A perfect day, despite the rain

The rain from Oakland to Monterey was relentless. Thankfully it doesn’t seem to bother Ben. A highlight of the day was stopping at Costco in San Jose. We stopped for a rest, gas, and lunch (sharing a roasted chicken and a big container of salad). I have serious Costco envy; they had so many Asian and Mexican foods that we can’t get. I wanted to buy them all but fortunately Ben was with me and stopped me. We did get some endamame that should last me for the next month or so.

We arrived later in Monterey than planned so decided to do the planetarium tomorrow. So instead, because it actually stopped raining, we drove south to a state park (which was closed due to fallen trees), then found a beach to walk on instead. I found this great rock and decided I should let the waves wash it off. Unfortunately, the waves are quicker than me, so I ended up with submerged boots, socks and the bottoms of my jeans. And then, to add insult to injury, the rock actually disappeared– covered by sand or pulled back into the bay? I love rocks. And, one of the best things about car travel is that I have lots of extras clothes and shoes with me. Also, I can pick up as many rocks as I like along the way. Another WCC class to put on my list— geology. A little farther north, we hiked a coastal trail, a great place to watch the sunset over the ocean and take lots of photos.

With a couple hours left in the day, we wandered down Monterey’s Cannery Row to look at the shops. The best was a balsamic vinegar and olive oil shop. We must have sampled a 20 flavors each, and finally ended up buying some Balsamic vinegar with mango and one with peach. Really delicious!

What I learned today:

1. Kelp can be bright pink
2. At Trader Joes, you can buy 1 can of beer out of a 6-pack
3. Trying to beat the tide coming in is not a good idea.