February 6-7, 2015: Carmel and Pebble Beach

Visiting Cheryl in Carmel and  

a day enjoying the 17 Mile Drive of Pebble Beach

View of the Golf Course and Garden at Carmel Valley Ranch

We reached Carmel Valley Ranch for a two day visit with another gifted artist, my Wykeham Friend, Cheryl Kenny!  Her home is located in a beautiful 500 acre private residential resort which inclues a Golf Course, restaurant, its own garden (for the restaurant and homeowners), a winery, and miles of beautiful paths.  Cheryl was so welcoming and sweet to us and it was fun visiting with her; we even helped decorate her art studio.  She has so many wonderful, fun, colorful paintings and I am honored to own one of my favorites.

I am not sure if Cheryl  gave this colorful beauty a name, but it 
'Calls The Sea' 
to me so I have it hanging in our guestroom with my nautical photographs

John in the Restaurant Lodge

and in Cheryls lovely home

Cheryl and I 

In the garden with her puppy, Cali.

Sunflower  gone by

Turkeys

Later for lunch John and I met our friend Sandy Dickenson for lunch at the Cyress Inn in Carmel-By-The-Sea.

Sandy was driving from Seattle Washington to San Diego Calif, so we kept in touch and 

were able to meet somewhat half way on both our trips. We couldn't have planned

a better place to meet. It was so great to see her.

Cypress Inn

Doris Day's favorite restaurant and her famous chicken salad sandwich!

(stock photograph)

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 ~ Pebble Beach ~

~Johns first time visiting Pebble Beach Golf links~

We loved walking around the complex, and I got to photograph of John on the 18th hole!  

And, of course, we had to purchase Shirts and another hat for John! 

The 18th hole at Pebble Beach

Looking back towards Carmel-By-The-Sea beach 

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17 Mile Drive ~ So many fabulous veiws

A senic drive through Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove on the Monterry Peninsula

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17-Mile_Drive

http://gocalifornia.about.com/od/camontereycarmel/ss/17-mile-drive_10.htm

I think that this is my most favorite photograph that I took of John on this amazing trip

~~~~~ The Lone Cypress ~~~~~

Another one of my favorites!

I don't know if there is any tree that is photographed more.

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 A National Marine Sanctuary, below is Carmel Canyon, an arm of the 10,000 foot deep Monterary Canyon where marinelife is protected.

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Links at Spanish Bay and Point Joe

http://www.pebblebeach.com/golf/the-links-at-spanish-bay

A very different style of home
~looks like 3 eyes to me~ 
but the view is amazing.

 ~~~ Point Joe ~~~

One hole at the Links zt Spanish Bay

At dusk we had cocktails at the Inn at the Links Spanish Bay, serenaded by a lone Bagpiper. 

It was truly lovely.  

The bagpiper is in the upper left corner.  

We ended the evening with dinner in Carmel at Little Napoli.  Excellent!

YUM!

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Tomorrow we will be in San Francisco

February 6, 2015: California: Continuing on through BIG SUR

 Another Road sign directed us to this beautiful park.

Julia Pfieffer Burns State Park ~ McWay Canyon Falls
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Pfeiffer_Burns_State_Park

Once parked on the mountain side of the highway, you can walk through the beautiful tall Redwoods or under the highway to a path that takes you through the Julia Peiffer Burns Park.

You guessed it,  John did not walk the full path, he only walked far enough to see the Falls,  then 

he turned  back to take a hike through the Redwood forrest.

~ Southwest amazing view overlooking the danger sign in the above photograph ~

The rocks on the right look like a dragon to me!

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View from the front of the homestead ruins called 
'House with a View'.

Looking toward the North 

~ The Remains of The House with a View ~

McWay Fallsdrops over a cliff
of 80 feet 

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Next on the drive north ~ we found Nepenthe!

Nepenthe Restaurant - 

serving visitors to the Big Sur Coast since 1949!

" ...that which chases away sorrow...."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepenthe

Beautiful Pacific views can be seen from this well known restaurant 

and if I remember correctly, a very good friend of mine was married here. 

What an beautiful place for a wedding.

The Phoenix  ~ the Nepanthe logo
and is also the Wykeham Rise symbol

 View from the Deck 

The Restaurant

John looking out at that view
the restaurant behind him

~ Just a beautiful rainy afternoon drive ~

Point Sur Light House
View from a distance

Point Sur Light House-Turn of the Century National Landmark
It was closed for tours till April~ Maybe another trip?
The web site show a veiw from the water which is awesome.
"...From 1899 to 1974, families lived and worked in the buildings aatop Big Sur. The unique stone lighthose still guides boats...."  Now is it is ghost town.
http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/pointsur.html

Big Sur Surf seen from the highway

The Bixby Bridge built 1932
I loved all the beautiful bridges of Big Sur

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http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/pdf/bigsurguide/BigSurGuide2014-15.pdf