Jeff and I decided to take the day off today (and me the weekend) so that we could have another mini-moon. I told Jeff that I would plan everything to surprise him this time and while it was a LOT of fun planning, I realized in the process that I totally need my partner in crime to keep me in check so that I don’t forget things… like aloe lotion. (Easy 99 cent fix, but still – it’s good to know I need him =P)
Anyway, today was full of surprises starting with a 5:30am wake-up call. I kept telling him we were flying to Peru and as we headed to the airport at 6am, he was getting more and more confused. It was great! Alas, we were only there to rent a car – a very bad-ass Volkswagen EOS convertible. I love that it is the EOS, just like our Canon gear, WOO! Anyway, with surprise #1 revealed, we had to head back home to load up. Our next stop was the Santa Barbara Courthouse – but that was all business – I have a wedding next week and wanted to scope it out. Jeff suggested we get a bit to eat on the Pier at Moby Dick’s Cafe and since we had no other plans, I agreed and it was wonderful.
An hour or so later we got to our hotel in Santa Maria but just checked in, jumped back into the car, and drove to Pismo Beach for a lunch picnic in the sand. Sadly no picture because it was sooooo windy and sandy and someone (*cough* me *cough*) forgot the waterproof camera in the hotel – since my side kick had no clue where we were going he didn’t do the usual supply checklist for me.
We still had fun, did some reading, then some shopping, and headed to the visitor’s center to find out what we could do before our appointment at Avila Mineral Springs Resort. We checked out two wineries (1 winery, 1 restaurant/tasting room actually), and enjoyed the Peacocks at Kelsey See Canyon while sipping some AMAZING port wine.
Back in town we found some other great dessert wines that we just had to have.
We ended the night with a picnic dinner in our private hot tub gazebo at the Resort and oh how relaxing it was. With a beautiful view of the sunset through the trees I would recommend this to anyone who is ever near Pismo, San Luis, etc.
Here are the photos of today:
