Just about the prettiest and most abundant flowering shrub of the Asilomar sand dunes is the Tree Lupine.





These drought-tolerant 3 to 5-foot tall shrubs were laden with blossoms over a large
area of the sand dunes and tend to grow in clusters.





When the YWCA opened Asilomar in 1913 as its western leadership conference camp – the grounds consisted
of 30 acres of land facing the ocean. The name “Asilomar” submitted by Helen Salisbury (a Stanford University
student) was chosen as the winner of a naming contest from among the hundreds of entries received. She combined
the Spanish word Asilo (meaning asylum or refuge) with mar (meaning sea) and Asilomar, a refuge by the sea was born.



Today, the Asilomar Conference Grounds encompasses a total of 110 acres facing the Pacific Ocean in Garden
Grove and it is a part of the California State Parks system. The state contracted with Aramak, a major U.S.
corporation in professional services, to run and operate the Asilomar Conferences Grounds.



Our stroll eventually led us down to the road the divides the Asilomar grounds from the Asilomar State
Beach. This stile is at the entrance into the grounds was originally constructed in 1913 but over
the years it has been rebuilt three times – only the skeletal remains of the two original large redwood
posts remain today of the 1913 stile.



We crossed the quiet seafront road and onto the Asilomar State Beach.





Yellow Sand Verbana plants thrive in the salty sandy environment of the beach and the
sand dunes of the Asilomar State Beach.

There were a few clumps of giant sea kelp washed ashore on the beach. The best time to explore this
giant kelp is a day after a big storm when masses of giant kelp are washed ashore – many of which will
have small crabs, etc. hidden among its fronds.





A young kelp sapling having been ripped off its anchorage from the coral reef at its root base
with part of the coral still attached to its roots.





We sat on the beach for a while and just watched the incoming surf come crashing in onto the beach.



We then strolled down the beach in the direction of a series of rocky shoreline to see what we
can find among the tide pool before the high tide submerges the area.





There were quite a good number of visitors exploring the tide pools hidden between the rocky shoreline.





From a distance, this small inlet among the rocky shoreline looks so calm and quiet but as we approached the
corner where it meets the open ocean - we can hear the surge of the waves of the surf pushing the tide in.

This delicate-looking green seaweed is commonly known as ‘sea lettuce’. It’s edible and makes
a delightful component in miso soup.



Most of the tide pools within that rocky shoreline are already submerged as high tide moved in.



The few that we explored has quite a variety of sealife in it like sea anemones,
periwinkles, small fish, crabs, and limpets.



Large clusters of goose barnacles are anchored in between the rocks awaiting for the tide to
come and submerge the entire rocky shoreline.



Some of the tide pools were loaded with periwinkles (small hermit crabs).



Soon the sound of the incoming waves signaled that it was time to retrace our steps from the tide pools back to the beach.



We walked back up to the frontage road overlooking the beach and the rocky shoreline where we had spent
time exploring the tide pools. Part of the rocky cliffs ware covered with wildflowers. On a sunny
day, this would have been breathtaking view.





The ice plants have not come into bloom yet along the coast yet. Mother Nature made it such that
each plant species will have an optimum period of being pollinated by the insects or the wind.

A seagull enjoying the delightful scenery of the Monterey coast like us on that overcast morning.



The quiet frontage road along the Asilomar State Beach was almost devoid of cars
except for a passing vehicle now and then.



The local transit buses that ply between the coastal communities around Pacific Grove
have coach bodies modeled like a San Francisco cable car.



Every now and then, there is the occasional sign about the potential presence of a cougar
and what to do should one encounters one on the Asilomar grounds.



It’s amazing how deep down the roots of the drought-tolerant native plants penetrate
into the sand dunes for moisture.



Since it was about time for lunch, we headed back in the direction of the dining hall on the Asilomar
grounds. In 1897, the YWCA decided to open an educational and vocational training center on the
west coast and William Crocker (owner of what is now known as the Pebble Beach Company) donated the
original 30 acres in 1913 to the YWCA. Asilomar became the YWCA permanent west coast conference
grounds and summer camp in 1913.



Julia Morgan (San Francisco architect) designed and built 16 buildings from 1913 to 1928 in the classic
Arts and Crafts style including the Phoebe Apperson Hearst Social Hall which also houses the registration
area for Asilomar quests, souvenir shop, etc. Her beautifully-executed Asilomar architectural gems are
maintained in pristine condition to this current day.



One side of the PA Hearst Social Hall faces the ocean and its elevated deck is a great
place to relax and enjoy the serenity of the surrounding scenery.



A dune-buggy style beach hair is available for the use of handicapped quests to access the Asilomar Beach.



The Social Hall is also the oldest building in Asilomar and is a wonderful place especially in the
evenings to socialize with options ranging of playing the piano, reading, billiards, board/card
games or surfing the internet on your own laptop or the Park’s.





A fire is always kept going in the fireplace as the evenings can get chilly even in the summertime.





Then we headed next door to the dining hall for lunch. You have the option to have meals included as part
of the package or purchase the meal vouches separately. The meals prepared by the Aramak Company chefs
rivals that of the best restaurants anywhere – it is excellent.



After lunch, we picked up a map guide and audio gear for a self-guided walking audio tour of the
buildings and grounds of the Asilomar Conference grounds. This is Merrill Hall - another of the 16
beautiful structures designed by Julia Morgan and completed in 1928.





Another of Julia Morgan’s creations is the Visitor’s Lodge structure.



It has a cozy and comfortable lounge and the natural color of the old growth redwood
used in its construction reflects its warmth glow.





Every lodge structure has its outdoor area where ample seating provides a serene enclave
for its quests to simply relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.



Birds, especially, the blue jays and stellar jays are abundant throughout the grounds and
have grown quite tame and would hop right close to you at times.



With 110 acres of grounds, the structures are spread out and it is one of the best places in California
to host a group meeting/conference or for an extended vacation. We have been here a number of times over
the years and there have been no physical changes – it’s like being in a time capsule at Asilomar.





There is also a large population of tree squirrels on the grounds – real friendly critters too.

There is a rich and very interesting history of the former YWCA Asilomar Center. One of the
most interesting is about the young women who were hired on as summertime staff.



These young women were mostly college students and they called themselves the “ Stuck-ups” and their
multi-unit housing unit dormitory soon became affectionately known as the Stuck-up Inn and it still called
the Stuck-Up Inn to this current day.



