Epic Bike trip!

Some friends of ours went on this same bike trip a few years ago and it sounded like so much fun that we have been wanting to do the same route! We just recently bought our own mountain bikes and have been going up in the mountains in Hart park and riding a lot so we felt ready to do a big trip!

Spring break was coming up and I get a whole 10 days off of school/work so we took the opportunity. Monday Jer and I drove up to San Francisco. We drove around downtown and rode our bikes around the Golden Gate Bridge. It was both of our first times on the bridge and great fun! It was rainy and windy but we didn't mind because that meant less crowds :)

After this, we went over to Fisherman's Warf and Pier 39 were we ate dinner at Bubba Gumps. We also got some mini doughnuts for desert which were warm and delish. We watched a bit of a magic show and were entertained the whole time by everything there is to see.

We then went to Costco and filled a cooler with some necessities etc and went and picked up Jeremy's mom Merilyn from the airport. We then drove over to Monterey where we checked into our first hotel for the night to watch some HGTV and go to sleep :)

We got ready early on tuesday and got on our bikes right away. We biked around Fisherman's Warf in Monterey and along the bike path following the ocean. It. Was. Beautiful.

We stopped for some DELICIOUS Clam chowder on the warf, honestly the best I have ever had.

We biked around town and also saw Canary Row.

We decided that we just had to stay and see the Aquarium. It started with a great little Imax show. There are so many critters in the ocean!!

The aquarium's were fabulous! we loved everything and were amazed... can you tell by Jer's face?

Hammer head shark!

The UGLIEST fish I have ever seen!

Sea worms!

300LB Tuna.

Jellies!

Sea horse!

Octopus!

And then guess what, we went to Bubba Gump's again!

YUMMY!

After we were fed and watered, we hopped back on our bicycles and headed to 17 mile drive. A brilliant trail along the coast, opposite a large golf coarse and some HUGE beautiful homes.

Stunning views of the Rocky headlands and azure ocean accompanied us along the undulating road past wind-battered cypress trees and a succession of golf coarses, including world famous Pebble beach!

We kept on riding down HWY 1 to Carmel, a story book town with Hansel and Gretel type houses and a cool Catholic Mission. where we treated ourselves to Nothing BUNT cake and found a hotel.

On Wednesday we went from Carmel to  Big Sur. At this point we were still in awe by the beautiful vistas :) we loved to see and ride over all the bridges! We saw Point Lobos State Reserve "the greatest meeting of land and water in the world".

Here is Bixby bridge, one of the 10 highest single-span bridges in the world. Built in 1932, it is historic and an incredible feat of engineering.

After Bixby bridge we detoured up a road that went in land a bit and did some epic mountain biking.

"The hills are alive with the sound of music!"

So gorgeous!

We stopped for some snacks and to eat and then kept biking a little past big sur to this beautiful waterfall, falling right into the ocean.

We LOVED it there!

We kept riding along until we got to San Simeon.. well, really, just before San Simeon where we stayed at the Ragged Point Inn <<-------- awesome awesome awesome hotel!

We checked in, went and got a burger, steak, fries and tacos.

After which we got some ice-cream and walked around taking in the beautiful ocean fresh air and views.

With the fire place going in the room and snuggling with blankets on the balcony, we watched a beautiful ocean sunset!

Wednesday:

After getting a good breakfast at the hotel restaurant, we hit the road again!

See us? Right along the coast? Staying in the tiny shoulder on the road? With huge smiles on our faces?!!!

We were this close [-----------------] to being able to take a tour at this  Piedras Blancas lighthouse (built in 1857), but ended up not being able to... we will just have to go back!

As we got closer to San Simeon, we started smelling something funky and knew we were getting closer to the Elephant Seals!

I have neglected to say that SPRING is the best time to be outside because there are flowers EVERYWHERE! Ocean on one side, hills full of flowers on the other :D

We rode down the dock in San Simeon to see where Mr. William Randolph Hearst's ships bringing all of his wonderful artwork for his castle came in to dock!

