojai, California (more mountains and about 20 miles from the water which made it at least 20 degrees warmer) called Meditation Mount. It is a beautiful retreat center on a mountain with a meditation garden that overlooks the entire mountain range. I drove through lots of orange groves to get there and finally found it. I stayed and meditated for a couple of hours. The sound of the breeze,crickets, birds and lightly flowing water sounded like a symphony being played just for me. I loved it. Rocks were engraved with things like: "Good Will" and "Good Human Relations". I really enjoyed it up there.

On a couple of occasions, I spent time at the pool where I met lots of great people including a couple who had adopted 2 sons from Ventura 5 and 6 years ago and were back for a visit. Ironically, the mom had just received a turtle pendant and when we got talking I was able to give her the gift of information about what "Turtle" represents in Native American culture. She was so touched as a mom and she was certainly a wonderful nurturer. We really bonded and exchanged information.


I also had a great conversation with someone from Sweden. We talked about the difference in our two cultures. He now lives in America but sees the importance we place on work and how much we work only taking a couple weeks a year to do the things we like to do.I asked him if it was true that Europeans get offended at the question: "What do you do?" because I had heard that a long time ago. He said wording it differenly would help like; "What kind of work do you do?" because if someone asks him what he "does" he would likely talk about the pleasurable activities in his life. Work isn't what he does, it is the means by which he can do the things he likes. "I am on an extended holiday and I work to keep it going". What a switch in perspective and I loved it! It sure keeps priorities straight.

The more I found out about Ventura, the more I loved. There were hidden treasures everywhere. I like the community and the people and the weather is amazing. Every day it was sunny,clear and a crisp 70-75. At night it goes down to 60. Perfect for sleep. I notice this is true on the coast of California (at least that is my experience). I was at a store where I mentioned the weather and 2 guys said,"Well, yah the last 2 days have been good". And I said "and what exactly was wrong with the days before that?". I couldn't imagine. They went on to say that a few days it was overcast until about 1pm. They admit they were spoiled and honestly I couldn't give them much credit once I found out they were Oakland Raider fans. Yikes!

One afternoon I met someone who told me about a walk up to a place called Grant Park. At the top there is an old wooden cross and a panoramic view of Ventura. I took the trek (and it was very steep) one afternoon. I almost gave up a couple of times especially when I saw the "Here's what to do if you see a Mountain lion"signs. But I trudged on and am so glad I did. It was gorgeous. I stayed and enjoyed the panoramic view of the entire city.


And last but not least the baby seal. I was walking along the beach one afternoon and stumbled upon a crowd. They were looking at this seal. I thought, "Oh, poor thing" and I must have moaned because someone said,"Don't worry, it's alive". Apparently the babies don't have enough body fat and get cold (the water here is COLD). So, they wash up on shore for a few days and soak up the sun then wash back into the water. Pretty ingenious. I love thinking about the instincts of animals. It always amazes me how intricate nature is and how perfectly designed, yet seemingly random. God is so great and I am way too limited to understand it all so I get to just believe things are as they are supposed to be and enjoy it!



So here I am in Santa Cruz. Last stop in California!More to come...

Los Angeles-Where's George Clooney?

"Faith is daring the Soul to go beyond where the eye can see"This was one of the first signs I saw in L.A. and I wanted to share.





I reluctantly left San Diego. I really like it there and love being so close to the ocean. I took the journey up Highway 1 to Redondo Beach, 20 minutes outside L.A.-well theoretically 20 minutes.
The drive to Redondo Beach was gorgeous. I drove through all the beach towns including Leguna Beach (OH MY GOSH) and Newport Beach. WOW! The highway is right next to the ocean side and it was really fun to get that real California feel with the street-lined palm trees,surfers everywhere and laid back friendly people on the street.
So here starts my illusive search for George Clooney!

I have to start by saying it was a roller coaster ride, emotionally, in Los Angeles. It was a rough beginning and as people told me, "pay attention to how you feel, sometimes it just doesn't feel right and that's okay". That isn't to say there is anything wrong with L.A. It just reminded me that I am not into the busy-ness of a city and the chaos that comes with it. Good to remember. I did meet alot of great people though and had some great experiences. It is a VERY diverse area and I loved that! That is what I miss about living near the city. But like I said, kind of up and down. I had some moments of homesickness too.

I got to the Redondo Beach hotel pretty late Sunday. It was nice enough and the people were great. I've been lucky. Only one semi-uncomfortable experience in San Diego, and that is on a long line of hotel stays! So I'm not complaining.


I was happy to see how close I was to the beach. One block from the pier. The next morning I went for a long walk on the beach, there's a walkway for walkers and bikers;a strip. There is a large pier where fisherman throw their lines day in and day out-looking for the excitement of a catch. The pelicans sit perched, waiting to grab a piece of the action.

I drove through Manhattan Beach/Venice Beach and Marina Del Mar. Santa Monica Beach was last on the ride and it was gorgeous. I stopped around sunset and went for a walk. It was hard to get access to Venice Beach (so crowded) so I never did get there.