The Stuck-Up Inn now houses the guests of Asilomar. Like the rest of the structures within the Asilomar Conference
Grounds, it is maintained in an immaculate condition. Its inner courtyard continue to serve as a private quiet
retreat for its guests within the facility.



There were a number of photos and signs along one of its hallways pertaining to the historical significance
of the ‘Stuck-Ups”. It makes for interesting reading about one historical aspect of the former YWCA’s
Asilomar Conference & Training Center.



Like the colleges’ fraternities and sororities’ initiation (“Rush Week”) process, the YWCA “Stuck-Ups” too
had their own initiation ritual that cumulated in being bestowed the honor of being a member of the “Stuck-Up”
– the official designation in the form of a small rectangular piece of paper taped onto her forehead.







Anyone who had been initiated into a ritual-rich fraternal organization would appreciate
the process before becoming accepted as a full-fledged member.





During its heydays, the YWCA Conference and Training Center must have hosted large numbers of visitors
given the large number of summertime “stuck-Up” staffers as seen in the photograph.







A short stroll to an adjacent facility brought us to the “Pirates Den” which is another multi0-unit dormitory
that used to house the summertime college male staffers. The men used to raid the kitchen pantry for pies
during the nocturnal hours and earned the nickname of “pie rats” from the other members of the staff.



Acknowledging their nickname as a badge of honor, they merged 'pie rats' into one word and began to call
themselves “Pirates.” Before long, another Asilomar legend was born and remains today as an integral part
of its rich historical roots.





Some of the Asilomer’s Conference Grounds guest units are located right along the edge of the
sand dunes by the beach and named appropriately as such.



Another one of 16 structured designed by Julia Morgan (SF architect) is the Chapel Auditorium that lies a short
distance from the PA Hearst Social Hall. Its interior is beautiful - constructed too from old growth Redwood
from which produces the best grade of Redwood lumber.







Our stroll on the spacious Asilomar grounds also led us the different guest units spaced
out between open woodland or wooded areas.







Each Asilomar lodge section has its individual name and comes with a conference room facility that is conveniently
located adjacent to it. Coupled with its scenic coastal location and affordable cost structure - Asilomar is a
very popular place to hold extended group meetings/conferences for industry, NGOs and public agencies.



Narrow quiet paths link all the different lodge section locations within the very pleasant and quiet grounds of
Asilomar. Native trees and plants are the norm in order to preserve and maintain its natural ecological system.







We could see that every structure on the grounds looked the same as it did years ago when we first visited
Asilomar – immaculate and in pristine condition. The trees looked like they have grown taller though.







There are larger suites available in some sections within Asilomar should one requires additional
space to accommodate a family with children.





Around the more heavily areas of the grounds, there is the warning sign posted to be on the alert for a
mountain lion. We much prefer the more wooded areas as it seems so much more private and serene. Having
camped in the Sierra Nevada mountains over the years including along the Pacific Crest Trail – we are never
bothered by warning signs for cougar. Signs for grizzlies or bears – now, that’s a totally different story.







There are always a few blue jays hanging around – no matter where you are on the Asilomar grounds

this is a wonderful pictorial and gene is a genius !

Hedonist - thank you. But who is this "Gene" person that you are referring to?

There is also a swimming pool (with changing rooms and an open shower area) in a secluded wooded area
on the Asilomar grounds adjacent to the sand dunes nor far from our lodging unit. We sat down on the deck
chairs for a short rest before continuing on our stroll.





As we resumed on our stroll a short while later, we were surprised to see a small patch of poison oak a few
yards off the path. Most people have an allergenic reaction to poison when they accidentally brush any
bare skin to its leaves. The oil present on its leaves causes itching and scratching the spot of contact
only helps to spread it. The potency of poison oak reaches its peak in the Fall when the leaves turn to a
golden-yellowish-red color.



Taking a short cut back to our unit, we made a slight detour onto another section of the expansive
sand dunes. We always pause to read the information signs as it usually provide a summary of
general information about the area and its flora.





We made a final stop at a rest area along the wooden boardwalk located on a high point of the sand
dunes close to our unit. This particular location in the sand dunes has just about the best 180-degree
view of the coastline and surrounding area.





As we sat, relaxed and admired the delightful view, a flight of pelicans flew
quietly by overhead silhouetted against an overcast sky.



One morning, we took a drive over to explore the world-famous 17 Mile Drive in Pebble Beach whose northern
entrance bordered Pacific Grove. Unless one resides in Pebble Beach, there is a $10 fee to drive through on the
17 Mile Drive and payable at the entrance booth. In turn, you will be provided with a brochure on the sights
and recommended stops while on the 17 Mile Drive. Pebble Beach is also home to world-class golf courses like
Cypress Point, Monterey Peninsula, Poppy Hills, Spyglass, Spanish Bay, Pebble Beach, etc.).



Since it was still early in the morning, we stopped at the first turnoff onto a quiet beach to take a
short stroll, watch the gentle surf (it was low tide) and seagulls hanging around on the beach.







Bright yellow sand verbenas grew in profusion on the dunes inland behind the parking lot while
a flock of seagulls huddled on the rocky beach awaiting the overcast skies to clear.





Across the 17 Mile Drive road is a carefully-nurtured and maintained stretch of sand dunes covered with
native vegetation together with an endemic non-native (ice plant) widely-planted for its beauty and
drought-tolerant qualities.





Just beyond the dunes lie the rolling links and greens of the Spanish Bay golf course.
This area is Point 5 on the 17 Mile Drive.



The native Lizard Tail (Eriophyllum staechadifolium) was in full bloom and it stretched as far as the eye
can see and is endemic along the coasts of California. Growing in small clusters among it are the sand daisies.







There are a total of 21 recommended points of interest along the 17 Mile Drive. Most of these scenic points
have ample parking. But you have the option to stop and park where it is legally permissible and safe to
do so. This particular recommended spot is Point 6 called ‘The Restless Sea’.







One of the best ways to really tour the 17 Mile Drive is by bicycle or to park your car at the
more scenic areas and hike along the paths that run beside the road or shoreline.



Along the route, you will find benches at scenic locations where you can sit down to rest
your tired feet and take in the pretty scenery.



Point 7 also known as “Point Joe” is of particular interest. This outcrop of granite rock juts out
into the Pacific. Quite a variety of birdlife can be seen together with a colony of ground squirrels
that live in burrows among the rocks here. The links of the Spanish Bay golf course parallels the road.





