- LOW TIDES -

Heron and water reflections!

The things that can be seen when the tides are low can be fascinating.  It is most noticeable around the  harbor and the boat docks, which are constructed so they can move up and down with the flow of the tides.  The sea and shore birds have greater access to some of their food sources when the tides are low. 

The tide height can also be seen rather clearly on the beach.  It is usually well marked where the high tide has reached on the sand once the water has receded.  When the tide is low, much more is visible and accessible.  This is the perfect time to investigate all of the tide pools that become exposed.  Many times star fish can be seen clinging to the sides of the exposed rocks.  

Heron looking for food in the plants!

A few days ago, with the most recent minus tide, I was able to observe  four herons, six egrets and many other waterfowl working the waters edge for food along the shore line of the harbor.  The herons would hold ever so still in their search, while the egrets gently shook a foot in the grasses of the water to scare out any potential meals.  They all have their own unique way of "fishing."

Water reflections with a beautiful heron!

 I found, besides the tide book for the area, that the easiest way for me to see whether the tide is coming in or going out is looking at the boats moored at their buoys.  When the front (bow) of the boat is pointing inland, the tide is moving out.  And when the bow of the boat is pointing out to sea, the tide is coming in.  It is always fun to watch when the tide is changing and the boats are all pointing in different directions with the waters movement.  Very entertaining.

An egret and company looking for food!

Three days ago I woke up and felt as though everything was right in the universe.  I felt calm and happy and peaceful.  As though everything that was happening in that moment was perfect.  I have been experiencing this off and on now for at least a month.  I am uncertain if it is because of where I am or if it is because I am settling in with who I am and all that I am doing right now. I am certain it is of little matter since it all means the same thing anyway.


So, for right now, all is perfect (which it always is) and I am peacefully excited.  The excited feeling is almost as though I have butterflies in my stomach and heart.  It is the feeling one gets just before something wonderful is about to occur.  You know it is coming.  Well, this is knowing it is here and it is wonderful.  I am definitely experiencing many moments of my heaven here on earth.  Loving it.  Though it makes me curious about the traveling thing.  Is the discovery of all that is happening here what I was guided to do or am I to continue traveling in the discovery of many other experiences.  We shall see.  Either way, I am excited for each new moment and occurrence.

A cormorant looking for food!

It rained last night, which woke me from a deep sleep.  It was a bit cloudy this morning and this has given way to a beautiful sun shiny day.  The tourists that are here this week are different than those here last week.  These people are parents,  and friends, etc. of the students at Cal Poly.  They seem a little calmer and more adjusted to the area and less in a hurry.  There are many more people surfing in the bay and a few more in the local coffee cafes.  And by the end of the coming weekend, which is also the city wide yard sale, everyone will have gone back to where they came from.  All will then be a bit less congested until the end of May.  Then, watch out for the craziness of summer tourists.

Egret flying over the harbor waterway!

I have been seeing some pelicans here and there.  I am glad to see they are still around and I actually saw one dive and catch a meal a few days ago.  I am so glad their food source is still intact for the moment.  They had a rough winter with a lack of food.  I wonder though, if there were enough young ones that survived the winter and can carry on the species.  I certainly hope so.

I continue to pick up other peoples garbage on the walkways and to and around the Rock area.  The greatest amount of trash is cigarette butts.  The City has trash containers everywhere so it seems a bit confusing that people choose to throw things on the ground rather than in a receptacle that is less than a few feet away.  


My son and daughter-in-law are coming to visit me next weekend.  I am very excited since I have not seen them since January when I was in the Sacramento area.  I talk with my daughter-in-law almost every day which helps bridge the distance and seeing them face to face.  I was able to find a good rate at one of the local motels, so all is good.

"Eventually you will come to understand

that love heals everything,

and love is all there is."

- Gary Zukav

Enjoy your tides!

-APRIL FLOWERS -

This is the season for new flowers everywhere.  They are blooming in profusion and almost everyone is noticing.  I took a walk up to the top of Black Hill in Morro Bay State Park a few days ago and I am watching for the full bloom of the little pink flowers I mentioned before.

