Retirement Ramblings: Carmel, CA

-->

The reunion dinner was wonderful. The Freemont Hills Country Club did a wonderful job. The food was really quite good, but the chance to get together with so many people from my past was priceless. We had a good time.

Sunday morning we got up and drove Highway 17 over the mountains to Santa Cruz for dinner with my brother Bob and his wife Karen. It was another great meal, this time at the Crows Nest restaurant at the entrance to the yacht harbor. After lunch we walked the docks. If there is anything more entertaining than watching someone trying to dock a sailboat, it is watching people trying to back their trailers down the launching ramp and these folks did not disappoint.

Crows Nest in background

Santa Cruz harbor entrance

Crows Nest

Bob and Karen at Crows Nest. Great food!

Karen, brother Bob, me.

As if watching Animal Planet, we witnessed a harbor seal chasing a salmon for his dinner. The salmon made it up onto the rocks to get away, but was fatigued. It would slowly drift back towards deeper water and the waiting seal. Finally the seal crept up onto the rocks, grabbed the salmon by the tail, and pulled it into deeper water. The salmon got a burst of energy, broke free, and sped off under the docks. We don't know the final outcome, but we were hoping for the salmon's escape.

My, what big eyes you have!

We continued on down the coast to Carmel. What a great little town. More art galleries than any town needs greet you downtown, and the main street continues right down to the sea. You would be hard pressed to find a more picturesque seaside town. There is plenty of history, too. The Carmel Mission (San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo) was founded by Father Junipero Serra in 1771 as the second of the California Missions. It became the Mother Mission and home of the founder. Mass is still celebrated here.

San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo

We have been staying with my mother’s cousin. Hyla is the last of that generation of my family, and it is nice to have a chance to spend some time with her. She is living in her parent’s home that has been in the family for many years. It is within walking distance of the town center and the beach. Walking back is up hill, though, so you need to be in shape.

We got out and visited the mission, Monastery Beach and Point Lobos State Park. It was a cloudy day, but that is a very normal occurrence here. Watching the fog coming in over the treetops has a particular charm and is part of the character of Carmel. Monastery Beach and Point Lobos are the two locations where I most frequently did my SCUBA diving in the early 60's. Great beach diving, but pretty cold water.