Pismo beach - a short stop

Our road trip to round off 2015 had its first stop at Pismo beach. We had lunch at the pier and let the kids play in the beach and in the swing sets on the beach!

At first they were complaining about the "cold", but warmed up to the place. 

The beach was beautiful but the temperature at noon was a lot lower than what we were used to seeing along the coast for last week of December. 

The last time we stopped at Pismo beach was 10 years ago! 

after spending an hour there, we moved on towards Santa Barbara...

Seacliff State Beach - Day trip

This afternoon we decided to go to Seacliff State Beach along Route 1.

The water was cold but just right and the afternoon sun and breeze were perfect!

We let the kids play in the wet sand while adults played Frisbee. Did the usual "norukku theeni" (eat savories) and then came back. There is a "concrete ship" that was built in the early 1900's when steel was in short supply in the US. The ship is in a very bad state and we are not allowed on it anymore. Only the pelicans have visiting rights (you can go till the ship on the pier).

It was a day well spent.

We will strongly recommend this beach for a half day or day trip.

ps. Parking is 10 bucks and they accept checks or cash only. Don't forget to take sunscreen!

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The kids grow older, the photos get better..

Someday I should learn to ride a motorcycle and go on Route 1...

Compare to pictures from two years ago..

This photo goes into the Sisters at Play collection (1, 2, 3 )...

Hope they come back to look at this blog when they are all grown up.

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Together

As the group of ten made its way up from China Cove, we saw a couple cross us on the precarious stairs.

A minute ago, there was a lot of noise in that small space with three generations trying to communicate over the waves. Once we crossed over, the couple went and sat on that log.. and we caught them enjoy that moment, for a fleeting few seconds before we moved on.

Told San that someday when we feel that our nest is empty because our kids fly away, we will be that couple!

Now, if you are ever ever planning to go sit on that log or on that cove, or on any other coves along this most amazing coast, please...

Thank you!

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A day on Route 1 - Lets make that A fathers day on Route 1

We spent Father's day on Route 1, with my in laws and the cousin family.

Just tired and sunburnt after a long day at state parks and beaches. The sunburn mostly happened while sitting in the van in very slow moving traffic on the freeway with no access to sunscreen. Should start carrying a "dupatta" like the ladies to cover my face in situations like this.

Here are some pictures from the trip (more follow if time permits later this week)

First, a portrait of a Seagull.

Manged to get up close and personal with a few of the gulls on Bird Island in Point Lobos State Park..

Two more gulls, got real close at Sunset Beach (which was off of Route 1 in Watsonville).

The trick to getting them close seems to be :

1. pick a nice spot
2. park your butt there
3. select gull
4. wait patiently for it to do something
5. (ignore cries of kids and wait for gull to cry instead)
6. keep gull constantly in focus
7. click, click, click..

Finally a photo of one of the chicks, from daddy's own little nest..

We had a great father's day, with every kid on every beach, trail, state park parking lot, wishing all the dads in our group, a happy father's day.

The girls made sure that every adult male on the path was wished. It was hilarious to see them wish a boy who just sprouted a mustache (possibly doing a summer job)"happy father's day!".

Steve jobs threw a small spanner in the works, but all said and done, today was a day well spent. Three dads enjoying the company of mothers and kids, especially mother nature! Hope all the dad's who read this had a nice father's day as well.

Here's to being Daddy!

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