There are a few patches here and there and they seem to be the deeper colored ones that seem to glow right now.  So I will keep my eye on the progress of the pink ones and provide pictures once they are completely doing their thing.  For now the blue/purple stock like flowers seem to be very happy and showing off their growth quite well.

One morning while walking, I was so blessed to be able to rub all over five golden retrievers.  It was so great.  All of them were visitors to the area and ranged in color from pale taffy to a medium reddish.  Some were old and others full of puppy energy.  Definitely a good dog fix day.  I have also been happy to see old friends, such as, Duke, Annie, Maki, Monkey and more.  Of course, I also had the opportunity to visit with their people.  Great fun.

When I took the hike up Black Hill I was hoping to get some clear pictures of Morro Rock and the surrounding area.  This spot gives a complete 360 degree view of the scenery.  The weather, however, had a different idea.  The fog kept developing and dissipating and the sun was again playing hide and seek.  So the pictures I did take failed to provide the mood I was attempting to capture.  I will do this trip again later and perhaps the weather will be more favorable.

The top of Black Hill is around 661 feet elevation with nine switchbacks.  (This was minimal to the twenty seven switchbacks I once traversed with my younger brother many years ago.)  It is a healthy walk from sea level and where my little home is located.  Including the walk to the Rock and back, I accomplished some serious miles that day.

While walking I came across Monarch butterflies, lizards, bees, lots of song birds and, of course, many flowers.  The air was cool and misty enough so it was comfortable going.  There were several people out working in their gardens and at one home there was a beautiful Siamese cat with the most intense blue eyes I have ever seen.  She was amazing.  Reminded me of Kidder who I took care of in January.

Easter was a beautiful day to wake up to and the sun was out in full force.  I was invited to go to the Cavalier restaurant in San Simeon for lunch by Joyce and join family and friends.  Joyce brought a corsage for each woman in our group and she asked that we give them to some other older woman in the restaurant before we leave.  What a kind heart Joyce has.  We were able to wear the orchids while eating and then grace someone unknown to enjoy the flowers afterwards.  Very sweet idea.

Joyce also brought us a sort of rubber baby chick in a basket that lite up when squeezed.  Too fun.  We were going to give them to any children in the restaurant, however, they had all left before we realized it.  About half an hour before we left we watched as the fog literally rolled in.  It was rather dense as we headed back to Morro Bay and quite a bit chillier.  I had a great visit with all.

Morro Bay holds an annual city wide garage sale.  It will be this coming weekend from Friday afternoon  through Sunday.  Saturday I hear is the crazy busy day.  I will be helping Joyce and Pete out while they have their goods set up at a friends home.  It will be lots of fun talking with people that come from other areas to find that perfect item and bargain.  I will walk which I suspect will be safer, though I have been warned to watch out for drivers who seem to be only looking at all the items and not so much for us pedestrians.  Say some prayers!

Yesterday I watched as the fishing boats brought their catch to the docks for weighing and selling.  There were several large bins filled with live crabs and other large bins filled with black cod.  The gulls were doing their best to get a free meal and kept swooping into the bins to peck at the fish before the fishermen and dock hands could chase them off.  Apparently there were several fishing boats there to off load their fare and several fishermen were a bit unhappy with how long the process was taking.  

Several spaces were vacated here at my little home by RV'rs on the first of April, that have now been taken over by other RV'rs.  This is an ever changing place that brings nice people into our lives for a short while, only to replace them with other nice people.  A rather fun aspect of being in one place for a short while and becoming aware of and appreciating the process that occurs.  Very Blessed!

Happy Birthday today, Sheay!

Happy Birthday tomorrow, Ryan!

Happy Birthday tomorrow, Jeanne V.!

"The earth is the mother of all people,

and all people should have equal rights

 upon it."

"Treat all men alike.

Give them the same law.

Give them an even chance

to live and grow."

- Chief Joseph

Enjoy your living!