In the early 1900’s, a Chinese man lived here alone in a home constructed of rocks and driftwood.
He made a living selling trinkets to tourists, tending goats and harvesting the plentiful edible
seaweed and abalone along the rocky shoreline.

"There are a quite number of Gene’s folk art creations dotted around the grounds of their home like this
“killer praying mantis” by his house. I asked him once about how he manages to come up with all these
mechanical-parts art contraptions. He said that an idea just naturally hits him at times when
he’s tinkering around his workshop where there are parts lying all around. "


the guy who built all those with spare parts

OK. I thought "Gene" pertained to the current posting of the Monterey coastline. My mistake.

Close by Point Joe is the tee-off for the 14th hole of the Monterey Peninsula Country Club Dunes Course.
Although it’s a short par 3 course – it is very challenging. You have the waves of the Pacific Ocean
crashing right close by you on one side together with the ever-present wind while trying to focus
on a 180 yard drive to its 2-tiered green down the fairway.





Slice your ball ever so slightly to the right will result in an involuntary donation of one of your
favorite Titleist Pro V1x balls to Davy Jones Locker in the Pacific Ocean. The number of these involuntary
donations will also be directly proportional to your skill level on that particular day.





The 17 Mile Drive is also a favorite bicyclist route as the terrain is relatively flat with
beautiful scenery just around every turn of the road.



Just within walking distance past Point Joe is one of the prettiest stretch of coastline along the 17 Mile
Drive – it’s a veritable natural flower garden inundated with coastal wildflowers.





A crop of granite thrusts skywards in the center and drops down onto the shoreline and pounding surf. Even though
it was an overcast day – the wildflowers are still a pretty sight. We can envision how gorgeous this area
must look on a bright sunny day when the wildflowers are in full bloom.







We followed a narrow path that weaved through the wildflower area and led upwards almost to the top of
that granite outcrop. We took our time to pause often to admire the various species of coastal wildflowers
in bloom alongside the path. As we ascended higher towards the top, the view got much more spectacular.





We sat down to take in and enjoy the delightful view and scenery around us from that elevated location. It
was serenely tranquil with just the regular rhythm of the crashing surf and the occasional calls of seabirds.





A lone bicyclist came peddling by as fast as he could probably trying to catch
up with that large group who had gone by earlier.



There’s something about the sound and the action of the surf that causes one to have a mild
fixation in being mesmerized by it to a certain extent.



We continued with our stroll along the shoreline of the beautiful wildflower-rich stretch of the 17 Mile Drive.





There are spots along the way that one can amble on down to the beach to explore the tide pools among
the rocks. We had forgotten to bring along our binoculars which would have made it much easier to spot
the sea otters floating among the giant kelp beds close to the shore.





We made intermittent stops along the way to sit down on the benches placed by the path to
absorb the breathtaking scenery of the beautiful Monterey coastline.

Point 10 is popularly known as the “Bird Rock” for the obvious reason. You can hear the cackle
of the seabirds the moment you exit from your vehicle in the big parking lot.



There are a number of granite outcrops including a sizable ‘island’ that is inhabited by nesting seabirds on top and
by seals and sea lions along its rocky shoreline. Giant kelp beds are the norm along the central California coastline.





If you look closely at the along the rocky shoreline of the granite island’ – you can see the seals and
sea lions. Their brown and black fur coats allow the animals to blend in against the background naturally.



If you wish to get a closer look at the inhabitants of that large granite outcrop offshore, there is a
battery of telescopes positioned in a row in the parking area. There is a nominal charge of a few quarters
(25-cent coins) for the use of a telescope.



Point 11 – Seal Rock Picnic Area (adjacent to Point 10 – “Bird Rock”) also comes equipped with clean
restrooms and a picnic area where you can sit down to picnic and enjoy the lovely scenery around you.
On a clear sunny day, the surrounding scenery will spellbound you.





We love watching the restless wave motion of the incoming surf to hear it braking against and over the
rocky shoreline. Fishing from shore is banned along a long stretch of the Monterey as it is part of a
marine sanctuary but one can fish from a boat offshore.





The Pebble Beach Company has done an incredible marvelous job in the preservation of the land under
its ownership over the year especially the fragile coastline.



This is a really interesting wildflower species. After flowering, an airbag-like seedpod develops and
we assume that the proliferation of that plant species is wind-borne.



A beautiful recently-completed new home sits among the sprinkling of homes in the wooded area a short distance
inland from the beach. The Spyglass Hill Golf Course (Point 12) lies across the road from the Seal Rock Picnic Area.



We stopped at the more interesting points along the 17 Mile Drive and Point 13 dubbed the “Fanshell Overlook”
is one of them. That’s part of the Spyglass Hill course fairway running alongside the road here and it has
some beautiful old Monterey cypress trees on the edges of the fairways. Harbor seals return to the beach here
in the Spring to bear their young and it’s closed to visitors from April 01 through June 01 during the pupping season.





Point 14 – “Cypress Point Lookout” is a must-stop location along the 17 Mile Drive. Right next door to it is the
83-year old Cypress Point Country Club. Many consider the Cypress Point to be the best golf course in the U.S.
– in part because of its par-three 15th, 16th and 17th holes which are located on a cliff along the Pacific Ocean.
It was created by Alister MacKenzie who also designed the world-famous Augusta National course in Georgia.



It’s a very popular site along the 17th Mile Drive and it’s usually crowded with visitors. It’s also a great
place to be able to see harbor seals in large numbers and the occasional sea otters. You will need a
pair of binoculars to spot the sea otters though floating among the giant kelp beds.





The very few extremely lucky and privileged individual families have beachfront homes here with year-round
spectacular million-dollar views from their windows.





Cypress Point has a small protected bay surrounded by an extensive and dense giant bed. We have never seen
that many harbor seals congregate in a small area anywhere else like here. The harbor seals also bear their pups
here in the Spring resulting in this site being closed from April 01 through June 01 annually.





The large cluster of granite outcrops and protected waters at the Cypress Point provide an ideal
undisturbed sanctuary for the harbor seals and pups.





Close-up views of the dozing harbor seals sunning themselves on the rocky shorelines of the granite outcrops.





The next must-see interesting location along the 17 Mile Drive is Point 15 “Crocker Grove”. A few wall-off
private residences sits right across the narrow road from the oldest and largest intact grove of Monterey
cypress trees – some of the trees are well over 300 years old.





