Thursday, 27 September 2012

Jarrah and Elliot eat an apple and play on the chopping block

For the fans out there a special video post. Apologies for the lack of sound due to technical difficulties.

 

Wednesday, 19 September 2012

Woodacre

Watching Keith's volley ball team
Woodacre was a time of fine views, family and volleyball.
Playing the work at Den's place
Hiking near Mt Tam
Hiking near Mt Tam
Hanging out with the fam at Edianne's
Hanging out with the fam at Edianne's

Thursday, 13 September 2012

San Francisco

We stayed for four nights in a lovely apartment in Laurel Heights. The place was a little bit away from the action and we had to manage the SF buses and Muni electric trams.

Our apartment
There was a lot of pram pushing up the steep streets which was also very interesting. As well as the popular sights such as Lombard St and the Ferry building, Tom and Elliot accidentally experienced the joys of being down and out in the Tenderloin. A man waving an axe was a highlight for a first time father with a baby strapped to his chest.

Cool San Francisco

Enjoying coffee and toy at NOPA. Elliot kindly shared his amazing custard French toast with us.
We remembered the fun on our last visit to SF scooting through the streets chasing the finest burrito Steve McQueen style and so decided to hire bikes. These photos do not reflect the extreme dislike of sitting in a trailer with a helmet that Elliot feels. We had a great time at the bridge when stopped!

This carabiner distracted me for 1 minute form the torture of cycling

I hate cycling but I can put it on for the grand parents
Alcatraz was very interesting and worth it for the views.
Our most unusual visit was to the Nike nuclear missile site, set on the beautiful Marin head land. Elliot and his parents found this surprisingly fascinating and extremely scary, including riding down into the bunker with the missile. Thank god Elliot doesn't have to grow up in a world where these things are necessary.




 

 

Sunday, 9 September 2012

Visiting the Marshall clan

We had a lovely lunch (taquitos with all the fixings) with Jerry and Laura, and Shakti, Eric, Jake and Alex in Sunnyvale.

 

 

 

Saturday, 8 September 2012

Monterey aquarium

A great time was had by all at the Monterey Aquarium. Elliot was surprisingly interested in the fish. Zoe remembered the kids touch pools fondly from her last visit at age 9, so we took Elliot there. He had to be forcibly restrained from eating the seaweed. That's our little gourmet.

 

 

SLO to Pacific Grove

A beautiful drive up highway one to Pacific Grove. Broken only to purchase sticky cinnamon rolls covered in cream cheese at Pismo beach and a visit to the amazing Hearst Castle. Elliot was very good in the car until the last hour enjoying his superior US car seat and his cousin's toys.


View from Hearst Castle.

Relaxing by W.R.H's pool
Bixby Bridge
 

The accomodation at Pacific Grove was great featuring a vinyl room (also Elliot's bedroom) and a blind three legged dog called Zeus which Elliot took a shine to.



 

 

Friday, 7 September 2012

Pasadena to San Luis Obispo via Santa Barbara

A nice drive without incident. We enjoyed fish tacos in Santa Barbara. We climbed Bishops Peak in SLO which was Elliot's longest bushwalk. He enjoyed it on the way up and slept on the way down.
We stayed in a nice old wooden cabin in a rural area near SLO. Here we are hanging out in the setting sun.