- SUN - FOG - RAIN - FOG - SUN ? -

And what kind of weather would you like to have today? Well, how about a little of everything!  This seems to be the norm lately.  The sun plays hide and seek several times a day and periodically a few rain drops just for good measure.  One just has to love being here because one never knows what the weather will be and how long it will last.  Keeps us all on our toes.  Right now, dense fog.  Who knows what it will a few minutes from now.

One of the great things  here too is that it seems no matter what the weather, the flowers continue to thrive and bloom and provide everyone a reason to smile.  For me, it is big smiles as I see what are considered summer blooming flowers elsewhere, blooming happily now here.  I think it is still spring, or just spring or something.  Anyway, they are wonderful and beautiful and I am sharing many pictures here.  Grateful.

The tourists, Spring breakers, Easter breakers, etc., are here.  The traffic sounds have increased and there just seems to be more people everywhere.  I think it is time for me to make sure early mornings are my time to be out and about in order to avoid most of the congestion.  It could be, that at least for this weekend, some of them will be inside due to the projected wet weather.

After that, another week of extra people in town.  And then, after that, they will all go away.  Only to return once school is out and everyone seems to be on vacation for the summer.  Perhaps by that time I will be out there also adventuring other areas.  We shall see what the country decides to do as far as the thaw the hot and the cold.

It has been unusually calm for the past week or so.  This makes for the glassy waters in the harbor and bay and for very pleasant walks along the Embarcadero and along the boardwalks to the rock and other areas.  It does make it a bit difficult to know what to wear.  The best bet is to wear at least three layers or more.  That way one is prepared for the changes that inevitability seem to occur.  And something with a hood or a hat can be a great idea.

Today's confession:  The French Bakery.  At least I only purchased two small danish and a few cookies.  Big sigh and smiling face and happy taste buds.  Yumm....  We'll see how the stomach feels later.  Rationing is the trick here. There are also some new bread shapes  and decorated loaves in the cafe which I will take pictures of the next time I am brave enough to enter and strong enough to only purchase a few items.

As the sun sets and the fog continues to sneak into this sweet little town, it is time to say, "Good night!"  Maybe a little TV watching or a DVD to relax by before sleep brings me to tomorrow.  May you all be well and peaceful and happy.

"You must live in the present,

launch yourself on every wave,

find your eternity in each moment."

- Henry David Thoreau

Enjoy your yourself!

- THREE SISTERS -

I am always amazed at how a day can start out as one thing and then have it transform into something completely unexpected.  Such was Saturday.  I started out with a fun trip with Dorothy and Annie for another dog training morning.  I watched as Annie did her sniffing of boxes during her nose work.  Then she was well behaved during the obedience portion, which then led to her being "whatever" when it was time for free play.  Annie is such a sweet dog and I enjoy being around her.  I love the chats Dorothy and I have while we are driving.

I had no plans for the rest of the day and I found myself wandering around on the Embarcadero.  This seems to be the place I end up the most.  I think it is because of being close to the water which is one of my favorite places to be.

 I remember when I was very young and Mom had taken my brother and I to a lake so we could go swimming.  This is something we did often.  We loved that and had spent quite a bit of time enjoying and playing in the water.  When it came time to go, Mom called us and we got dressed.  I guess I got impatient to leave, so decided to do some more swimming (in my clothes)!  Well, needless to say, Mom was less than thrilled with my behavior.  I simply loved being in the water and this holds true today.  Even when I am out watering with a hose, I end up just as wet as the flowers and plants that are the intended target.

Anyway, back to the Embarcadero.  I was walking past the entrance of a restaurant and three women had just come out and were walking in my same direction.  One of them pulled the other two aside so I could pass by.  I said to her, "Do I look as though I am in a hurry?"  That was all it took and the four of us started talking and getting to know each other.  We discovered we were all about the same age and laughed and shared stories and somehow managed to get closer to where their car was parked as we walked.

I learned that one of them lived in Tennessee, one in Arkansas and one lived in Brentwood, California (just west of Stockton).  I think we spent almost an hour and a half chatting and laugh and sharing and it felt as though we were all old friends.  When it came time for them to get on their way we hugged and exchanged phone numbers and I received invitations to visit all of them during my travels.  How awesome is that?  Pretty darn awesome as far as I am concerned.