One of the founders of the Del Monte Company (canned foods fame) had the wonderful foresight and generosity
to donate the land to preserve the grove and for the enjoyment of the future generations of the public to come.





It’s hard to fathom that a tree like the Monterey can live for well over three hundred years or more which
is just about a third compared to the life-span of a Giant Sequoia Redwood tree (which is a sub-family of
the cypress family) that can live for well over a thousand years.





As we drove slowly through residential area on a hilly stretch of the 17 Mile Drive by the ocean, a massive
private residence perched on the hillside caught our eye. It even had a detached, what looks like a guest
house shaped like a small castle located beside the main residence structure.





This quiet but narrow stretch of the 17 Mile Drive weaved its way around the hilly terrain until it emerged
close to THE most famous spot along its famous route – Point 16, the location of the world famous “The Lone
Cypress” tree. We parked beside a big old Monterey cypress and set out to explore this scenic location.

When you stop here – take time to explore this location thoroughly as this is one of the most scenic spots
on the 17 Mile Drive. The scenery is amazingly spectacular, to say the least.





Over the years, a number of the centuries old Monterey cypress trees have died and it is not as heavily
wooded as we remember it many years ago. It will be many more years before the young, slow-growing cypress
trees again fill in the open areas on the cliffside.





Finally, as we made our way slowly down the viewing area, the Lone Cypress tree came into view at a distance.
Most people associate automatically a black & white silhouette drawing of a lone cypress tree as the symbol
trademark of Pebble Beach – that’s how famous the “Lone Cypress” location has become worldwide.





Here are two close-up views of Pebble Beach’s world-famous “Lone Cypress” tree sitting on an exposed cliff
from the parking area overlooking the Pacific. Many, many years ago, a visitor could stroll carefully along
a beaten trail to within 20 feet from the Lone Cypress tree before the Pebble Beach Company took steps to protect
and preserve one of its most valuable landmark assets.





A memorial dedicated to Samuel Finley Brown Morse, a avid environmental conservationist and the
developer of Pebble Beach. He developed eight of Pebble Beach’s golf courses including the Lodge at Pebble Beach.
A distant cousin, who was also named Samuel Morse, was the inventor of the telegraph and the Morse Code.



From the steps of the staircase, one can get a beautiful view of the small inlet and the Lone Cypress tree growing on the top of the cliff.



A wide wooden staircase leads down to the observation deck below constructed on the side of the rugged
steep cliff. The moisture-laden coastal fog facilitates the luxuriant growth of moss and lichen on
the branches of the Monterey cypress trees.





This is the view of the observation deck and coastline as we descended down the staircase.





It is amazing how t a Monterey cypress can take root, thrive and grow to its current height and
size over the years in such an inhospitable terrain.



Views of the “Lone Cypress” tree from the observation deck at Point 16 along the 17 Mile Drive in Pebble Beach.
The Lone Cypress’s does not appear to be a healthy-looking specimen compared to other cypress trees.





At a wooded corner bend of the 17 Mile Drive lies Point 17 – the “Ghost Tree”. It’s the remains of a
long-demised cypress tree whose trunk has been bleached almost white by the weather over the years. There are
a few other long-dead weathered cypress trunks across the road from the “Ghost Tree” too.





Quiet gated private residences like this one line alongside the roadway here.



A hundred yards down from the “Ghost Tree” lay Point 18 (“Pescadero Point”) on the 17 Mile Drive. This is
the northernmost point of Carmel Bay and Stillwater Cove. This is the last scenic stop on the 17 Mile
Drive before arriving at the Lodge at Pebble Beach /Golf Links.





The scenery here is just absolutely breathtaking even on an overcast day like today. The large boulders and formations
of granite along the shoreline behold the natural beauty of Mother Nature’s sculptural skills. All the credit and
kudos for the protection and preservation of this beautiful coastline goes to The Pebble Beach Company.







Probably a hundred and fifty years or more ago, the coastline here were thick with cypress trees before
settlers moved in and logged great numbers of the trees for lumber requirements.





One non-native plant that was brought in as groundcover and its pretty blooms has thrived and vigorously
expanded its domain is the ice plant. It is both a drought and salt tolerant plant with delicate multi-color flowers.



When the ice plants are in full bloom – it is like a carpet of solid flowers. There were also quite a number
of ground squirrels living in burrows among the boulders and ice plants.



Views of the scenic coastline and flora at the Pescadero Point along the 17 Mile Drive.

Beautiful place.

In the open areas, the sprawl of the ice plants has extended almost down to the water’s edge. The scenery would
have been even more dramatic and breathtaking on a bright sunny day when the ice plants are in full bloom.





Patches of Sand Daisies flourished under the Monterey cypress and amid the non-native ice plants. We sat
down at various points along the Pescardero Point to enjoy the delightful scenery of the coastline.





The ice plants along that long stretch of coastline had developed lots of buds and all it needs is a couple of
sunny weeks with clear blue skies to trigger a mass blooming to take place. Watching the vast floating giant kelp
beds swaying slowly to and fro with the movement of the surf has also a kind of mesmerizing effect too.





Tried as hard as we could (without the aid of binoculars), we did not spot a single sea otter floating
on top of the kelp beds or swimming among the granite outcrops along the shoreline.





Having walked that stretch and saw just about everything that is to see – the Lodge at Pebble Beach (Point 19)
was the next designated stop. However, it turned out that the Nature Valley First Tee Open was being held at
Pebble Beach that weekend and the whole place was a zoo jammed with cars, people and elevated mobile TV
camera stages by each green. We decided to head on down next door to Carmel-By-The-Sea instead for lunch.







We drove the few miles on Highway 1 down into the seaside town of Carmel-By-The-Sea. This delightful and
touristy enclave shot onto the world’s stage in 1986 when Clint “Make-My-Day” Eastwood became its
mayor. We parked on the main drag and wandered around to decide on a restaurant for lunch and if you’re
contemplating to locate a fast food joint – you’re out of luck as there are none. We parked close by
this immaculate rare British 1955 Triumph TR2 sports car powered by a 1991cc engine.



There are a number of good restaurants along the main tourist drag (Ocean Avenue) in Carmel so we decided
to check out the ones we had been before to see which updated menu appealed to us. Porta Bella is one of
the delightful ones on the main drag.



