The Restaurant on the Cliff

Matt and I have often heard of the beauty of Big Sur, the undeveloped area surrounding California State Highway 1 as you drive south from Monterey. The road winds between the mountains and the ocean, with very little room between the road and the edge of a cliff. Unfortunately our arrival to Monterey in Summer 2016 coincided with a wildfire that closed Big Sur. The road was closed again, and parts remain closed today, due to a landslide in 2017. As a result we haven't taken many trips down Highway 1. When we have visitors to the West Coast we will occasionally lunch Rocky Point Restaurant, a lovely, rustic place where the high food prices are worth the floor to ceiling windows that overlook the rocky coastline. Every time we visit the fog is caught over the ocean by the Santa Lucia Mountains, giving the views an otherworldly look. We enjoyed visiting with Matt's family in the Spring so we could enjoy the wildflowers along the cliffs. I could not resist taking pictures!

The Sunday Snapshot

Happy Mother's Day! Photo taken in 2017 on the stunning 17-mile-drive. 

The Sunday Snapshot

This weekend I did something I've never done before... attended a motorcycle show! Matt's brother Tony was in town for The Quail Motorcycle Gathering with his company to display the motorcycle he designed! This event was classy, and we would not have been able to attend due to the hundred dollar ticket price...but we had a connection! Tony joined us for the catered lunch with cloth napkins and real silverware that we ate as a picnic under the tree to avoid the crowded tables. He also walked us through the restoration displays and described how motorcycles have changed over time. He really did try to explain things to me, but since I'm not entirely sure how a motor works the finer points were lost on me. I appreciated the attempt!  

We stayed to watch the awards ceremony, and an electric motorcycle from Tony's company won an award for innovation! We got to cheer (quiet clapping since it was classy event) for Tony as the judges doled out praise for the design and bottles of champagne for the winners. We're so proud!

In front of Tony's gas powered custom motorcycle...the warhawk!

The Aquarium

Monterey has a famous aquarium, known for its sea otter rescue program and location on Cannery Row as a former sardine cannery. I worked there for a few months, impressed by its dedication to science education and happy animals. While I did not enjoy working in the peak season (imagine thousands of visitors in a concrete former factory), I soon missed the sea otters and jellyfish. Matt and I returned during the off-season local appreciation week where we could visit for free!

The kelp forest exhibit. Monterey Bay Aquarium pumps in water directly from the bay, which is also a kelp forest. 

My favorite marine animal and unofficial mascot of Monterey... the adorable sea otter!

Impressive jellyfish exhibit. 

Matt bought me a stuffed sea otter as we exited through the gift shop!