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california 3…driving the coast

we left santa barbara and headed towards Monterey in our rental car.

what an amazing drive.
beautiful.
we saw cars and people all around at one stop so we stopped too.
it was an elephant seal "preserve"
they come there every year to molt so it's all fenced off and preserved.
there were signs and pictures of elephant seals…and the seals.

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they were just laying there…supposedly they lay there for a month!
boring.
but the squirrels were cool.

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yeah…i guess they could've had rabies but they were too cute to worry.

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just as i was getting in the car to leave i snapped this pic…then he touched my toe!
YUCK!

we drove on and found Big Sur.
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wow.
notice at the tippy top of that "hill" is a forest.
that gives you a clue of how HUGE this mountain cliff is.

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but again…like the pier…i was going nuts with the kids on the edge.
i mean look at the size of the path and the size of that space in the railing.
what the heck?
that is an annie-sized space.
makes me NUTS!
i even yelled at them this time.
why do they have to lean ON the railing?  just look with your eyes…from the other side of the path!
i could just picture annie falling off the cliff and plunging to the water.
and that is scary.
really scary.
but that's my issue.
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(better fencing….breathing now)

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i am far back from this craziness…standing on rocks on a cliff?  this is bonkers.

even though it was high….it was so pretty.
the water was turquoise!
i just kept thinking how amazing it is that God made so many many different ways to enjoy nature.
this was definitely awesome.

we followed the trail around the back and ended up in a stream.
perfect climbing to get the traveling jitters out.

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king of the hill.

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look…i made it into a picture!  ha.
i always do that when i take pictures…close the other eye…i look goofy.

wildflowers are everywhere.
every color. all over the place.
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we walked the beach in Carmel.
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kelp and shells.
and bandaids on knees.
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we found a big crab that we thought was dead.
but then it wasn't quite…
so they were trying to push him back to the water to rescue him.
but he was pretty much dead.

after carmel we showed up at craig's aunt peggy's house in pacific grove.
just in time for a big yummy dinner.
so yummy.
how kind of anyone to let us stay in their home…we are quite a rowdy bunch.

Jennifer - also, how stinky were those Elephant Seals?! eewwwwww!

Jennifer - what fun! I just did this drive with my dad and college-aged sisters. It was so awesome!

Kelly - We drove from San Fran down to Monterey on our honeymoon just this year and it was so fantastic. EXCEPT for the part where we saw a man with NO pants, no undies, no nothing except his long sleeved windbreaker! on the beach!!! It was wild and somewhat unnerving. Kelly

Liz - I love your pix. I live in Northern CA and I think that whole area that you were (Carmel/Monterey) is some of CA’s most beautiful spots. We were JUST at the Aquarium during spring break. I love how they have so much for little kids there. My kids loved Tula the sea Otter and the Sea Horse exhibit.

alyssa - my issue too.
love annie’s outfit by the way. too cute.

Hannah - Beautiful pictures, Meg! It looks like you all had a ton of fun!
My best friend’s name is Carmel. Her parents named her after that beautiful beach! I was so excited to see her name on your blog!!
It looks like you had so much fun! I can’t wait to see more pictures!

melissa@afamiliarpath - i loved big sur when i went before my kids were born. i so want to take them there someday.it’s one of the most beautiful places i’ve ever seen.

Cate O'Malley - Ok, the squirrel pictures are giving me the heebie jeebies. For some reason, the squirrels here have gotten a little too brave lately (read: too close!) as well – what happened to them being skittish little creatures? Blech. Love Annie’s pulled up knee socks – too cute!

Marjorie - Love big sur! Great pictures!

christine - Oh, I just love your blog. You know, I’m admittedly a bit of a lurker, so my apologies…but, I just want to tell you how much I enjoy reading & seeing your amazing photos. Even my husband likes to look along with me. You have such a way of capturing the moment with your photography and it’s such a treat to get a little glimpse of your family’s life.
I found your blog months ago when sweet Cora passed and I jumped on the etsy bandwagon. I’ve enjoyed following along on your blog & will try not to be such a naughty lurker anymore!! Can’t wait to see the rest of the trip 🙂
God Bless, Christine

Sarah - It’s beautiful!!

andrea liese - i have the same “issue’s” it drives the whole family crazy, they say we should just live in a bubble and mommy would be happy…it would be less stressfull

wendy - Wonderful pictures Meg! I think all moms fear the worst, especially when peering down hundreds of feet to the ocean. Beautiful though.
We lived in that area for 10 years. I miss it. Half Moon Bay is also fun to explore. We will be there in about 10 days. I can’t wait!