Adjacent to it is the College of Sweets with a moss-covered shake roof which reminded us of an English
country village confectionery shop. Here you’ll find your favourite Cadbury’s, Rowntree’s, Walker’s,
Fry’s, Bassetts, etc. on the shelves.





It’s quite an interesting mix of architectural styles along Ocean Avenue which has a landscaped
central island that runs alongside the shopping area.



Glance at a street clock meant tiffin time would be a crowded affair in any of the popular restaurants in
a tourist area so we headed for the Grill on the main drag for a light lunch. The plan was to explore
Carmel after lunch until it was time for an early dinner.





Sotheby’s has an office along the main drag to cater to its wealthy clientele who are either
seeking or selling their homes in the area.



The variety of the family-owned shops and galleries along Carmel’s main drag makes it a delightful to browse around.





We always liked Carmel-By-The-Sea as it is such a charming seaside village with its serene laid-back
atmosphere and cool sea breezes. One of the best places to spend an afternoon window-shopping or just
plain exploring what the town has to offer.







The window samples and the aroma wafting out from some the deli’s and pastry shops will have your tastebuds
drooling in no time. Then there are wineries that offer wine tasting from the local Monterey area.





Something about a year-round Christmas shop that never fails to draw us in to have a look at its large
selection of Christmas trees, ornaments, musical toys and other gifts.



There are the customary apparel stores to cater to out-of-state tourists for a wearable souvenir
of their memorable visit to Carmel-By-The-Sea.



An old mission bell archway on the main drag reflects is historical ties to the San Carlos Borrimeo de Carmeloo
Mission established in 1771 by the Spanish padres as they traveled northward from Mexico along the California
coast. The Carmel Mission Basilica is one of the prettiest buildings of the 26 established California Missions
and it is also the Shrine of Father Junipero Serra.

The Carmel area also hosts a population of artists which in turn, provide the local art galleries
with a delightful assortment of art work and sculptures.





The City Council of Carmel-By-The-Sea has done a marvelous job in maintaining its charming sidewalks of
the main drag with floral landscaping. It reminded us of the beautiful streets of the lovely Canadian
village of Niagara-On-The-Lake along the shore of Lake Ontario not far from Niagara Falls.



Once past the plaza shops along the main drag (Ocean Avenue), there are a number of picturesque
boutique inns set amid the quiet residential neighborhood.



One of these is the pet-friendly Lamp Lighter Inn with cute little cottage-like units and beautifully-maintained
by its owner, Dennis LeVett, who also co-owns the Cypress Inn together with Doris Day (1950-60’s movie star).





Another lovingly-maintained and picturesque inn located adjacent to the Lamp Lighter is the Normandy Inn.





Its owners must have green thumbs judging from the liberal quantity of floral plantings around and on its grounds.





Walking down any side street off the main drag will bring you onto heavily-wooded and serene
neighborhoods with well-maintained yards and residential homes.



Being a much-favored tourist destination, you may come across a bed-and-breakfast inn tucked away on a side
street in Carmel-By-The-Sea. The pet-friendly Sunset House B&B sits right behind the Lamp Lighter Inn and is
its sister inn (same owner) too.



Taking strolls through a neighborhood (or different neighborhoods) of seaside villages will also provide
one with the feel of the town and Carmel has a very comfortable and warm feel about it.





Roaming around Carmel, our walk also took by the old Cypress Inn (established in 1929) on Lincoln & 7th
Street. Two unique things distinguish this boutique B&B from the rest – it welcomes pets and co-owned
by Doris Day (a famous 1950-60’s movie star).



Inside the inn are posters and mementos from her movie career in Hollywood and everyone also associates Doris Day
with the theme song “Que Sera Sera” from the 1956 Alfred Hitchcock movie, “The Man Who Knew Too Much”. The in-house
restaurant (Terry’s Lounge) serves excellent dinners especially the seafood entrees. We always wondered whether the
restaurant was named after Doris Day’s only child (Terry Melcher) who passed away in 2004 at the age of 62.



There is also a wall dedicated to Terry Melcher who co-wrote and one of the Beach Boys biggest hits (Kokomo)
produced The Byrds' "Mr Tambourine Man", "Easy Rider" and also with other bands like the Mamas & the Papas,
Paul Revere & the Raiders, etc.



Art galleries abound in Carmel-By-The-Sea and it’s worthwhile to stop in and see the
various galleries if you have the time.





Wandering and browsing through the various galleries and stores in Carmel is such a wonderful and enjoyable
experience. There’s always something new and different waiting to surprise you.







A short walk from the Cypress Inn over to San Carlos Street brought us to Clint “Make-My-Day” Eastwood’s Hog’s Breath
Inn restaurant. During the early 1980’s before he became Mayor of Carmel - there was a good chance in seeing him
during the evening hours in his restaurant.



Nothing much has changed – we always preferred dining in the courtyard especially during the summer months.





We drove the short distance from the Asilomar Conference Grounds to downtown Pacific Grove for dinner that evening.
Friends had recommended a superb Italian seafood restaurant called Favaloro’s. Pacific Grove is another very
delightful seaside village. The dark beige building on the main drag is the village's Lighthouse Cinema.



A peek down a side street and you’ll see the Pacific Ocean. The village’s atmosphere is one of a very
serene and laid-back feeling and a marvelous place to relax and enjoy its surrounding attractions.



There were lanterns hanging on the trees and along the street in preparation for the Pacific Grove
Lantern Festival being held on the last weekend in July.

We wandered around the main drag and a few of the side streets of Pacific Grove. Since it was early
evening – most of the shops were closed and the streets pretty deserted except for the restaurant crowd.





On a few of the quieter side streets, we practically had the whole street to ourselves. This is such a
lovely serene laid-back seaside town – charming and picturesque to boot.



Our stroll brought us back to the main drag to where Favaloro’s restaurant is located among other restaurants
and shops. Some of the buildings have cute upstairs opera –style windows that overlook the street.





Friends recommended Favaloro’s highly for its excellent seafood entrees and to make reservations
ahead of time (which we did) as it is popular both with locals and tourists alike.



Favaloro’s is a cozy family restaurant and its seafood cioppino entree is excellent here – about the best that
I have savored within the past year. It’s generously loaded with seafood (calamari, crab, shrimp, mussels,
scallops, fish) and I do mean LOADED unlike a lot of other restaurants where the cioppino contains more
sauce than seafood. Sourdough bread comes with it for dipping into that delicious thick tomato-based seafood sauce.



