Stay at Home, but Dream of, and Plan, Future Travels! The time of staying at home, being safe and flattening the curve continues, but that doesn’t mean you cannot dream of future travel!
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10 months ago, my husband, Randy, went through the struggle of his life: a double lung transplant. It happened FAST. Life is precious. Want to know more? Transplant: An Unexpected Journey.
Randy and I just returned from an unbelievably wonderful and enjoyable trip…we flew into Orange County (John Wayne Airport) and drove up the Pacific Coast Highway, stopping in Santa Barbara, Carmel, Big Sur, Monterey, Moss Landing, San Francisco, and all the way to Shelter Cove, CA! Then we headed to Lake Tahoe to round out the 3 week trip. We saw old friends and beautiful new scenery along the way, and Randy, 10 months post double lung transplant, really advanced his recovery!
When the trip first started out, I believe he was a bit tentative, and he had every right to be. 10 months ago, when Randy woke up from his double lung transplant, he could barely lift his index finger, he could not speak, and certainly he could not walk. He has traveled a long road since then, and this trip helped him, not only with physical challenge, but with his confidence.
Randy ordered walking sticks before we left, to be delivered in Shelter Cove. They were never delivered, so Randy fashioned walking sticks out of redwood tree branches he found on the ground. We walked beaches, casinos, vista points, streets, hills, steeper hills, and a lot of stairs! Every day seemed to add to his abilities, and now that we are home, he finds that he is much stronger, and better able to navigate. It is amazing what a little physical challenge can do! And there were plenty of them! Here’s a recap of activities:
Santa Barbara has to be one of the most perfect spots on earth (in our humble opinion!)
San Luis Opisbo and the Madonna Inn!
Big Sur, big sounds and a big ocean! Big Elephant seals were a highlight along the way.
Carmel never fails to charm! The downtown area is just perfectly quaint and full of art!
Beautiful Monterey and its incomparable aquarium!
Monterey Bay is full of Humpbacks, seals and dolphins!
Chinatown, always a San Francisco Treat!
Shelter Cove is as remote as it gets, and the Avenue of the Giants is nearby!
Lake Tahoe was full of fun: rafting, beaching, renting a boat, going on a helicopter tour, and enjoying fireworks on the water on the 3rd, and over the water on the 4th!
And I must leave you with the most beautiful image of all: Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe!
What a wonderful trip we are having in Northern California! And the best part? It isn’t over yet! We are currently in Shelter Cove, Ca., in the King’s Range Conservation Area, and on Saturday we head to Lake Tahoe. The wild Northern California coastline is just spectacular. From the Redwood Forests to the Pacific coast, this land is absolutely meant for me! And for you, too.
We watched a spearfisher today off the shore. Whew, talk about cold! I think the smell of abalone brought in the vultures, because they were all over the place today, including on our deck!
The Black Sand Beach is stunning. I showed it to Randy today, and we took a walk, then sat down for a while. We were joined by a bird! The 3 of us watched the fog rolling in from the ocean.
Tomorrow, we are off to Lake Tahoe! To be continued…..
