This summer has provided me with some great adventures.
A mini-bike tour with nephew. A classic Sierra backpack in the high country. (If you missed my ramblings on these click here to check them out...)
And just last week Virginia and I have returned from a simple but far-away world: A cute little house just blocks from the Pacific, and a week of living in flip flops and swim suites.
It's becoming a bit of a summer tradition for wife and the in-laws (http://www.mooremediaone.com/blog/post/2015/07/18/Sun-Surf-Sand-Salt) , a beach house rental in somewhat sleepy Carpinteria, CA.
Nestled between Santa Barbara and Ventura, we love the beach of course, but the mountains, farmland & avocado groves. Completely bike-able & walk-able for groceries, dinner out or just whip down to the beach for a morning swim before breakfast. It sort of feels like living in our own version of a Sunset Magazine "beach living" article.
There are a few other aspects too, that keep the day dreams stoked. The weather, no matter what, just seems nicer. Even when the morning fog lingers till midday.
Also nice is that the brash background noise of LA is replaced with the sounds of scattered family conversations about the place, the occasional & lovable rumbling of Amtrack (seen out the kitchen window), and the peace and quite. Wow, what a luxury.
This year it was a full-on bike fest. Everyone had one.
One night after dinner we all bumbled down a dirt path to an ocean bluff in search of a mysterious tar-pit mentioned in a brochure.
Everywhere the group parked, a mass tangle of metal and helmets was formed. Yes, we are a hardened and brutal gang of bell ringing, blinkie clad, hand-signaling bikers.
The men cycled to Santa Barbara one day, and met the ladies for lunch. Darn, they've discovered our secret fish-taco place with those cold draft beers.
As usual it went all too fast. Back to reality, we've been texting and griping about being ripped from our dear little beach bubble. Not fair!
A night walk on the beach and some experimental photos.
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We're all in there somewhere...
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The southern end of Carpinteria beach. Photo by Tommy G.
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Where ever we go, bike parking chaos results.
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Beach beauties, all of them!
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Wife dearest, and that vacation smile. Oh yeah.
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Chris, Lizzy, Elder.
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The men drove south to a good surf spot and took a private surf lesson. Photo by Song Yuan.
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Taking in the dusk on another wonderful evening on the Pacific.
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Tommy, Elder, Doug. On our cycling adventure to Santa Barbara, seen in the background. Photo by Chris.
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Following these signs will get you from San Francisco to San Diego. The Santa Barbara section is drop dead gorgeous.
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