Lorna in Wonderland

Manifestations of Lorna and Dave, San Francisco to Los Angeles (part one):

Lorna and Dave as Responsible Consumers
(Easy for at least one of us)

We start our drive down the Pacific Coast Highway, determined to make the most of the rugged beauty, stopping at a couple of galleries, at a high-end resort where we lunch overlooking majestic grandeur, ending up around dinner time at the hotel/motel where we have reservations in Carmel.

 To get to the reception area, we have driven past a collection of weathered, almost shanty-looking cabins reminiscent of 1950. The alarm on my face shows, and Dave makes a hasty promise that we won't stay if we don't like it (meaning if I don't like it).  The desk person offers us an upgrade even before we see the room in the hotel part of the site, which doesn't help my short breathing in the least.  Surprisingly, the room we reserved, while hidden behind shaky-looking paint and walkway on the second floor, is clean, attractive and restores my belief in internet photos.

Then we walk over to the cottage, which is the upgrade, to find an absolutely charming place with new tiles, a gas fireplace, 4 chairs, a totally modern bathroom and a coffee machine that has its own grinder for beans.  Oh and the bed is covered in what looks like a hand-sewn quilt.  I look out and see more charm---a lovely little garden with a fire pit, a fountain, wrought iron tables and chairs and flowers galore.

We take it---me worried that some sort of fraud police is going to find we got the place for under $100/night.  Our Carmel experience hits its zenith when we find a lovely wicker basket with linen, china and silver sitting next to two crystal wineglasses.  We spend the evening with our feet up on the low mantelpiece, sitting in comfy chairs with faux-mink throws, reading.  Carmel isn't in the least shabby, as we find out the next day, but it doesn't live up to our cottage, as I begin to think of it.  However, we move on.

Lorna and Dave as Nature Lovers

Also easy for at least one of us

As we were promised, we eventually got to Elephant Seal Beach, parked and  walked down towards the water, where I was horrified to see a beach covered in large dead animals.  

Oh wait, they're not dead, they just look that way to a rank outsider.

And relieved, sated, windblown, righteous for having donated to the Friends of the Elephant Seals, we drive down to stay with our friend Fran in Redondo Beach.

...to be continued