Cayucos

Bad news: my school district has shortened our summer vacation to 6 weeks--we go back Friday, July 30. Good news: winding down summer with some pretty cool excursions--just returned from spending a couple days with my youngest cousin Deb, husband Garth and their dog Mia in Cayucos. Next week, headed to Colorado with Andrew and his mom for regional ("zonal") tennis competition (a pretty big honor for Drew to be invited), which is being held on the grounds of the National Air Force Center in Colorado Springs.

Cayucos--at first glance, this might sound like some town one would find on the coast of Peru--but it is actually just north of Morro Bay--roughly half way up the coast between LA and SF. It is one of those small, lazy, stereotypical California beach towns full of local flavor. It is also where Debbie (a landscape architect) and Garth (an architect/builder) currently reside. A little over two years ago, they broke ground on a home on a hillside overlooking Morro Bay/Cayucos/the Pacific ocean. Three levels with huge picture windows to take in the scenery--from the living room or deck, a constant stream of activity--surfers, dive-bombing pelicans, dolphins, sailboats--just an unbelievably beautiful 180 degree view of God's creation at it's finest.

Thursday Deb took the day off and turned into tour guide. First we drove up to this look-out place where people can watch elephant seals lazing on the sand and playing in the water. Years ago there was free access down to the beach; apparently, humans (and dogs) didn't exactly respect these creatures as they should, so there is now a wooden railing between us and them. This is the season where the females were all out in the ocean hunting for food, so just the males were on display. Big, ugly creatures--but cool to watch.

Then she took me to this "town" called Harmony. Population: 18. Yup--has its own zip code/post office (which was closed), and boasts not one, but two stores: a pottery store, and a store where they have glass blowers in the back making really cool stuff they sell in the front part. There used to be other stores, but--who knows--the economy?!?

Headed back to downtown Cayucos, walked along the pier and then across the street to the Brown Butter Sea Salt Cookie shop. Opened by two sisters a couple years ago, it has become this huge success story. They are now shipping their cookies all over thru their web site, and after tasting those things, it's no surprise. Calling them "cookies" really doesn't do them justice--they cost $1 each, and come in 3 flavors: cocoa, espresso and plain. I had the plain and cocoa, and both were simply the best cookie I have ever tasted. Melt-in-your-mouth, sorta like a combination of candy/fudge/cookie dough. Go online and order some . . .take the taste test!

To round off the day we took Mia for a walk along the beach looking for sea glass. This was something new to me--Debbie explained that people collect pieces of glass that have come from old broken bottles left behind by beach goers who don't take care of their trash. Over time, the action from the tide, the sand and other natural occurrences polish these pieces, and not only do people collect them, but they also have sea glass Festivals all over the world. Deb is on the committee for the first annual Cayucos Sea Glass Festival March 5th, 2011!