Cambria Getaway--Lots of Words and Photos

Our short getaway to Cambria started off as any vacation for us usually does, leaving later than planned due to unexpected last minute errands and shopping, but traffic was fairly light as we made our way up the coastal route on Wednesday and we made good time.  Our hotel, booked the night before, was right on the cliffs in the most popular area of Cambria, Moonstone Drive. Off season pricing was very attractive.

The tide was going out and it was quite windy, but we luckily were very close to a beach access staircase from the boardwalk on the cliff.  This boardwalk goes for miles in either direction.

We had a nice view of the ocean from the hotel. Cambria holds a Scarecrow contest in October and this lady scarecrow posed outside the driveway.

Down on the sand, kids were climbing the rocks and there were a number of strollers enjoying the late afternoon on the packed sand.  Dogs were not allowed on the beach, which I appreciated.

Told you it was windy! We wandered on the beach and then rested a bit before thinking about dinner.  Luckily an internet search showed a good option 100 feet away--a dinner house called the Sea Chest.

We sat outside at the firepit with our drinks while we waited for a table--it was a very popular place at peak dinner hour. I popped across the road to get another shot of the ocean and setting sun.

Terrible lighting for photos but I wanted to show the business cards people have stuck up on the ceiling for decades, so many brown with age.  They were also stuck in the lampshades over the tables.  We had a lovely dinner including dessert.

I caught the sunset with a crescent moon and a gull before the light went.   

We enjoyed the free breakfast the next morning before heading into Cambria proper--the town is not large and we parked and poked around some of the little shops, had lunch in a Mexican Restaurant and then drove around the area a bit, revisiting the Cambria Pines Inn, where we had stayed 30 years before!  In the afternoon we drove further north--I had wanted to tour the Las Piedras Lighthouse, but we were too late for the guided tour.  We passed by Hearst Castle and saw the zebra herds, and the great house on the hill, which we had toured before.  We turned off the road to stretch our legs and see the elephant seals north of San Simeon. 

These were all juveniles, according the the Park Ranger,who for whatever reason had all crowded onto this smaller beach.  Beyond the rocks seen at the upper left there was a much larger and wider stretch of beach. 

There were some animals in the water at the surfline and nearby in the kelp beds, but most were lying about on the sand, using their flippers to throw sand over themselves as they lounged.  There were some who became irritated with other seals getting too close and some posturing and barking by the larger males, but no fighting.   Fortunately the seals were many feet below the boardwalk on the cliff so we were not in danger.  However, in the parking lot we did observe some clueless tourists who were feeding the squirrels and gulls and allowing their toddlers to pet the squirrels!  Incredible luck no one was bitten.  We returned to our hotel and I had a long nap before we found a local grill for dinner and watched the Dodgers on the big screens.  On our last morning, we went back into town for breakfast.   I chose the Creekside Restraurant.  While there was no actual creek visible, we sat outside on the patio and enjoyed a good meal.  

These Dias de la Muertas scarecrows saw us out.

Grant had to do some computer work before we finished packing up and I took another stroll down the boardwalk, heading south.

 The tide was in and there were a couple of surfers out.

I walked far enough to come to an estuary.  Lots of different birds were visible.  A flash of white caught my eye...

A long-legged heron or crane was busy hunting breakfast. As I made my way back toward the hotel, I got a shot of the typical rolling hills of the central California. coast, covered in dry brush and Oak trees.  Cambria has stayed a small town/resort area due to the lack of fresh water resources in this isolated area. 

 Grant joined me for one last selfie before we checked out.

It was a lot less windy!  On the way back home, we stopped in Pismo Beach to visit my best friend Toni and her husband Dan and give them the housewarming present I made, a little quilted tablemat made from four patches (which I have shown before but share again). 

They said they loved it.  Dan always expressed amazement at how I come up with the colors and arrangement.  Experience and good designers to learn from, I'll always say!   These were leftover four patch square in squares from the Go Four It quilt.  It was a wonderful getaway and coming home on Friday meant two more days to enjoy before the real world called again.  I'm hoping more short breaks like this are in our future.