Lori Danelle - looks like you guys had fun!! Are those ORANGE poppies I see? LOVE poppies!!! They’re in bloom in the highways here. Almost made my husband wreck this weekend as we passed some. I gave a huge gasp as we came upon them and he wasn’t quite sure what I was gasping over!
http://loridanelle.blogspot.com

Heather Mattos - I have that SAME issue. I have never been afraid of heights, but as soon as my kids were born… different story. Anything above solid ground- deathly terrified. I have bad, bad visions of plummitting children.

Laura - kids high up over looking railings send me over the edge. My son hangs onto the balcony at mass every SUnday and I always picture the worst happening. But that squirrel?????? THAT scares me more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wendy - Amazing pictures. Makes me want to visit my brother in so. cal. 🙂 Thanks for sharing.

Lorilee - Beautiful photos! Looks like a wonderful place to visit.
Blessings,
Lorilee

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - Oh my gosh!!! What amazing pictures. The ones by the cliff, just breathtaking. I love the vacation I’m on. I feel like I’m there…thank you!

Kristina - What a wonderful trip! I’ve never been to CA but it looks beautiful.
Annie cracks me up! Your family is beautiful and I always love reading your blog 🙂

karen - I love your photos and travel thoughts. You have such a beautiful family. They will always remember this special time together, and you have recorded it to help preserve the memories. What a great mom!
Karen
http://www.karengberger.blogspot.com
P.S. I would have been (and HAVE been) exactly the same way about that kind of cliff/railing! Terrifying “fear fantasies” for a mom!

Vera - Aaaw, that was cool to see your family there – my mom and brother live in Big Sur/Carmel and I went to 3rd grade through high school there. I love seeing that area through your beautiful pictures!

Sara - I can’t believe those squirrels… so crazy! Looks like it was a fun trip!

Tracy - What great family memories for all of you! Awesome pictures – but, like you, I too would have been freaking out over the cliff issues and the kiddos standing too close – I would have yelled and walked away also! HA! The squirrel pictures are really cracking me up though and I’ve shown them to people here at the office that thought they had all been photoshopped at first until I told them that they were from a “friend’s” personal pictures on your trip to California – then they believed me! LOL
Thanks for sharing all of your family memories with us.
Big hugs, Trac~ :o)

Marcie Bowman - What gorgeous pictures!! I love Monterey! Probably the best vacation I ever took. And now our family that lives there has moved to KS so there goes that! Have you read Steinbeck’s books? If not, you must! Especially East of Eden. And Cannery Row. And Travels With Charley. 🙂

Starnes Fam - Lovely…..we will be there in a few weeks and I can’t wait!

Shannan - Can I just say – it warmed my heart to see Talby with her big toe stuck straight in the air (photo where you talked about Annie plunging off the cliff). I have done this my whole life and have no idea why. I thought I was the only one…

Blanca - I’m lovin’ all your vacation pictures. I do have to give Miss Annie a shout out. I opened my July issue of Country Living magazine and there she was on page 12. Congrats Annie!

Beth - What an incredible trip. Your kids will never forget it!

Traci - meg, those photos are just awesome. makes me want to hop on an airplane to california right now. what a great trip you had.

Laura - I feel like I’m on vacation (except for the Annie size fence!).. issues, issues,…Thanks for posting these picts!!! CA coast is the coolest.
Saw famous Annie in Country LIving… saw pict, then went back when realized it was her! So cool-

Erin - I want to hang with those seals. They know how to get a good nap on!

Kathy - I have never been to that part of So. Cal your pictures are amazing. Looks like the whole fam had a great time. I have such fear of heights I think I’d be freaking at Big Sur.

Ivy Bettinger Smith - I have an aunt and uncle that live in Carmel. Could you imagine getting to live there? I love all the pictures! Looks like ya’ll had such a fun time! I hope you got to go to the aquarium in Monterey:)

kristine - gorgeous! those squirrel pics are killing me! ha ha

Holly - This is so exciting because my husband and I are going to Oxnard, CA next month. If you didn’t see it, it is on the coast about 55 minutes north of LA. We have done all the LA stuff years ago, so I want to find some new places to see. I want to ride down the Big Sur scenic road and just explore. I am leaving my kids with grandparents, they would love to go, but they cost too much:)

pve - First things first, please send Oprah these photos and have her pick out the MOM….you look like a kid,,,and what a great trip! I have fence issues, like that too, a the top of huge cliffs…eeeek~

Sarah B - Love all the beautiful pictures….we live in SoCl and our favorite place to visit is Monterey and we stay in a quint little hotel in Pacific Grove. Lovely. I told my husbnd that is where we will retire. 🙂

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