Big Sur International Marathon Finisher!!! Quick selfie right at the finish line as I am so happy it’s over!
What to do next… Winery!
Dan asked the front desk of our hotel what winery would be best to visit and the woman suggested Folktale Winery located in Carmel-By-The-Sea. She was married there and said it is unbelievably beautiful. Great suggestion, I absolutely loved this place!!
Our entire trip being in Monterey and staying along the pacific coast driving south to Big Sur, then back north to Monterey… then going back south to the start of the marathon and run the PCH; the coastal climate made for low clouds, fog and cooler temperatures. It was sooooo nice to drive just a few miles inland allow an escape from the coastal microclimate and enter into dry climate, sunshine, blue sky and warmth!!! I needed this! And the wine!
So bright and sunny. we sat outside of course. There was some confusion as to who our waiter was, but eventually we had a fantastic man help us choose the wine flights, the appetizers and just allowed us to relax, sit and enjoy the day! A perfect way to let the legs and the soul recover.
It felt like we were sitting in a winery in Tuscany! I loved it and highly recommend making this a stop if you’re ever planning a trip in the area!
I’m looking a little tired but bringing life back after running my fastest 26.2 miles!
Healthy appetizers and bites to go with great California wine! For me, eating after a marathon is not easy. I have to go into it slowly. I think some people imagine they will be famished. Perhaps some are able to take down a giant meal. I myself have to take it easy. Bite by bite. And savoring it all as I do!
That was our lovely sunny afternoon! Perfect to spend the bulk of the day. We headed back to Monterey to have dinner near our hotel then slept very well that night! Next day, we were to drive back north to San Francisco to catch our flight. But we still had time to do something on the way. Hmmm…
Lol. I don’t need to smoke a joint but I do love me some all natural trees! So a drive to Big Basin Redwoods State Park was what we decided to do. It, like everything else on this trip, included a lot of driving.
Dan took on the drive, again, and we made our way along a twisting two-way road up the mountain to get to the entrance to Big Basin. From there we weren’t sure, but were definitely hoping we could keep going north/northeast to drive towards San Jose then to San Fran. Yes, we could! But it was a winding drive!
The trees were incredible to witness. A brief trail walk through some of the tallest and oldest Redwoods on the planet, then we made our way back out of the forest, up over the mountain and stopped just outside of San Jose, north of Saratoga, at a delicious and healthy lunch spot. Aqui.
Look below… Aqui! Natural, Wild, Organic. Everything I love!! Words I would use to define myself!
Food was fresh and so delicious!! And fast!
After our lunch we had some time to kill. So to enjoy the blue sky, the sunshine and not have it be inside in an airport or driving any longer through the city of San Francisco, we stopped at a park to stretch our legs and walk. About 5-10 mins from the airport. Sat for a while. Just enjoyed the moment.
And that was our trip. A lot, A LOT of driving. A bit too much for me I will say. So next trip will have to be similar to our Jackson Hole/Tetons/Grand Targhee trip or my Lake Tahoe/Yosemite. Be at a place that offers so much right there! My hopes… Whitefish Montana to mountain bike and then hike Glacier National Park. Or Sorrel River Ranch in Moab, run the half-marathon, hike Arches, Canyonlands and definitely Mountain Bike!! Or Zion and St George Utah. Or Banff and Jasper, Lake Louise. So many! But, I will say Big Sur was good to me! Very good to me.
