4-5 July: Evenings in Pacific Grove

Matt and I, at the end of two long days, liked to brave the bitterly cold breezes off the Pacific (we are only kidding here. It was about 60F!). Matt was astonished to see the locals taking their evening strolls with hats, scarves, gloves, fleece, windbreakers and long pants. We, on the other hand, having flown in a week earlier from the land of heat and humidity, were in teeshirts, shorts and, for me, a light cotton sweater.

Matt wanted to swim. He wanted to swim, that is, until he actually put a foot in the water! He had to settle for just wading in up to his knees!

I was disappointed that I didn't see any sea otters in the bay. And we didn't find any abalone shell on the beach either. Nevertheless, there is something very good for the soul about being where the water is crashing on the beach. Whether it's on the sands of Lake Erie, or the Monterey Bay, it's a good thing.

We found white-tail deer each night we went out. They were not at all shy, thus the various poses. Our lodging was a few blocks from the beach. We would pass the golf course and the lighthouse on our way to the ocean and the deer were there, along the way.

While Monterey had to cancel the fireworks over the Bay, we were still fresh from those at Disneyland, and had no problem missing the noise. Matt is missing his dad (and, tho he hasn't said so, his brother), but he remains good company. We are having a wonderful trip together!

King of this rockpile on 7/5

Wild, floral groundcover in the beach area

This white-tail girl wasn't very bothered by us walking by. She acutually seemed to be posing!

This was a good-sized buck. There were five different bucks with nice antlers that we saw in the golf-course area. They evidently feast on all the local's plantings! We even saw one that we saw was taking a nap in someone's flower bed!

There were three deer here along the sidewalk ahead of us

I love this rocky coast, caught in a rare minute when the sun came out

Matt, still thinking he might get in a swim on July 4th

Matt, still thinking it was somewhat possible that he could go swimming in the Pacific.

Two more minutes and he could no longer feel his feet.

Typical beachy ground cover.

I loved the red stems which added contrast to the shades of green and yellow flowers.

The Pacific Grove Lighthouse

The lower branches of the Monterey Cypress formed a neat, high-contrast pattern against a foggy sky.

The local, public, Pacific Grove golf course was right on the Pacific, just like Pebble Beach!

My boys love climbing on the rocks. Matt could do this for hours and hours.

The cold, damp breezes, said it was soon time to go!

"....how close can I get without getting completely soaked?"

We saw these two on both nights on our walk.

I wonder if they were posing just for us?