California coast

After the redwoods, we drove out to the coast and found a place to stay out there, so we got to go running together on the beach the next morning---which was awesome. (We almost never get to run together anymore!) The light was so beautiful.

After our run, we climbed all over the rocks trying to find interesting things in the cracks of the rocks and in the tide pools. There were lots of cool anemones and crabs (we love hermit crabs---so cute and crawly!) and a few starfish (which Sam nobly threw back into the water---making a difference to that starfish, you know).

We spent the rest of the day driving down the coast. It was pouring rain, but it was still so lovely---maybe more beautiful because it was all misty and green and grey and rocky, and we didn't mind getting a bit wet occasionally. The green hills and rocky beaches reminded me of England. So beautiful.

There were some pretty beaches with black sand, and in one area we saw some some mother seals with their new babies, which was SO cool. I've never seen anything like it. The mothers would emerge from the water and heave themselves up onto the beach, blop-blop-blop, and then you'd see a TINY little light head come out and a baby would heave itself up in the same way, but tinier: *blop-blop!* Then the baby would nestle itself in close and nurse. And after a while it would get restless and start wiggling around and playing instead of nursing (oh, I know that feeling) and the mother would get fed up with it and roll it back into the water with her flippers. It was adorable.

It was such a great trip, and I had so much fun. (Thanks for thinking of it and planning and carrying it all out, Sam!)