The next day I had a plan to go to a Farmer's Market in L.A. Like I said, it was supposed to be 20 minutes away. The drive in took about an hour and a half-Traffic! UGH, it felt so frustrating. By the time I got there, there were no parking spaces and I was supposed to be at a meeting at 12 and I got to the location and parked by about 12:50. I thought,well, I'll go to the meeting anyway. I went to the room and there was no longer a meeting there.. Hmm..I was already frustrated by the traffic so this topped the cake. Thank goodness I was talking to Eileen. She graciously stayed on the phone with me, we had some laughs and I sat at an outdoor cafe having lunch while we talked. I decided to make the most of the trip and walked around. This was no Farmer's market I've ever seen. There was a Farmer's market, which was gorgeous and more of an open air market. Right beyond it was an area that reminded me of Fanueil Hall or Newbury Street in Boston. Really upscale restaurants and shops. I walked around alot and made it a great afternoon. But, alas, no George to be found.


Next was my grand adventure to the hair salon. A day of beauty and spending time on Rodeo Drive. I had promised myself I'd go to Beverly Hills and get my hair highlighted (once in a lifetime) and walk around where all the beautiful people shop. So, I found a salon (recommended by a friend of a friend) and it was right there in the middle of all the action. As I pulled into the area I thought "Hmm, I think I should have washed my car before coming here". I have never seen as many BMW's or Mercedes and there was a Maserati in front of me as I parked. So I meet, Liz, the hairdresser. I LOVED HER. I was there for 3 hours getting my hair done and shooting the breeze. I got my hair highlighted which you can't tell from the picture, but it looked really great and just got a trim since she and I thought something new or short would be hard to maintain on the road. Needless to say, I didn't want to leave Liz and we promised to keep in touch!

So I walked down Rodeo drive and it was a spectacle to behold... AMAZING so much wealth and no one really looked happy, they looked stressed.....I was laughing out loud as I walked down the street like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman before her makeover, with my Khaki shorts and my white v-neck t-shirt from Walmart... and of course my very expensive highlight! I then decided to get my eyebrows waxed at this Organics shoppe. There I met Sylvania from Armenia. We had a great talk and she told me she and her friend wanted to travel cross country and were afraid. So I told her my experience and that I couldn't say how people would respond to her (she was concerned about racism). We would certainly have different experiences. I'm definitely not naive, there is certainly prejudice out there and yes,there were areas where people seemed intolerant of others, but I wouldn't want to generalize about an entire region based on the one or two conversations I had. There are intolerant people and wonderful people everywhere. (I'm laughing as I write this because that whole day I was making my own judgements about what I saw on Rodeo Dr and wasn't I making the same generalizations about something I knew nothing about and individuals I knew nothing about? Based on my own insecurity) I also told her that I've seen how much human kindness there is. After a long chat, she hugged me good-bye and hoped I'd stay so I could see her again and I thought, "if I stayed would I be getting my eyebrows waxed on Rodeo drive every 4 weeks, ugh, no, I don't think so". Needless to say, another sweet connection to savor on the way home.
I had lots of feelings that day; the contrast between the lovely people I met, regular people who worked on Rodeo Drive and the people I saw shopping, unhappy but beautifully clad. I got thrown off by the idea of image and keeping up. I couldn't get out of my own way about it.


That's when I met Camille. The next day, I went to get some body work done. It came highly recommended and this woman, who is renowned in her field, offers private sessions where, using body movement, helps a person work through "stuck" areas in their life that keep them from going forward with things they want to achieve. I loved Camille. We talked alot at first, then she helped provide a safe space for me to move and to feel what was going on inside. We then talked about ways and sacred gestures that I could use for my meditation practice. She helped me create my personal sacred space, not one I read about or a tape to follow, my personal, tailored to me, meditation practice. It was wonderful!

One of the things she also helped me with was the idea of L.A. being the land of image. She said, "Yes, it is considered the land of image, but it is also the land of permission. People can do and be whatever they want here and it's all okay". I loved that perspective. People have an opportunity to create and make whatever life they want here. There seems to be a community for everything! Who am I to say what makes someone happy or not or how the wealthy spend their money? How does it affect me? It's okay if they do whatever they do and it's okay if I do what I do. I'm sure plenty of people question the things that make me happy! It really helped me see L.A. in a different way. And reminded me of how important it is to live and let live. Why is it that that lesson is easier when referring to less fortunate than those who are more fortunate-either way it's a judgement.. And I guess in that case, who defines fortunate? If I keep in mind that we're all just as vulnerable as one another, it's easy to feel love toward everybody.
After the session she recommended I go to Santa Monica Beach and just relax. So I did. I hung out there for a couple of hours then headed back to the hotel.


The next day was 4th of July. I was right near the beach so it was great. When evening hit I just walked down to the pier along with the rest of the herd and mixed in with the crowd nicely. No one really knew I was alone so it felt safe to walk down there in the dark. I sat with many families and we had a great time watching the beautiful fireworks. I loved it!

