A week on the California coast

Last week John and I traveled to the Northern California coast with my sister Pat and her husband, Bob. We met up with our brother Bill and his son Steve and Steve's friend Karleen.

We had an ocean front vacation rental named Surf Perch.

We arrived in the dark, but when we lifted the shades the next morning, this is what we saw.

That first day was sunny and nice, so we drove to the Pt. Arena lighthouse. We saw this sign in a field of a dairy farm on the way to the lighthouse.

I know now why they advertise that California cows are happy cows...because they graze all day with an ocean view!

Pt. Arena lighthouse.

A great blue heron stopped long enough for a picture.

A seagull enjoying the view.

Bob, Pat, Steve, Karleen, Bill and John at the beach.

Couldn't take enough pictures of the crashing waves.

John & me at Irish Beach.

An ice plant up close.

The view from our living room window. Note the rainbow.

Walking along the headlands at Mendocino.

Celebrating our 43rd wedding anniversary and Steve's birthday at Ft. Bragg.

A photograph in the restaurant at the wharf in Pt. Arena, and......

the huge glass-etching of the photograph, that separates the bar and the restaurant.

Did I mention that after Tuesday we had one torrential downpour after another? Didn't keep us from having a great and relaxing time, but the ground in Northern CA is saturated and flooding is around every turn. (We even sat in the hot tub holding umbrellas, but picture is not suitable for posting!)

The view down the coast from the front of Serf Perch.

A close-up of a Calla Lily like we had around our yard when we growing up in Alameda. Nostalgic.

One last picture before departing.

And one last picture of the crashing waves.

I miss the sound of the ocean!

Spring had sprung in St. George!

We spent 4 great days in St. George last week with our good friends, Jim & Joy Crismon

Going through the St. George Temple was the first thing on our list.

The next day we spent in Zion National Park. Waterfalls were everywhere. This one we walk under on the way to Emerald Pools.

The waterfall in the background is the one we walked under.

This waterfall is flowing into Upper Emerald Pool. When our kids were little we swam in this pool, but that is not allowed now. It was an amazing experience to float on our backs and look up at these sheer red cliffs.

The waterfall in the above picture carved a beautiful pattern in the snow as it hit the rocks.

Our guys

After hiking to the pools, John went back the original trail to get the car and Jim, Joy and I took the trail to the Grotto where he met us. I lagged behind and had fun trying out different settings on my camera...like this one. Got right close and personal with this cactus.

A view up the canyon.

Contrasting red and white rock.

A waterfall along the trail up to the bottom of the narrows.

The 4 J's.

Rock climbers on an interesting formation.

The next day we hiked in the Red Cliffs Recreation Area. It was so beautiful.

Two good friends.

Breathtaking sights around every bend.

My favorite photo of that trip. John checking out the birds (not sunbathers) at Sand Hollow Reservoir.

That night we went to hear Bill Cosby at Tuacahn. Also, the temperatures all the days were in the 70's!