We're back in Phoenix, but we have one more day of vacation. I like vacation. I think this has been the best vacation ever. Some highlights:

Friday, August 2: Drove from Phoenix to San Diego. Went to Mysterious Galaxy, as we must visit all possible science fiction bookstores. Nice place. Met up with Kirsten and Aaron and exchanged vomiting stories in our hotel room for an unbelievably long time.

Saturday, August 3: Went to the San Diego Comic-Con, which is huge and glorious. Got the autographs of David Prowse and Jeremy Bulloch. Saw lots of friends. Managed not to spend all of my savings on action figures.

Sunday, August 4: Had a mellow day in Los Angeles.

Monday, August 5: Took the train to Salinas/Monterey. Saw dolphins from the train - so cool!

Tuesday, August 6: Ate at Red's Donuts, whose regulars look like they've been sitting up to the counter for 40 years. Did touristy stuff. Walked along the extensive pedestrian trail. Used a roll of film. Saw seals, otters, deer. Note to potential Monterey visitors - the restaurants and fishmongers on the Fisherman's Wharf compete with each other by handing out free samples of clam chowder! Ocean, glorious weather, free clam chowder - twas like paradise. Did not want to leave.

Wednesday, August 7: Started with breakfast in Carmel, then slowly traveled down Highway 1 through Big Sur. Stopped often to hike and exclaim, "Pretty!" Used 1 roll of film. Ended up at Lucia Lodge - no alarm clock, no TV, no phone. Just a cabin on a cliff overlooking the ocean. Did not want to leave.

Thursday, August 8: Continued down Highway 1. Used another roll of film. Hiked on beautiful beaches and trails. Saw elephant seals molting. Ended up in Cambria, and mostly confined ourselves to the Moonstone Beach region. Explored tidepools and discovered ourselves surrounded by seals. Sat on our private patio to read and watch the sunset over the ocean. Did not want to leave.

Friday, August 9: Ate breakfast on our patio and clung to our room until checkout time. Continued down towards Santa Barbara. Explored several beach towns. Hiked around tidepools and watched dolphins at El Capitan State Beach. Explored Santa Barbara. Decided that we liked the Central Coast better than cities full of people.

Saturday, August 10: Headed towards Los Angeles, where soaring temperatures caused far too many people to be on the beach. Wished we were back in Lucia or Cambria.

Sunday, August 11: Headed back to Phoenix. Desperately wish we were back on the Central Coast of California.

Still wishing...

Discuss Vacation bliss