One late morning, we took a drive down to visit the Point Lobos State Reserve south of Carmel. Entrance fee
is $10 per vehicle and some people chose to park on the side of Highway 1 and walk or bike in. Since Point
Lobos is a very large park, we think it is wiser to drive in and have the ability to visit the different
areas of this preserve along the coastline.



Incoming vehicles are metered and when vehicle traffic equals the number of parking spaces available throughout
the park – incoming traffic is halted at the entrance gate until cars leave the park. So it’s best to be there
early (before 9AM) especially weekends and camping is not permitted as it’s a day-use only preserve.



Once onto the preserve grounds, we located a scenic area that has a picnic area and joined the other early
picnickers who had the same idea that we had – that it’s better to go wandering around on a bellyful of
food and skip lunch instead.





There were a number of these 4-inch (9.4-cm) long scaly lizards scampering around the picnic area. The
small lizard looked like a miniature reptilian from the prehistoric era and it can run pretty fast too.



The picnic area was situated right at the base of a partially wooded hillside of mixed cypress and pines.
Wildflower bushes grew in profusion especially in the open areas.





After the early brunch, we walked over to the edge of the cliff to see the giant kelp-covered tiny inlet that lie
directly across the road from the picnic area. Just watching the ocean swell lapping against the granite walls
of the cliff was a mesmerizing sight. Wildflowers grew in abundance all the edge of the cliff too, The red flowers
are the Indian Paintbrush. It grows on the coast and all the way up into the Sierra Nevada mountains.





Even on the crevices of the granite surface of the steep cliff – wildflowers, especially the succulent
species, have managed to take root and grow.



We spent time scanning the waters for any sign of sea-otters loitering in the kelp beds close to shore but did not see any.





We proceeded down along a trail that ran alongside the Cliffside shoreline flanked by coastal wildflowers.
One of the more common wildflowers along the way were bushes which bore these dainty yellow flowers.





The trail often ran close to the edge of the cliff and one has always to be aware of one’s surroundings and
stay on the trail. The abundance and the profusion of the coastal wildflowers is a sight to behold.





Not long after, the trail weaved its way downwards on a rocky hillside. We treaded our footsteps
very carefully among the granite rock cropping along the narrow path.



As we edged downhill towards the granite outcrops in the ocean, the views got more spectacular and the
crash of the surf against the rocky shoreline became even more pronounced.





We halted often to enjoy both the wildflowers and the closeness of the power of the ocean surf even on
a beautiful calm day like today. Here we got a chance to examine the beautiful flowers of the succulent
species of the coastal wildflowers with its reddish-pink stalks and bright yellow flowers. Its red stalk
resembles that of the Snow Flower of the high Sierra Nevada that blooms among the snow banks in late May.





Here some views of the wildflowers and surf along the rocky cliff side trail.





A view of the narrow and rocky cliff side trail that we were on.



A bench along the trail with a million-dollar view of the ocean and shoreline. The crows flew off
when we ambled close to the bench and sat down.



There were patches of Seaside Daisies mixed in with the Indian Paintbrushes along the trail by the bench.



From the bench, we had a beautiful view of the ocean in front and an adjacent cove.





Immediately behind us (sitting on the bench) is a hillside blanketed under a sea of coastal wildflowers





This is a very healthy and thriving coastal wildflower succulent growing along that cliff side rocky trail.



That cliff side trail wound around the hillside and terminated at the edge of a ravine so we had
to retrace our steps back to where we had started from.

We walked a short way along the quiet coastal road that ran alongside the Point Lobos coastline before
heading back to the parking area to drive over to explore another area of the preserve called Whaler’s Cove.





There were patches of these tall wild grasses in bloom alongside the road too. Pretty delicate flowers like the wild rice.



During the late 1800’s, Point Lobos was one of the whaling stations established along the California coast hence
the aptly-named of its location as “Whaler’s Cove” to the present day. The cove itself is a circular-shaped inlet
containing a luxuriant giant kelp bed. A narrow opening marked its entrance into the Pacific Ocean beyond.



We hiked along the Granite Point Trail which wound around the cove’s shoreline and ended by
the Whaling Museum situated in Whaler’s Cove.



Set amidst a grove of mature Monterey cypress trees is the whaling museum. It is a weathered and unpainted wooden
shack which served duty as a whaling cabin (for the whaling crews) constructed by Chinese fishermen in 1851.





A string of small abalone shells laid near the entrance door into the Whaler’s Cabin. A big abalone
shell can measure up to 12-inches (28 cm).



Two museum docent volunteers were describing the historical aspect of the whaling industry
of the Point Lobos area to museum visitors.



In the 1800’s, the entire California coastline was infested with an abundance of abalone which was harvested for
its shell for the garment industry to be turned into clothing buttons. The abalone meat was exported to Japan
until a local chef figured out how to prepare it for the restaurant trade.





Looking at this polished shell of a red abalone reminded me that I still have a sack of abalone shells laying
around in the garage (since the early 1980’s) that was given to me by a friend who was an abalone diver. He
had constructed a beautiful multi-tiered cascading fountain in his yard from abalone shells and when I commented
that I would not mind having something like that in our yard – that’s when he gave me that bag of abalone
shells. Somehow that pet project never received the priority it deserved over the years.



In the early days of the abalone dinners in restaurants – polished abalone shells were used as serving bowls
and given away (or a nominal fee paid) to customers as a gimmick. Other shellfish shells were also polished
and used as decorations in seafood restaurants.





There was a display on the historical abalone industry which thrived at Point Lobos. That mountain of abalone shells
in one of the photographs is worth a fortune today especially the big abalones were common back during the 1800’s.
Try buying a large (unpolished) abalone shell in a coastal souvenir store today – the price will surprise you.



The abalone industry today is a miniature one compared to the 1800’s. Most of the small abalone
one sees in the supermarket comes from the aquaculture industry.



The early-days of the abalone-diving operations at Point Lobos utilized small dive boats like these in the
photograph and model on display. Even in the photograph, the surrounding area, the native Monterey cypress
had been already clear-cut for its lumber.





A can of real abalone (not those “abalone-like shellfish" sold today) costs a pretty penny but nothing beats the real
thing. Some friends still go free-diving for abalone along the coasts during the minus-tide periods in April and May.



An old bulky diving suit, helmet and other peripheral equipment used by abalone divers during the hey days of
the century were on display too. The divers walked along the sea-bed and collected the abalone during each dive.