Post spree

We had a lovely winner's weekend, Grant and I, best of all it was on someone else's dime!  It was a great promotional prize and we thank the vendors and company for putting it on so generously.  We arrived at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel by 9-ish and got lots of exercise trying to find our way around.  The hotel was elegantly decorated and seemed to stretch on for miles.  In fact, they have 10,000 square feet of meeting rooms/ballrooms/salons.  Our room was very nice, quiet and comfortable, with a king sized bed and a king-sized shower!  The air conditioner was nice and quiet too, unlike my last hotel stay. 

A typical foggy Southern California morning greeted us the next day.  We were treated to a light breakfast in an enclosed atrium in the center of the main tower and received our welcome packages, including the spending spree credit card. 

The sun broke through and by the time we were ready to get shopping at about 11:00, we could see golfers at the country club next door and the harbor and Pacific Ocean in the distance.

Loved the xeriscape garden seven stories below.  After walking across the street from the hotel we entered the very large shopping center and were surprised to find Fashion Island was an open air mall.  All very upscale with Nordstrom's, Bloomingdale's, Neiman-Marcus and Macy's stores, and dozens of other major retailers, well known restaurants and lots of small specialty shops.

This huge 60 foot tree was in front of the Bloomingdale's.

One of the many shopping corridors, all cobblestoned and beautifully landscaped with dozens of seating areas, fountains, and pavilions. 

A walkway to a stone obelisk and a downtown skyscraper with an impossibly blue So Calif sky. The most surprising thing was the dogs that were everywhere.  Dozens of people with their animals in shops and on the walkways, of every size from Yorkie to Mastiff.

It was a lot of fun shopping with the spree card but we took some time out for a delicious lunch at The Yard House.  Here's my turkey club...

...and Grant's parmesan crusted chicken with garlic mashed potatoes.  Grant topped out at about 3:30 so I sent him back to the hotel loaded with all our purchases and went on to do another hour or so of shopping before my feet were too sore to walk much more!  We knocked out a lot of our shopping list and I even made Grant spend money on himself, albeit he chose boring stuff (a black casual jacket and a black hoodie). 

We enjoyed a gorgeous sunset, the sun going down behind Catalina Island off the coast.

And beautiful clouds looking towards the northwest and home.  We were further treated to a cocktail reception and a lovely dinner and some entertainment in a ballroom.  It was a relaxing and fun evening and Grant came home with an award trophy.  The next morning breakfast was also on the company, and we ate on the patio overlooking the pool (I forgot my camera!!!), but were a bit roasted in the hot sun, as it was already about 75 degrees before 9:30 a.m.  We had a bellman load all our packages and headed home, with money left on the spree card and many Christmas wishlist items scratched off.  It was a great getaway.  I'd be willing to do it every weekend, no problem!

Spree!

The bags are packed, lists are made, the route is plotted--we're getting away for the weekend!  How crowded do you think a shopping mall can get this close to Christmas?  No matter, we'll be spending someone else's money--let's see, $1200 buys twelve $100 gifts, 24 $50 gifts...

We'll be enjoying 75-80 degree weather in So Calif this weekend, despite the advent calendar reading barely into double digits.

Here's a closer look at the wallhanging I bought last week (a bit overexposed--sorry!).  It appears this was made from a charm pack, upon closer inspection, as all the fabrics coordinate.  Pretty clever design. 

Happy Shopping!

Winner of a different sort

DH Grant was informed Monday that he was one of the winners in a sales competition through his work.  The prize: a two night stay at a resort hotel and a $1200 shopping spree.  So exciting!  We are going to Newport Beach and shopping at Fashion Island, a large shopping mall.  Gift wrapping service is even included from the hotel.  Gift lists are being assembled and work coverage arranged for my weekend work.  I'm taking Friday off from the office (I hope).   

There is also a cocktail reception and dinner for the winners and sponsoring vendors on Saturday night.  Grant read the dress requirements: "Evening Resort Casual". 

What the heck does that mean????

I don't own a Little Black Dress so wouldn't be wearing that anyway, but I do have a lovely floral silk dress and a silk coral sweater (sleeveless is a no no for me!).  This looks resortish, doesn't it?