Monday, November 26, 2012

Yes...and no!

 Perhaps there is a better way to answer the question, but it was really a two parter! When Grace told Kathy and Laurie about "us", they wanted to know if we planned to retire and travel. Thus the answer as above.

Travel we have done.Retirement we have failed. Someday, on that one.Maybe!

But, travel let's see...

The first places we went to were much closer to home than what we now do. Bed and breakfasts in New Hampshire, Connecticut, Quebec, long day trips all over New England. Jazz festivals in Montreal and Rhode Island. A weekend in Washington. We were both antique nuts so if there was a flea market in the area we most likely were there. Decorated our house that way and Grace did a stint on e-bay selling the stuff we didn't use. North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Virginia also made our list.

We went through an extended period of down time while Grace recovered her health and then we were on the road again!

Our first long trip combined family, water, car, zoo and spectacular scenery. California, from south to north! My brother Kelly married a Valley girl and moved to California years ago. We still speak, so I started our trip by calling him and inviting ourselves to his place...we still speak! He lives near the mountains close to San Bernadino, so the logical first trip took us up into the mountains. My first experience seeing snow on the ground and looking down on the Pacific Ocean. Somewhere there is a photo of Grace in shorts in the snow. Guess I'll have to find that one. Old Town in Los Angeles was a great visit, with a lunch in the oldest restaurant in the plaza. Pickled cactus salad, sounds one way, tastes another. You must visit the San Diego Zoo, it is a law! Capistrano, of all the Missions I have visited (most) this is the most famous and it is a deserved fame. Well preserved and displayed with  a great location, oh and Beano on thursdays!
Palm Springs with Juli's family and up the funicular. Little brother grounded by his innate fear of heights! Juli joined us though! Women are always braver.

After a week with them we left to travel the coast road north.
The Big Sur, Monterrey, Pebble Beach, Carmel experience should be on everyones bucket list. But you have to leave some room for the entire San Francisco visit. I love New York...not as much as San Francisco. My favorite city in the USA. Tough to walk if you are out of shape. But you'll be in shape at the end. There are enough guide-books to walk you through a visit to the city by the bay, so I'll just mention one place.

The Muir Woods is a strand of Redwoods near Stinson Beach on the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge. Jaw dropping gorgeous. So awe inspiring that the visiting bus-load of New Yorkers were silent! One nature spot to pick? This is the one in the city.

The flight back after that was pretty quiet. Most trips back are.

So, yes to the travel...to be continued re: retirement!
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