Point Lobos was also a site for quarrying for granite and coal to supply the city of San Francisco
which lies about 150 miles to the north.



Among the items of interest within the museum’s collection included whale bones, baleen, fishing net
glass floats, sailing ship rigging, and driftwood.



Hollywood used Point Lobos as a movie location for a few movies in the early 1900’s until the area became a State Preserve.



There were also artifacts from the Chinese colony of fishermen that lived in the Point Lobos area.



Just outside the museum is the start of another trail within the Point Lobos State Preserve called
the “Whalers Cabin Trail” and a collection of remnants from the days of whaling at the cove.



These large try pots were used by the whalers to render the blubber flensed from the whales to extract its oil.



A very old Monterey cypress with one of the biggest trunks that we have seen. A Monterey
cypress can live and grow to 2,000 years.



There was a collection of whale bones scattered around another small shack that housed the tools used
in the hunt for whales and rendering its carcass after having it towed to shore.

Never tire of looking at your beautiful pictures. Thanks again for the tour.

Dusty - Glad to hear that you enjoy viewing my photographs!

Mounted along the wall of the shack were the tools used by the whalers to process the carcass of the whale
after it had been hauled ashore at Whalers Cove. There was also a scale model of the different flimsy wooden
boats that the whalers used to pursue and to harpoon the whales from. The row boat manned by a team of men
was, by far, the most common craft used in the pursuit and hunting of the leviathans.







Mounted along another wall of the shack were the implements used in the hunt of the whales including these
nasty looking harpoon broad heads. The block and tackle were the primary means of hauling sections of
the whales during its processing stages.







After the museum tour, we continued on our walk around Whalers Cove. Here’s a view of the entrance into
the Pacific Ocean in the distance and the pretty wildflower bushes which grew in abundance around the cove.





Views of the terminus end of Whalers Cove and a partial view of the parking lot and picnic area
adjacent to the entrance into the Pacific Ocean.





Whalers Cove is also a very popular scuba area for both novice and experienced divers. There is a small launch
ramp by the parking lot with experienced seagulls mooching off from both visitors and divers alike. There was a
Great White attack on a diver off Point Lobos a few years ago but he escaped with only minor scratches. He was
testing dive measurement and monitoring equipment strapped onto his belly when a great white grabbed him in its
jaws. His dive tanks and metal instrumentation equipment took the brunt of the bite. When measured later, the
bite mark measurements pointed to a great white measuring between 18 to 19-feet (5.5 to 5.8 meters) as the culprit.





The flat area encompassing the parking lot, picnic area together with the restroom facilities is the site
of the old quarry operations. We always made it a point to read the information signboard as it provides a
wealth of information including its area history and fauna.





The picnic area is situated in the wind-protected base of the granite hillside with tables
and benches amid wildflower bushes that afforded a level of privacy.



Three large weather-beaten wooden historical information plaques installed alongside the hillside adjacent to the picnic area.







The restrooms are very clean and airy and state park personnel ensure that it stays that way too.



The steep granite cliffs where the quarrying ended are also blanketed with coastal wildflowers.





The picnic area extended around the base of the hillside to the water’s edge of the cove. The number of scuba
divers allowed in the cove’s waters is controlled by park regulations and enforced by state park personnel.



Here’s a view from almost at the cove’s entrance into the Pacific Ocean and looking back towards the inner
cove shoreline. Point Lobos, in my humble opinion, is one of California's prettiest coastal preserves.





On an early quiet Sunday morning, we drove into Pacific Grove to have breakfast at one of its neighborhood
restaurants. Parked the car along a quiet neighborhood side street and walked over to the main drag of town.



We really like the feel and serenity of the main drag especially on a Sunday morning. Feels like the town was
still asleep except for pedestrians like us heading to a chosen restaurant for breakfast. Lantern decorations
adorn the sidewalks in preparation for Pacific Grove’s Festival Of Lanterns at the end of the month.





Here are a couple of views along that delightful main drag of Pacific Grove of that quiet early
Sunday morning. Serene and safe to leave one’s bicycle unchained on the sidewalk.





Most of the shops are small family-owned operations on the main drag like in downtown Carmel-By-The-Sea.
Just a handful of the shops were open for business on that early Sunday morning.





This rug store entrance boasts a very unique hand-carved door.



For an extended vacation in the Monterey peninsula, there is the option of renting a condo/townhouse/house/ etc.
through this property management company.



There is this antique furniture store on the main drag which had us peeking through the glass
panes and admiring what looked like fine pieces of heirloom-quality pieces of furniture.

We walked by another of the restaurants recommended to us for lunch if we are ever in
the mood for a good hamburger or sandwich wrap.



Since it was still early in the morning, we took a short stroll around the neighborhood along the main
drag (Lighthouse Avenue). Here’s a small corner cottage that has been converted into a souvenir shop.
With the exception of a few hot days during the summer, houses here do not really need air conditioning



This lovely old Victorian house was built over 120 years ago by the town’s doctor (Dr. Andrew Jackson Hart) who
had his practice on the ground floor and his family lived on the second and third floors. Three generations
of Dr. Harts (father, son and grandson) lived in this house and the Dr. Hart’s name is still over the front door.





The house is constructed entirely of old growth redwood (best grade of the redwood) with its original
stained glass windows, hardwood floors, plaster-and-lath walls, and knob-and-tube electrical wiring.



Adjacent to the Hart’s house is another lovely Victorian house built in 1887 and currently being used as a
bed-and-breakfast Inn called The Gosby House Inn. It also has the added distinction of being listed on
the National Register Of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior.





It is a beautiful example of a classical Victorian architecture and painstakingly-maintained.





Heading back towards the main drag (Lighthouse Avenue) brought us within close proximity
of our restaurant of choice for breakfast.



This is the Red House Café. It used to be a regular place of residence until it was converted into a
restaurant. You have the option of the dining rooms within the house, its covered porch or on the sidewalk.



Both the former living and family rooms now serve as dining rooms while the former dining room
and kitchen now serves as an extended kitchen for the restaurant.





We were seated at a table in the former family room by a window which overlooks the narrow side-yard
and adjacent neighborhood with red honeysuckle vines tower over the fence. There were a few antiques including
this old radio sitting against the wall and serving duty as a water and tea re-fill station. Breakfast served
here is the standard breakfast (eggs, ham/sausage, toast, pancakes, hash browns, etc.) and of generous portions.





