all roads lead to cambria

We summer-vacationed with my family last week and the best word to describe it truly is a "blast."  I have so enjoyed spending such plentiful time with my family this summer and I am sad to see it come to an end, as Ben and I move to Los Angeles in one month!  There are a ton of pictures in this post (apologies!), but I want all of this documented.

On Monday night, Ben and I met Dad, Scott, and Tom in Monterey.  Tuesday morning, Scott, Tom, and I (the support crew for Rowan-Myers Cycling), sent Dad and Ben (team Rowan-Myers Cycling) off on their bikes from Point Lobos to Cambria.  Ninety-four miles.  Dad made team jerseys for himself and Ben and t-shirts for the support crew!

                           

The support crew and front of t-shirt.

  

The support crew and back of t-shirt.

Team Rowan-Myers Cycling!

So they took off on their hilly, curvy trip.

And the boys and I dined at my favorite Carmel breakfast, Katy's Place!  :)  We had to let the bikers get a ways ahead of us before we started our own "support crew sight-seeing trip."

A couple hours later, we began our journey down Highway 1.

Bixby Bridge

McWay Falls

We caught up with the Dad and Ben about 3 hours into their ride - a perfect time for snacks, water refills, and a short rest.

My two favorite men.

Then the bikers continued on their journey and the support crew took off down the road for some more pretty sights and to wait for them at the next stop.

We met up again at Ragged Point to refill before the final home stretch!  They are so close now.

Final fuel refill.

The support crew followed them this time for a few miles and got some awesome shots.  I particularly love this first one.

Of course the support crew stopped to see my #1 favorite animal, the elephant seals.  What was Heavenly Father thinking?

Dad and Ben passed the elephant seals while we were there, and as they road by, they barked like elephant seals.  All of the tourists turned from the beach to see what was going on and I just said "Thaaat's my dad."

Coasting down the final stretch of 94 miles.

And then they crossed he finish line and we dined at our final destination - The Main Street Grill!

After biking so far, all Dad and Ben wanted to do was lie down and watch TV, but we'd been at the beach house for less than an hour when the power went out!  So Ben taught us how to play poker and we stayed up late betting monopoly money by the light of a flashlight hanging above the table.  Hilarious.

Scott and Tom slept outside.  What a way to wake up.

We got up the next morning and drove down the coast to Los Angeles to meet Mom, Doug, and Emily for a soccer game.  Manchester United vs. The LA Galaxy.  

Man U is Tommy's favorite team.  Dream come true!

We stayed the night in LA (can't believe we will actually live there so soon . . so much traffic!), and got up the next morning to eat breakfast and walk around a bit before heading back up the coast to Cambria.

                           

Pismo Beach stop for lunch and a little beach walk.

Then, a few days in Cambria to finish our week of vacation.

One of our favorite games in Cambria has become Sardines.  You know, one person hides in a dark house and then the rest of us have to find them.  It's awesome and a little creepy!  We always assume that no one is hiding in the second-bedroom loft because we are all short and it's so hard to get up there, but one round we just could not find Scott!  A few started to find him and when we heard all the jumping and banging from people trying to get up into the loft, we knew where he was.  

A lot of good beach time this trip with lots of whiffle ball, soccer, and football.  The weather looks cloudy and cold, but it was totally warm and delightful.

At the end of the week, we celebrated my birthday early with some yummy cake from Linn's Bakery.