Carmel Getaway

Picnic Packing:
For our picnic we stopped at Lee's Sandwich to grab two #1s and some spring rolls, to go with the apple ciders, two bottled waters, some dried apple cakes (from Andrea), and Pringles. TIP: Bring dried food for the beach picnic so as to NOT worry about refridgeration. We packed these in a couple of Igloos and we are good to go. Oh a must is to wear comfortable shoes/sandals, as Sandy originally thought of bringing her loafers but wisely chose to go with her trail runners instead. Good moves hun!

Ready, Set Go:
Driving through the Santa Cruz mountains, with its narrow lanes, was extremely stressful. It also seemed like everyone else in Northern Cal were also taking advantage of the Spring like weather to make a quick getaway. I find it funny that people are in a hurried to get to their unhurried destination, wherever that may be. Of course I wasn't exempted from that and soon was caught in that hurriedness, too.

Arriving at Carmel-By-The Sea
A few hours later we arrived at Carmel, opting to drive straight to the beach rather than going through 17-Mile Drive. The weather there seemed perfectly appropriate for a picnic. We parked and made our way down to the beach, shifting our weights on the fine sands. Off in the distant you can see people walking their dogs and just enjoying life at the beach.

Lunch and Quiet Time
After a few minutes of setting up for lunch we were ready to eat! While eating I was just observing the sights & sounds—surfers, parents, kids, dogs, ocean's majestic waves, salty sea breeze scent—I immediately felt peaceful. I am sure Sandy felt the same way.

After lunch we were just lying there soaking up the sun for another two hours. All our anxieties and stress were gone to be replaced by the tranquility of the ocean. I opened up the Bible, prayed with Sandy, and did our devotional. And of course after that we played, talked, and walked around the beach.

Walking Downtown Carmel
After three hours lying at the beach we walked to Ocean Ave to get to Downtown Carmel. It was crowded. Apparently a lot of people were in town for this year's AT&T Pro-Am Golf Tournament at Pebble Beach Golf course. The houses and shops were so charming, each uniquely designed. We accidentally stumbled into the Thomas Kinkade gallery. For those not familiar with him, he is an amazing painter. We both liked The Guiding Light painting. Standing there and looking at it was breathtaking.

Homeward Bound
After that we went back to the beach to watch the sunset. We missed the sunset but still caught a glimpse of the "golden hour"—the purplish hue before the sun sets completely. We decided to drive back to Cupertino and have dinner at House of Falafel.

Thanks to God for allowing the day to go so smoothly and for making this Carmel getaway so unforgettable and joyous for the souls. Thanks to Sandy for sharing the memories with me that will last to the end.