I have been back for a couple days now from my whirlwind Southern California to Northern Cal trip. I left you guys off in Huntington Beach (I know, not a bad location, huh?) so I guess you guys want all the juicy details of my trip to NoCal. Maybe??? OK, OK you don’t have to ask me twice!
As I have mentioned in some of my other posts, I have met some amazing people over the past year since I started surfing and doing yoga. One of these PHENOMENAL persons is Laurie, also known as my “West Coast Mom”. As I type, our friendship started exactly last year during my first surf trip adventure to Tamarindo, Costa Rica at Witch’s Rock Surf Camp. We instantly bonded from the first paddle out. Since we left the beautiful waves of Costa Rica we have stayed in touch; I have visited her out in California in March and she visited me in NYC in July with her daughter (check out my post “The NYC Cool Tourists“). Well, as I was planning my trip out to SoCal, I figured why not “hop” up to San Francisco and see my second mother? Delta sealed the deal with a bargain airfare from LAX to SFO.
Funny thing is that although I have flown into San Francisco three times in my life, I never really had played tourist in this pretty city (can you say hills?!). Well, Laurie decided to rectify this situation and per her style, she undeniably showed me a good time. Since I grew up on the East Coast and consequently know very little about SF, of course the key things I wanted to see where A) Trolley Cars, B) Seals and Sea Lions, C) Golden Gate Bridge and D) the twisty-steep road (also known as Lombard St). I know, you guys are saying to me right now “Seriously?!” I know, I was playing that typical NYC tourist that pretty much only visits the major sites and does not get to really know the City (of who I detest…BUT at least I have learned how to be a “good tourist” by not stopping in the middle of sidewalks!). However, no need to worry because Laurie was definitely not going to let me be just a tourist. Yes, we did the touristy things that I requested, but she added a little flavor and we went to a Wonderbread 5 concert at the Red Velvet Lounge. I know, how cool?!
AND Laurie did not stop there. She also planned a day trip to Napa Valley with a picnic lunch at V. Sattui Winery (which also happened to be our one-year friendship anniversary…I know, I know I am a weirdo). To top off the Napa Valley day (and my last day in Cali), we had an amazing sunset hike in the foothills of where Laurie lives. Funny thing is that this hike probably was one of my top experiences of this California trip (the other being surfing with a pod of dolphins in Newport Beach). Those moments that take your breath away are worth more than gold…
Well, as most good things must come to an end, so did my California trip. I was abruptly jolted out of my Cali daze by a broken airplane the next morning (thanks once again to American) and re-routing my trip back to Savannah. There is nothing like waking up at 3:15AM and not getting to your final destination until 9PM because of mechanical issues. BUT, since I am the forever optimist, as one good thing ends, there is another on the horizon that is calling my name…
As Coldplay so beautifully sings their newish song “Paradise”:
“When she was just a girl
She expected the world
But it flew away from her reach so
She ran away in her sleep
And dreamed of
Para-para-paradise, Para-para-paradise, Para-para-paradise
Every time she closed her eyes
And dreams of
And so lying underneath those stormy skies
She’d say, “oh, ohohohoh I know the sun must set to rise”
As always, stay tuned for more to come!
XOs
Kristen
