San Luis Obispo

I opened my eyes this morning, and before I could move a muscle the room was spinning to the point it made me feel nauseous.  Wierd.  I finally got up, went to the bathroom, but had a wierd case of on again, off again dizziness and nausea for a couple hours, after which I had another couple hours of just feeling like I had some sort of virus.  Not sure what that was all about, I have never felt that way in my life.  So I just hung out in bed till it passed, and they let us have a late checkout, but even so we were out the door and at the Monterey Aquarium by around 11:30am.  You just can't keep a good woman down!  I struggled with that achy feeling at the aquarium though, so I reallly didn't get to enjoy it like I could have.  I just accompanied the girls so they could enjoy it, and after a couple hours they were done.  I am not too sure they were overly impressed with the aquarium.  Kind of like....you've seen one aquarium, you've seen them all.  But Melissa had really wanted to see it--maybe it was just built up too much, since it is supposed to be the best aquarium in the country.

We left Monterey and since we knew that the Big Sur area of Route 1 was closed due to the wildfires, we were advised to go to a State Park called Point Lobos Reserve, which was about 20 miles north of the road closure on Route 1 and is a park that supposedly has the scenery of Big Sur, only you can get out and walk around it.  So we did three short hikes to scenic vistas, and I thought it was quite beautiful (there is that word again.)  The girls tolerated it, but quite frankly I think they have become scenery snobs too.  Just another gorgeous overlook.  Ho-hum.  I really enjoyed myself anyway.  Clear blue skies, a refreshing breeze, warm sunshine, blue waters, and magnificent cliffs.  And, by this time I was feeling better and quite happy about that. I could not believe that so close to the wildfires the skies could be so clear.

Eight, Seven, Six, Five?????

After that, and after checking out Carmel Beach, which seemed like a pretty beach but I didn't like it at all because it was wall to wall people and cars leading up to the beach--yuck--we got on Route 101 and made our way down to San Luis Obispo. It was not long before the smoke was quite visible.

I think I am also becoming a hostel snob.  This hostel is quaint enough, in an old Victorian house so that it has a bit of a bed and breakfast feel, but the house is old and small and there are a lot of people in the common areas and I feel rather claustrophobic.  Lots and lots of kids.  AND, even though the showers are free and you don't even have to use tokens, they do have a sign on the bathroom wall asking everyone to limit their showers to FIVE minutes due to the water shortage.  FIVE minutes??? I thought I was doing good beating the eight minute clock.  We will have to see about that.  Anyway, we headed down to the Farmers Market which is held every Thursday and is supposed to be the "happening" place to go, and it was--the whole town was there, with food and music and just hanging out in the streets....but the girls didn't like it.  Go figure.  I think Melissa is just plain tired out from this trip and ready to go home.  Her enthusiasm just hasn't been what it was in the beginning.  Hopefully she will catch a second wind in Santa Monica, with the big city of LAX and all of the goings on there.

Tonight for I think the first time the girls are ready for bed before me!  So I guess I might as well close this blog for the night and  let them get some sleep.  I hope I wake up without dizziness tomorrow!

Hey, I was wondering, in case Melissa still wants to go home tomorrow, anyone want to come out and take her place for a week and keep Laura and I company???  You must be able to take very short showers and be ready and able to laugh at just about anything that is thrown your way...and you have to put up with me and my blog writing every night!

Happy Fourth of July everyone!  Enjoy your holiday,

Love,

Beth