365 days of images - - Day 318- Nov. 16, 2021 - Linda's Intuitive Images LMH -- Spontaneous Road Trip

Please click on image below to online store.

 Noelle (my daughter) and I had a breakfast date with our friend Jill  this morning at First Awakenings.  I started the day with a quick walk to catch some images.

We met Jill for a delightful breakfast and conversation.  I love you Jill and can't wait to get together again!  I didn't take photos, as I found myself enjoying my moment.  But I do have a photo of Jill in front of the aquarium.  We worked together there and have shared many laughs along the way.  

When Noelle and I got home, we impulsively decided to head to Santa Barbara to go to the zoo.  Lots of family memories there, we lived there for 10 years.  I met Phil there and it has always been a family favorite.  Noelle and I have decided to visit as many zoos as we can.  We threw ourselves together and headed down Hwy 1.  We stopped at Ragged Point, stretched out legs, ate lunch and enjoyed the view.

Then a walk in Cambria on Moonstone Beach.  I found myself surrounded with memories of Phil and I there.  Cambria was a stopping point and one of our favorite picnic spots when we traveled the coast.  Those memories bring a warm comfort and smiles.  Noelle patiently listens as I recount our adventures.  While we walked on the beach we came across a structure made from driftwood, it was a huge structure, I couldn't resist climbing in and taking an image...

In Cayucos I noticed the moon.  A quick stop to watch the sunset.

and posed in front of Ruddell's, they weren't open, but we will return.

We found a great deal on a hotel in Solvang, called Hotel Corque as we drove into town   When we arrived it turned out it was a hotel that my sister and I had partied at, while she lived in Solvang.  We had some pretty fun times there and lots of laughs.  Music, dancing and giggling as my sister and I often did.  I was impressed with room and the hotel.  The bed was comfy, we got a great nights sleep. We needed to because we had reservations first thing in the morning at the Santa Barbara Zoo.  

For Phil

I miss you.

I find the love and smiles you left me locked right in my heart.  They pop out as I visit all the places we loved so very much.  I smiled the whole day as I remembered our travels.  Noelle and I reminisced about our last visit with you to the zoo, awe Phil we both love and miss you.

365 days of images - - Day 12- Jan. 11, 2021 - Linda's Intuitive Images LMH -- Monday adventure to San Simeon to see Elephant Seals

Please click on image below to my online store.

 Today Noelle, my daughter, and I decided to continue a tradition that we started while Phil was recovering and dealing with treatments for brain cancer.  We called it "Monday Adventure", it was a day that we would take a day trip, what we did was, dependent on how Phil felt on that given day.  I have written about several of our "Monday Adventures", in this blog.   We visited local places that we all loved, it gave us a change to spend time together and it gave Phil a chance to see the beauty to help him heal.

Noelle and I decided that we would celebrate Phil, by continuing our "adventures" while we are under social distancing and experiencing big numbers of Covid in California.  We will stay close to home, use it for exercise and help keep us from going stir crazy.  We have been in isolation since the beginning of hearing of Covid, because we knew Phil's system was vulnerable.  We have just kept it up, due to how the virus is spreading in California.  

We decided to head down the coast to check out the the elephant seal rookery, it is time for the pups to be born.  We started down Hwy 1 only to realize that our drive would be socked in with fog.

When you looked over the edge, where you would typically see ocean, was a sea of clouds.

We stopped for quickly in Big Sur and we were surprised by wild turkeys.  

When we got  to San Simeon the first thing I noticed at the Elephant Seal Beach was a Blue Heron.

The seals on my past visits were breeding, having pups and sparring at this time of the year.  Usually very noisy and active, this visit was more quiet, there were many babies feeding and lots of seals sleeping.  

I saw many seagulls trying to get milk right after the pup would quit suckling.

A large male seal with tracks of another seal etched into the beach. .

Black oyster catchers were among the seals.

  Sand flipping helps them keep cool on land by acting as a sunscreen. In addition, they sometimes can be seen flipping sand under stressful conditions.  I spotted a seal that was feeding two pups, I was enamored with them.

Pups watch as the mom's complain.

Young male elephant seal above and this female below seemed like the pied piper of pups. 

The seagulls grab placenta and head to the sea to fight over it.

There was many seals on the beach, although not as many as I have seen in the past.

A mature male making a bellowing sound.

After we spent time with the seals, we had one more mission.  We have a favorite place to grab a smoked chicken quesadilla, we head in that direction.... A quick stop to admire the horses in San Simeon and to gaze at Hearst Castle in the background.

We picked up our lunch at Ruddells in Cayucos and we were on our way back

Ruddell's never disappoints!  Delicious!

The drive back was equally as foggy, but the sunset was pretty!

It was a damn good day!

For Phil

I am missing you desperately  

.