Searching for Cypress: Monterey Bay and the 17 Mile Drive

In one drop of water are found

all the secrets of all the oceans.

~Kahlil Gibran

Monterey Bay

January 2016

After a wonderful few days over New Years in San Francisco and Sausalito, it was time to head south. I remembered from a trip I took with my family between 7th and 8th grade, how beautiful Monterey and Carmel were, and most of all I remembered the wind blown cypress trees and cool, salty air of the coastline. 

It has it's own magic, that coastline. I had wanted to do the drive through Big Sur, as well, but it's a very long windy road and it was supposed to rain. So, I decided I would search for my cypress trees in Monterey, and on the famed "17 Mile Drive" which takes you by Pebble Beach, between Monterey and Carmel.

Some beautiful Chopin, for the drive ...

Monterey

The old "Cannery Rowe" area is pretty touristy. The tip off is when you see that there is a Bubba Gump Shrimp, in the vicinity. In any case, I hopped out of my car and walked around a bit. 

I was also on a quest to find the same tiny charms of the "Lone Cypress Tree" my sister and I had gotten, way back on that road trip with my folks in the old GTO. 

To me

the sea is a continual miracle;

The fishes that swim-the rocks-

the motion f the ways-

the ships with men in them,

What stranger miracles are there?

~Walt Whitman

Some very charming places to stay ...

After stopping a couple of times to to photograph the seascape, I saw the sign directing me to the 17 Mile drive. I actually thought that meant I was getting on it, but it would be much more obvious than this.

Any chance I got to get near the coast and hop out of the car, I did. It was a little strange being by myself in this area.  It felt so mystical with only the sounds of crashing surf, the wind and seagulls, and the sound of my own footsteps and breath as I walked along the shore.

It was otherworldly and familiar, all at the same time and the turquoise of the water, as the waves crested, was incredible amongst all the other muted tones. Breathtaking.

When I arrived at the entrance to the 17 Mile Drive, it was 10 bucks and they hand you a map. See? Very obvious, when you get there. There are different routes to take, but once again, I hugged the Pacific. And, it became more and more magical as the surf and winds became rougher and the clouds darker. Mother nature was in all her symphonic glory!

The map guides you to many places to take in the view, and where you could safely park.  I stopped as many times as I could before it started to rain and the light began to fade.

The voice of the sea

speaks to the soul.

The touch of the sea is sensuous,

enfolding the body in its soft,

close embrace.

~Kate Chopin

When anxious,

uneasy and bad thoughts come,

I go to the sea,

and the sea drowns them out 

with its great wide sounds,

cleanses me with its noise,

and imposes a rhythm upon everything in me

that is bewildered and confused.

~Rainer Maria Rilke

And in the distance ...

The Lone Cypress

I will have a lot of cypress trees to paint.

Every time I stand before a beautiful beach,

its waves seem to whisper to me:

If you choose the simple things

and find joy in nature's simple treasures,

life and living

need not be so hard.

~Psyche Roxas-Mendoza

p.s. I found the cypress tree charms! ;)

New Years in Sausalito

What is creative living?

Any life that is driven more strongly by curiosity 

than by fear.

~Elizabeth Gilbert

When I said I got behind on posting, I wasn't kidding. 

After Christmas (3 1/2 months ago?!) I decided I didn't want to be home for New Years. I wanted to go somewhere and get the hell outta dodge, as they say. I was feeling the need to jump in my car and ride like the wind! Or at least ride like the driver of a little red Mini. 

Anyhow, not long ago my friend Julia moved up to Sausalito and I figured that that was a drive I could do on my own, so I gave her a ring and asked if she had plans for New Years. Long story short, I hit the road and headed North!

I listened to some music but then started my new audio book "Big Magic" by Elizabeth Gilbert. I was ready for some creative inspiration, and it was perfect! How often to you have 6 hours straight to listen to an audio book?!

Let inspiration lead you wherever it wants.

For most of history people just made things,

and they didn't make such a big freaking deal out of it.

~Elizabeth Gilbert

Big Magic

Sausalito is a tiny little seaside town across from San Francisco. In fact, on my way into Sausalito from S.F. I took the Golden Gate bridge. It was late and I couldn't really see much, but I'd have more chances to see the bridge later.

There is a building that used to be a restaurant but it's empty at the moment, so you can take the path between it and the water, into the little town. 

In the way off distance, (pictured below) that little group of buildings is San Francisco. The first island looking thing to the left of it is Alcatraz.

Perfectionism is just a high-end,

haute couture version of fear ...

just fear in fancy shoes and a mink coat,

pretending to be elegant 

when actually it's just terrified.

~Elizabeth Gilbert

That day was particularly spectacular but even when the clouds roll in there, it's lovely and charming.

Passion can seem intimidatingly out of reach at times-

a distant tower of flame, accessible only to geniuses, 

and to those who are specially touched by God.

But 

Curiosity 

is available to everyone.

~Elizabeth Gilbert

Lots of little shops. Many are crappy souvenir places, or expensive crappy souvenir places. Then there are the really nice shops which are super pricey.

However, even in a crappy little souvenir shop you can find fun things you don't want to live without! I thought this was a perfect watch to wear for teaching the kids. It's fun, I don't care if it gets paint on it, and it was 12.99!

The only other place I really shopped was Soxalito. They sell ... well, socks. Hundred of different socks with anything you can think of on them. Appreciated the ones with the Mona Lisa and Starry Night.

I didn't get a shot of the socks I bought but they are green with pieces of sushi, and another pair have world maps! SO cute. I thought the Star Wars knee-highs were fabulous but a little expensive and impractical. Except maybe the storm trooper. He'd go with everything.

The older I get, 

the less impressed I become with originality.

These days,

I'm far more moved by authenticity.

If your work is authentic enough, believe me ~

it will feel original.

~Elizabeth Gilbert

Big Magic

Another shot of San Francisco and Alcatraz.

So this, I believe, is the central question 

upon which all creative living hinges:

Do you have the courage to bring forth 

the treasures hidden within you?

~Elizabeth Gilbert

My old family friend Amanda (who came with her mom to Ojai for the Artists' Studio Tour this year) happens to live in the city and came over the bridge to meet me for lunch in Sausalito one day.

This cute place has wood fire pizza, a bocce ball court, and is right on the water ...

Bar Bocce

And then Amanda and I met Julia for some wine tasting at Bacchus & Venus.  That Amanda behind the crazy wine pouring head! So fun to meet with her up there and catch up!

And we shut the place down.

Possessing a creative mind 

is like having a border collie for a pet;

if you don't give it a job to do,

it will find a job to do- 

and you might not like the job it invents.

~Elizabeth Gilbert

New Year Eve at Poggio's

Jules and I actually had a drink at a place on the water first, then ate Italian food at another place, which was across from the water, and then ended up at this place. (Also Italian, where we had some really good carbonara the first night!) The photo above was taken right before we left, (after midnight) and right before I left with about 25 balloons!

Julia and Me 

Next up, I'll post my San Francisco shots and the best ever cioppino!

Be Brave.

Without bravery,

you will never know the world

as richly as it longs to be known.

Without bravery, your live will remain small-

far smaller than you probably want your life to be.

~Elizabeth Gilbert

Blessings and light!