So, if I had been a few seconds ahead of myself or behind myself, this Adventure would have been lost in the mist.  Instead, I found myself in the company of three wonderful sisters who had come together to support each other and spend time together and help each other out through some difficult times.  And I was blessed to have been a small part of it all.  Synchronicity!  Thank You, Universe!  

Yesterday, no plans (I am finding I love this no plans thing!) again, when I got a call from Megan.  Was I available to meet for lunch?  Heck, yes!  So I met her at the Shine Cafe in Morro Bay.  After enjoying our meal we walked to Top Dog and got our coffees and sat outside in the back of the cafe to catch up on things.  It was another beautiful day in Morro Bay.

We left via the back of the cafe and we were in a small parking area which had a dirt driveway into the space.  I had the most bizarre sensation of being in the foothills of the gold country, where the buildings are old and musty and lend themselves to the times of the gold rush.  It was as though I was as if I had stepped back in time finding myself in the dry and dusty part of old town Auburn, yet here I was in the moist fresh air of the central coast.  

The feelings were very strong and I kept looking around attempting to comprehend what I was experiencing.  It was very similar to visiting an old mission or ghost town or old battlefield of many years past.  The smells were also present of old, dusty places.  I half expected a gold prospector to step out of thin air.  Had I not known better I could have sworn I was inland many, many miles and in a forgotten area of some old lost town which had once flourished.  

Once Megan and I walked through the dirt driveway and out onto the sidewalk, I stepped back into the present moment.  The air was refreshing and cool and moist.  I was home again.  I felt as though an oppressive weight had been lifted and I was again free and light and airy.  And my precious moisture was in the air.  

Megan had brought a DVD for me to watch and she and I watched a short portion of it before she headed home.  I have the DVD to view as many times as I like before Megan returns to reclaim it.  We had a great visit. 

I have had other experiences of feeling the space around me was what it had been many years or ages ago.  I find it curious and I often feel a little anxious when it happens.  I am free of fear when this occurs though I am always uplifted when I feel I am back in the present moment.  

While Megan and I were walking back to my little home on wheels I noticed these beautiful island flowers in the landscaping of one of the motels.  They are Protea which are native to Maui, Hawaii.  I was completely surprised to see them here.  What a gift!

Well, here I am in the present moment and loving being here.  The fog is playing tag this morning, almost afternoon and there are a few places I want to go before the day ends.  Cards to mail, a fine screen drain catcher for the shower, and a few veggies from the grocery store.  Not much but makes for a good walk and not too heavy of a load to carry.  "Oh, Happy Day!"

"When the deepest part of you

becomes engaged in what you are doing,

when your activities and actions

become gratifying and purposeful,

when what you do serves both yourself and others,

when you do not tire within but seek

the sweet satisfaction of your life and your work,

you are doing what you were meant to be doing."

- Gary Zukav

Enjoy your here and now!

- MAGICAL -

It is very difficult to describe how I feel about this area.  To me, it feels magical.  The wildlife here is plentiful and everything seems to thrive.  A blessing is that I am free of all of the allergy issues I have when living in the valley and foothills of central California.  I feel as though I am thriving also.  I am very grateful for whatever time I have here.

I am definitely changing.  My thoughts are more about nature and how everything seems to simply flow when allowed to do so.  It feels that when I need a dog fix, they show up.  When I need color, flowers are everywhere.  When I need cooling off, the fog rolls in to oblige.  When I need to get warm, the sun comes out and the breeze calms.  When I need a walk, I am inspired.  When I need a nap, I fall asleep no matter what I am doing.  It is all rather amazing.  I feel very at peace here, as though I belong here for a time.  I find it interesting that I have been postponed in traveling very far and yet at times I feel a very strong pull to move on.  So, I am doing my best to listen to my inner knowing and following with the flow of nature.