I was getting ready to leave and there were two things I needed to do: 1.See that Hollywood sign on the hill and 2. go to the walk of stars. So I got up early the next morning ( my departure date) and drove into L.A.. Guess what? No traffic! I finally saw the sign. I was so excited. Then I got out at the famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre to look at the walk of stars and saw all the people (from all over the world) hovering over the Michael Jackson star. Poor Farrah Faucett's star only had a few tokens on it. But that wasn't why I was there, I was there for one reason, if I couldn't find him in person, I was going to find this and I did! That's right, George: My stay in L.A. was complete!

San Diego, CA

Yaay, I'm in California. It was a good drive but longer than I thought. It was a culture shock being immersed in all the traffic after being in the desert for over a month but I am happy to be in California and to see what's here.
I had my first negative hotel experience in San Diego. I've stayed in some shady hotels but the staff has always been lovely. This time, the hotel was okay but there was alot of miscommunication and apathy. I wasn't used to that. It is the one thing that makes a solo traveler, well, this one anyway, feel vulnerable. I consider the hotels, home and when it feels like I am not supported in anyway, I realize, yikes, that's right, I am alone.
Needless to say, it worked out okay.
My first full day there, I drove around because everything was nearby. I went to a beach (Ocean Beach and Mission Beach). I went around 3:30 one afternoon and it was GREAT! The waves were huge and I forget there is so much surfing going on. Everyone surfs!
I went in the water, freezing! but I stayed until I was numb enough to go all the way and I did! It was so fun! The water taste less salty for some reason,too! There I met Alex! He looked over at me and said,"You here only?", Alex was from Iraq, and I said, "yes" He said, "Me,too,first time in San Diego". I said, "Me, too" (it was so great that the "other" place we were from didn't matter because we were both foreign to this one). So he said"Welcome to San Diego" and I said, "You,too" and we hung around together for a while. It was great to have someone to enjoy the water with who was also experiencing it for the first time!After a time Alex and I parted ways and I hung out at the beach until around 6:30.

The next day I went to San Diego Zoo. Wow! It was huge. I took a trolley tour just to see where things were so I could figure out how to see the Pandas and the monkeys my 2 favorites! I stayed for a few hours. It was so big that I took the Sky tram to get places I wanted to see. Fun, fun, fun! I love zoos and have always wanted to see this one.I just loved this picture of the Koala with his back to us. "Excuse me, I'm not here for your pleasure; I'd like to be alone". I just got the biggest kick out of it.And those Koalas just seem so serene to me. And what about that Python. YIKES! Can you imagine seeing that out in the Bayou? Yah-no!

On another day I went to "Old Town" which is a historic area; an old Spanish town. It is known for its restaurants, shops and art. There is an open market where a band was playing beautiful Spanish music. I really enjoyed walking around and poking in the shops.
Next I went to Coronado Island. It was a beautiful day and since everyone told me I had to see it, I drove over. You could get there by car or ferry.I spent lots of time there. As I walked toward the beach, I saw a cute little bungalow for sale.So I say to myself,"I wonder how much this little thing cost". I pulled the fact sheet from the for sale sign, and, oops... 2.9 million. I guess I won't be moving to Coronado Island any time soon.

Someone mentioned La Jolla Beach!So I went! Can you say G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S!; it's "legendary" for the waves and surfing (so I'm told). It was fun to watch all the surfers! But besides that, the entire area was spectacular. The center of town was filled with great little restaurants and shops. The homes were gorgeous and the beach was supreme. You could drive up a mountain and get a view of the entire landscape. I am so glad I took that drive!

As I drove back to my hotel that night, I remembered the sun sets over the ocean in the Pacific so I went to another beach and watched the sun set. It was really great. I loved watching all the people at the beach; bonfires and cookouts-being with the beauty. Yaay, what a night!



I also met with one of our clients in San Diego, Michael.It was a nice visit. I had worked with him over the years and never met him. It is always nice to put a face with a voice. We talked about travel and he gave me a tour of his library.


Okay, so what I really wanted was to meet Junior Seau. For those of you who don't know, he played for the San Diego Chargers and then Patriots; We love him!(You know who you are). He has a restaurant in San Diego, where he still lives. So, of course, with no shame at all, I took my camera and off to eat at the restaurant. I got there and it's this HUGE sports bar,restaurant. As with most, there are lots of TV screens and one in particular the size of a movie screen or bigger. I couldn't believe it! Everyone was watching some soccer game. It was fun to be there. SO I ordered my lunch and said to the hostess."I am traveling cross country and I'm from Massachusetts and me and my family LOVE Junior.I was wondering if you could take a picture of me outside his restaurant". "She, of course, obliged and told me it was too bad because he's usually there but not that day.. UGH.."I don't know what I would have done if I did meet him", I said and she said he was really approachable and a great guy! Oh Well, maybe another time. But here's the picture!



So I spent a week in San Diego and loved it. It is really beautiful and I was entirely grateful to see the ocean! I really missed it and it made me feel at home!


Needless to say I'm getting ready for my "Highway 1" drive to Redondo Beach and looking forward to more of California!