And, of coarse, we had to take another tour at Hearst Castle :) This time, we took the guest houses and kitchen tour.

[Also, the Hearst Castle cafeteria is muy bueno.]

With 58 bedrooms, 60 bathrooms, 41 fireplaces, and 18 sitting rooms, who would not be impressed!?

After a great time at Hearst Castle, we hit the road and biked all the way to Morro Bay.

Yes, I rode up the HIGE hill in Cambria!

Not pictured: farms and vineyards that we passed.

"See see Morro Rock!" 

We rode around the rock to catch the sunset. 

Hello Morro Rock! our view from the restaurant were we ate on Wednesday night.

Are you jealous of my panda gloves?

We stayed at another great hotel right on the ocean and relaxed the night away in the hot tub!

Thursday:

First thing in the morning, we went on a fun walk along the trail in Morro Bay- seriously one of my favorite little towns in the world!

(excuse our "I just woke up" faces)

We came back to the hotel and went over to the restaurant where we sat in the most comfortable chairs and had another great meal.

Great hotels + great food + great company + great activities

=What more can you ask for a Spring break trip!?

We decided to give our buns a rest and work on our upper body strength by doing some kayaking.

We saw little otters with their babies!

And also some seals.

Sunning on the dock.

It was fun to kayak in between all the fishing boats.

Random: I fell asleep with my hand between my knees and when I woke up my whole hand print was stuck in my skin! Whaaaaa?!

See those flower-covered hills?!

Around 2 o'clock we headed over to Santa Barbara, we rode bikes as much as the highway allowed, but when it said "no bicycles" we all hopped in the truck and drove the rest of the way.

We met up with one of Merilyn's old room mates from college and went to an amazing Italian restuarant. I'm sad I don't have any pictures of our fun night out in Santa Barbara.

Saturday:

In the morning, we got breakfast at the East beach grill. The BEST blueberry pancakes I have ever had, and right on the beach which is always a plus+

After a little swim we drove and biked a bit until we got to Venice Beach... Word of advise: Do not go to Venice Beach during Spring break. It was crazy!

We biked a bit and then got lunch at the Cheese cake factory... Look at all these parking stubs from everywhere we went!

Maps

[Zuma beach.]

After out delicious meal at the Cheesecake factory, we dropped Merilyn off at LAX and then drove on home. We left LA at 6PM and there wasn't a lick of traffic! We decided it was probably because everyone was at Venice Beach.

This trip topped the scales and exceeded expectations, I would recommend it to anyone who wouldn't mind riding about 30 miles of hills day after day to enjoy the scenery!

December 2015- Christmas and a year in review

A year in review! where to start!!

We are having a ball getting moved and settled into our new home. We signed loan docs and got the keys on December 30, 2015! I have a LOONG list of furnishings and things to get, but am trying to be patient so as not to dip into our savings too much.
2015 was a great year to us. Jeremy's asphalt business was very successful (his first year with his own LLC).
I took some extra school classes to add a Science teaching credential to my Art and Health teaching credentials. Then found my job teaching Science in school (grade 7). They had interviewed 47 candidates, and 4 were hired including me! I love going to work, I love being at work. Teaching has its trying moments, but for the most part it is rewarding, fulfilling and challenging in a good way. I teach 5 periods of Science and 1 elective class called Career Choices. I have 180 students and I love every one of them. (read blog post "what teachers wear" for more info.)

We took a few fun trips around here to Zion National Park (Utah), Arches National Park (Utah), and Yosemite National Park (CA), and of coarse many trips to the beach, and our favorite: Hearst Castle which is on the coast in Cambria<--- (also posts on these)
We bought and renovated/upgraded a Tri-plex property (also posts on this) and have it rented to three sets of good tenants that (so far) pay their rent on time, a mostly good experience! We love having the rental property as our tenants pay for its mortgage and also the mortgage on our new home. We didn't want to buy a house and be "house poor" and are now seeing these past sacrifices pay off- a great way to end the year!