Last week I was walking the upper hills of south Morro Bay and it was so nice to have the views of the back bay and harbor area.  I took several pictures though they would be better if I were standing on someones balcony.  I did get a few that seemed to capture the scene.  Some of the streets are a bit steep and occasionally I found myself getting out of breath.

I do find I am getting stronger and I have greater endurance.  This seems to come with the continual walking up and down the hills of this sweet little town.  The flowers and such seem to grow in the most curious places.  I am uncertain if all of them were actually planted or with the help of the birds, etc., found their way to some very unique places.  However they got there, they now seem to fit in perfectly.

I will spend more time exploring the south hills since the pink flowering succulents may be blooming soon.  We then can all enjoy the incredible carpet display that leaves one speechless.  Perhaps this weekend.  It is sunny and calm and almost warm now in the afternoon.  The wind from this morning has moved on.

The spring break visitors are continually arriving.  The little park here is full and the sounds of traffic seem to fill the air.  Hopefully they will all get settled by this evening and we can all get a good nights sleep.  I think for me, though, I seem to sleep great anyway.  Gotta love that!

The RV repairs are complete on my unit with the exception of one that will be done in about a month, unless it dictates being fixed sooner.  All is well.  I am continually learning things I never knew I needed to know.  Considering, I think I am doing rather well.  

Happy Birthday, Jan!

"Remember that your body/mind

is the greatest pharmacy ever created.

It has an unlimited potential for creating well-being,

since that's where it originated from in the first place."

- Dr. Wayne Dyer

- from his book

- Your Ultimate Calling

Enjoy your well-being!

- FLOWERS EVERYWHERE! -

Now that it is officially Spring, I think it is alright to add more flowers to my writings.  There are so many different varieties and various colors they almost make you dizzy.  They are predicting this weekend to be the most fabulous peak of blooms.  I hope everyone is able to be out there and enjoy as many of them as you can find.  For here, we are being told the weather will be spectacular.  Even though I enjoy them every day, I am excited to see the display over this weekend.  Just in time for Spring!

Recently,I have been taking my walks during different times of the day.  This gives a new perspective to the areas I visit. Light and shadows are different, as well as, a complete change of the people I see.  I miss the usual critters with their people though.  I guess I will cycle back occasionally so I can visit with them in the mornings. 

I was feeling weak yesterday and was about to go to the French Bakery when I realized they are closed on Tuesdays.  The Universe was protecting me from myself again.  Today could be a very different story.  However, I am waiting for the repair person to show up and this will keep me put for now.

Earthquakes - 7 days, M2.5+ is a great site for viewing the earthquakes around the world.  If any of you have yet to check this site out, I think you will enjoy what it offers.  When the earthquake occurred in Japan, it was amazing to watch how the circles just kept laying down on top of each other with all of the after shocks that occurred.  I also like watching how the "ring of fire" is doing.

There is also a volcano site that is fun to visit, Global Volcanism Program Volcanic Activity Reports SI - USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report.  There are so many great things about the Internet.  I learn so much and it is easy for me to spend way too many hours in trance.  And I wonder why my back is tired afterwards!!!

This is for Gaytrell!

I have been in email contact with a person I met here who is from Canada.  She and her dog are currently in New Mexico dealing with a great variance in daytime and nighttime temperatures.  It sounds as though some of the areas she wants to visit are still under snow.  This is obviously one of the reasons I am waiting to begin traveling east.  I am alright with more moderate and even temps.  Though the cherry blossoms in DC are so worth seeing this time of the year, I will wait for another year or so to see them again.  I have been fortunate to be visiting my brother and his family twice during the peak and all I can say is "WOW."

A couple of times I have met Stanley while walking.  He is a most beautiful golden retriever with what appears to be frosted fur at the tips.  I have no idea what the names are of his people and none of us seem to mind.  He is almost as big as Duke, who is huge.  His fur is simply amazing and the lighter ends make him look as though he has lighter fur than it actually is.  His face is white and he is completely sweet and gentle.  This is one of my favorite breeds and I would love having another one as a companion on my Adventure.  We shall see.