After breakfast, we scooted around the corner to take a peek in the little garden shop located in the backyard of
the Red House Café. What an efficient commercial use of the property to provide a healthy return on investment.



As we were strolling down the street, one of Pacific Grove’s Monterey-Salinas Transit buses built
like a San Francisco cable car rolled by down onto a side street on its scheduled route. It’s a great way
to get around Pacific Grove especially when one is a laid-back vacation here with no agenda to adhere to.





Another great thing about seaside villages – it’s hard to get lost as the ocean is
always there serving as a border of the village.



Pacific Grove has a really warm serene feel about it. If you’re looking for a great getaway seaside
village to vegetate and rejuvenate – this is one of those places to seriously consider.



We always like looking at the houses of the older established neighborhoods as they
reflect the architecture and the detailed workmanship of a bygone era.





An old multi-purpose building that incorporated office space and residential home.



And there are the newer expansive residential homes that dwarf the older neighborhood cottages.



A cozy little cottage in a quiet neighborhood close to the beach in Pacific Grove.



The sun finally broke through the clouds on a late morning and when we started on our drive home after
lunch – the Monterey area was bathed in sunshine under a clear powder blue sky.





After we passed by the town of Seaside just north of Monterey, we exited the coastal Highway 1 onto Highway 156
that traverses through the heart of the strawberry and artichoke growing country of northern California.





Not long after, the bypass highway connected onto Highways 101 and 152 (co-joined) which wound in-between
the low hills of ranching country before we exited onto Highway 152 and into the heart of garlic farming
country. Just over the range of hills lies the central (San Joaquin) valley of California.





We decided to stop at the well-known and popular rest-area along 152 just before Highway 152 winds its way up
over Pacheco Pass and into the San Joaquin Valley and the town of Los Banos. I first set foot on Casa De
Fruta in the Fall of 1968 when it consisted of a single shack that sold fresh and dried fruit from its
orchards. Now the operation is almost like a sprawling metropolis.

Pulled into the parking lot and was lucky to locate an shady spot under some trees by this
red barn on the grounds of Casa De Fruta.



A view of Highway 152 that we had exited from and the distant hills turned a golden-brown by the summer
sun as we walked across the parking lot towards the closest Casa De Fruta building.





It was high noon on that hot summer day with temperature hovering around 100 degrees F (37.8 Celsius) with
a gentle valley breeze and low humidity which made it a lot more comfortable. The first joint we headed
for was the fresh-cum-dried fruit that Casa De Fruta built its business on from its humble beginnings.





Part of the fresh fruit section except now it imports a lot of out-of-season fruit







Candy, caramel corn and jelly beans are always popular with both kids and adults. The Jelly Bean factory in Fairfield,
California (about 40 miles south of Sacramento off Interstate 80) conducts free tours of its factory and you can
but factory-seconds (cosmetic defects) jelly beans for a great price at the factory visitor center too!



There are Casa De Fruta’s pre-packaged dried fruit that one can buy here and mail to friends and loved ones from the store.





There are the Casa De Fruta’s dried fruit selections that one can buy in bulk. The woven garlic strands are
great in the home kitchen as a décor while being used at a fresh condiment in cooking over the weeks to come.





We always get coffee, sodas or smoothies along with cookies for a snack while at Casa De Fruta
especially when it’s in-between mealtimes while on the road.





Casa De Fruta have its own selection of private label of wines available here and they
have a wine tasting room in an adjacent facility.



Outside in a side courtyard, one can picnic by a giant waterwheel under the summer sky.



We walked over to the Casa De Fruta’s wine-tasting room to check it out. There is also a deli
there with a good selection of sandwiches to one’s liking.



A view from the front of the wine-tasting facility looking back at the fruit store and market. The restaurant
here (on the right) is a good place for lunch and dinner. The food is good to excellent with large portions
as the norm. One can also get a good view of the surrounding hills from this location.





There are fountains interspersed on the grounds of Casa De Fruta. This one in the front of the wine-tasting
building seems to be a favorite with the birds especially the sparrows and blackbirds.



We watched a number of these blackbirds taking turns to drink from the sphere at the top of the fountain. When one
has satiated its thirst and flown off – another awaiting blackbird perched on the fountain wall take its place.





Its wine-tasting center carried quite a large assortment of its private-label wines together with other gift items.







The deli area has condiments and cooking-related gift items together with a roasted-nut center.
Our favorites are the pistachio and cashews – great for snacks while on the road.





On a hot summer afternoon like today – nothing beats having an ice-cream cone and that’s
where we headed next from the wine-tasting.



Next door to the ice-cream parlor is the Casa De Fruta train station where a miniature electric engine
towing little open stock railcars offers train rides around the grounds of Casa De Fruta.







Once the conductor has completed the ticket punch for the passengers - the train departs on a leisurely around
the grounds of Casa De Fruta. Old tractors, vehicles and other farm equipment line alongside railroad tracks by the creek.





The train also passes by the Casa De Fruta double-decker carousel which is a very popular ride with the children.





Then the railroad tracks wound around by a small lake containing koi and ducks.





The train then enters a narrow low tunnel in a man-made hill before emerging on the other side
and around the lake and back towards the station.





There is a path that leads up to the top of the man-made hill to a small lookout deck for a view of the
grounds and a small waterfall. Oleander trees thrive in this dry arid climate of the central valley.





After lunch, we headed back on Highway 152 which transverses over Pacheco Pass. Decades ago before the highway
was widen and replaced with a modern divided 4-lane highway – Pacheco Pass used to known as “Blood Alley.”
During the wintertime, the famous central valley ground-hogging, pea-soup thick tule fog was a major cause of
highway accidents on Pacheco Pass.





Once over the ridge of Pacheco Pass, the San Luis Reservoir comes into view. The water comes from the
California Delta and is the source of irrigation water for the farms in the San Joaquin (central) Valley.



As you drive downhill and into the central valley, you can see the vast stretches of the San Luis Reservoir
State Recreation Area on the left in the distance. Striped bass and catfish fishing is excellent here.



At the bottom of the hill on the right lie the fore bay of the San Luis Reservoir and the long tall wall of the
dam. The large striped bass tends to hide under the Highway 152 bridge especially on hot summer days and
one can find fishermen drifting live bait or plugging right beside the bridge for the bass.



Halloween is just hours away and here’s a few photographs of homes decorated and lit up ready for all the cute
little goblins, witches, pixies and superheroes who will be coming around trick-n-treating tomorrow night.