I played two seasons of co-Ed soccer (this is Ryan Carr in the picture, he is the principal at Norris Middle School where I teach, we are on the same soccer team!) and also made a personal best time running a half marathon. (Just under 2 hours. In 2016 I'd like to run it ever faster though!)

I got my very own beautiful car. No, it's not a Tesla but a 2015 Toyota Corolla. I'd been driving a 1984 stick shift Toyota pick up truck for 3 years prior. With the 100 + *F (around 40*C) weather in the summer and no air conditioning, it was a MAJOR up grade. Jeremy also bought a new truck- a GMC something or other. One of those big obnoxious ones you see people driving, but it is perfect for towing and hauling all of his Asphalt equipment. We have a three car garage and it's too big to fit inside, so he has to park it on the drive way. With just my car and the motorcycle parked in the garage, it sure is roomey!

We have made great progress with my fertility treatments. I had a miscarriage (at 4 weeks) - really not a sad thing at all- it was the first time I got pregnant in 4+ years of trying to, so we were just happy that it happened! (I have Polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis and a reverted uterus- the perfect storm!) We have an appointment on 11 January with a fertility specialist to get an IUI (intrauterine insemination). We would like to have children eventually, but life is great for now so I'm not too sad about it.

We went to Washington for Christmas to be with Jeremy's family. It was a great time. 
We took a plane over on Tuesday December 22, and Matthias who lives in Seattle picked us up from the airport and we all drove to Wenatchee together.

Wednesday we got on our snow clothes and went out to find a Christmas tree.

Of coarse the boys pushed Mattie in the snow

Of coarse no one could stand still for a picture!

Lots and lots of snow!

We found the tree!... Pretty Charlie Brown, but whatev.

My first time chopping a tree!

Thrones in the snow.

The boys loading up the tree.

Okay so afterward we hung around for a while and then Nick and Mer showed us this data center (pictured below) I still don't know what exactly is does, but it looked cool.

Then, our favorite Christmas tradition: Easting Brats outside in the snow in Leavenworth, followed by caroling and seeing all the pretty lights.

Another great Christmas tradition: Pulling sleds behind the four wheeler in the driveway ha ha

Thursday: Christmas Eve, making Gingerbread houses! We modeled our after our new home!

On Christmas morning we all got up and opened presents.

Jer got a remote controlled helicopter and we both got nice electric toothbrushes and new pots and pans (SUPER NICE!)

Here are the boys putting some toys together.

Got to hang out with baby Matt!

We met up with the Whites the day after Christmas and played soccer, which I love.

Then Nick, Matthias, Jeremy and I went Snowmobiling. My first time and it was pretty fun. Lots of snow, powder and speed and cold and bumpy altogether!

Afterward we went to get Mexican for dinner and had the most amazing cabbage salsa!

On Saturday Jeremy and I went snowboarding for a half day at Mission Ridge. 

I had a blast!!!

here is us on the chairlift.

Getting the hang of it.

Later that evening, Jeremy and Nick went to go and rescue the snowmobile that we left on the mountain... a story for another day, but that same night Zack came over for a visit and it was great fun! (this picture was definitely taken at 1AM haha.)

On the way over to Seattle the next day (last day in WA), we stopped in to see Grandma White. It was so precious!

Jer I met up with Kat and Andrew and Jillian in Seattle for lunch at the Cheesecake factory, YUM! We had a great time catching up and reminiscing about our Europe days.

They dropped us off at the airport and then we flew home and the next day we moved! That evening Mattie and Merilyn arrived- They drove down because Mattie is moving to Carlsbad, CA to start her new job, so they helped us move and such, and celebrated new year with us :)

We were also invited to another party that we stopped in to and it was cool.

Most awesome part of the new year: I came home to my new luxurious amazing warm comfortable bed! :)

What a terrific year 2015 was. I am thrilled to see what 2016 has in store for us!

<3 Tessa