The predicted rain for today occurred last night, twice for about ten minutes each.  Barely a sprinkle.  Love the sound on my roof.  Although I have been sleeping so soundly I may have missed any further precipitation during the night.  Today It is relatively mild and the sun is trying ever so hard to shine through the clouds.  I am certain it will for tomorrow.  Who knows, maybe some stars tonight.  

"Happy Birthday, Stacey!!!

"I will act now.  I will act now.  I will act now.

Henceforth, I will repeat these words each hour,

each day, everyday, until the words

become as much a habit as my breathing,

and the action which follows becomes as instinctive

as the blinking of my eyelids.

With these words I can condition my mind

to perform every action necessary for my success.

I will act now.

I will repeat these words again and again and again.

I will walk where failures fear to walk.

I will work when failures seek rest.

I will act now for now is all I have.

Tomorrow is the day reserved for the labor of the lazy.  Tomorrow is the day when the failure will succeed.

I will act now.  This is the time  This is the place.

I am the person."

- Og Mandino

Enjoy your actions!

- BUSY! BUSY! BUSY! -

The building in the lower left is the Morro Bay Museum.

A walk to the museum, the top of the morro next to it and the Bayside Cafe for lunch.  I had already walked to the rock from where I am staying, so all in all, it was a five hour adventure.  The weather was perfect for such a jaunt and I was rewarded with so many amazing things.

It was a bit breezy at the top of the morro (a rocky outcrop in the shallows of a harbor) however, the view is incredible.  There was some moisture in the air so the picture is a touch hazy.  The anchored boats in the harbor were moving around as the water was a little choppy.  

While on the top of the morro a beautiful hawk soared before me and displayed its magnificent colors.  I have yet to identify it exactly so I'll keep checking my books.  There were butterflies, hummingbirds, white pelicans, brown pelicans,(gulls, of course) and children on a day trip from Paso Robles.

Potted plant at Bayside Cafe.

I took a picture of some people from Walnut Creek and chatted with a man from San Diego.  He had been up to the top of the morro the day before and the fog was in so he couldn't see a thing.  He was very grateful for today's weather.

The finches have been my morning wake up sound.  I like it!  And they were singing all along the great walking path I took and while I was at the museum.  It was also wonderful to see the pelicans again.  

While I was eating lunch (tuna skewers wrapped in bacon, charbroiled with a Teriyaki sauce and a salad, which was a total yum) there were brown and white pelicans, cormorants, egrets, herons and gulls all feasting on whatever it was in the yacht club area at the cafe.  It didn't last long, though was fun to observe as they all did their own thing.

Flowers along the way.

There is outside eating at the cafe so I enjoyed the sun and the breeze.  I was soon joined by a group of twenty one that were staying at the nearby Morro Bay State Campground.  They were part of a Lazy Daze Camping Club and were having a good time.  There was another group of eleven eating inside and celebrating someone's birthday.  So, for 11:00 am, the little cafe was almost full since it included the rest of us, such as myself, enjoying an early lunch.  Everyone was friendly and talking with others they were meeting for the first time.  Good fun!

The path I had taken during the morning walk goes through a part of a condominium park where this old Eucalyptus tree had a section where there was this tiered growth on its side.  And one of the Cypress trees had fallen over a part of the path leaving an archway that people could walk under.  The top of the tree had rooted itself and was growing on the other side of the walkway.  I love how nature takes care of herself if we just leave her alone.


I have had several opportunities to hang laundry outside.  And I spent a morning with Dorothy and her dog Annie, who was getting some obedience and scent training, in the park in San Luis Obispo.  It was very interesting and reminded me of some things I can incorporate when my next furry friend shows up.  I am waiting.  The drive through the country side of San Luis Obispo is very green right now and there was a group of vultures standing with their wings spread out attempting to get warm in the early morning sun.  Everything always feels so fresh and new to me in the mornings.  Definitely my preferred time of day.

"It is not our abilities that show what we truly are.

It is our choices!"

-  Albus Dumbledore

-  Movie, Harry Potter

-  Chamber of Secrets

Enjoy your choices!