2014 Deb's WEST COAST Drive 8 - California Home

Lisa met me at the door with warm hugs. By her side were the newest family members. Olivia or Livvy is a black and white Boston terrier. Elvis is a black and white German shorthaired pointer. Unlike most jumpy pups, both are sweet and gentle.

Lisa and hubby, Tom, are members of our old coast side gang. Lisa and I are well known for our saling (not sailing) excursions. That is garage sale-ing. Most Saturdays we would take to the road north to check the sales out on the east side of Highway One and then back down the west side. We got the best deals in town and often cajoled each other into buying stuff we did not really need.

On the other hand, OUR yearly garage sale was infamous. We had soooo much good stuff (some of it recycled from what we had purchased at other garage sales). It was hard to leave without a full shopping bag. On Sunday, everything was 1/2 off at noon and that almost always cleaned us out.

Mike would keep us well-lubed throughout the day with mimosas and made the lunch time burrito run to Tres Amigos Taqueria. One year Mike had too much home brewed beer on hand, so he offered a free glass of beer with every purchase. That year was particularly profitable. 

I also admire Lisa's party planning skills. Her annual New Year's brunch was not to be missed. It was the premier social event of the coast side with picture perfect table settings and a scrumptious spread of gourmet delights. And she the perfect hostess.

On the other hand, rough and tumble Captain Tom runs a charter sports fishing business out of Princeton Harbor. His 53-foot boat, the Huli Cat (means barb-b-qued cat!!) was in the movie Chasing Maverick's with Gerard Butler and Elisabeth Shue. You absolutely must watch the extraordinary footage from the movie here (YouTube).

Tom and the Huli Cat have experienced many "firsts" in his expeditions, including the first catch of a giant Humboldt squid and the first great white shark viewing on a charter trip to the Farallon Islands.

Tom is also an avid nature and ecology supporter. His charter business includes cruises involving whale watching, bird watching, and oceanic research. There is much to be learned and enjoyed on the Huli website. Once Tom took myself, my cousin, and my Uncle's Bill's ashes out for an ash scattering at sea. I remember we poured a bottle of my Uncle's favorite Spanish wine in at the same time as a final toast to his life.

Tom was out on the boat, so after a quick chit-chat, I suggested Lisa and I run to the Miramar Beach Restaurant (website), for old times sake. This is a popular destination for locals as well as other-side-of-the-hill visitors. It is so popular now that they have valet (free) parking to make sure only patrons park in their tiny lot.

This is a spot Mike, coast side friends, and I frequented often when we lived here. Since we left town it is quite expanded, inside and out. Now you can walk all the way around the bar  (instead of three sides) because the building was blown out on one side. Then a huge outside patio with fire pits was added. 

Lisa and I cozied up to the bar. She had a Cosmo and I hard a Long Island iced tea. We shared artichoke cakes (after all this area of Cal is the Artichoke Capitol of the World) and cheesy bread. The piano man played tunes nearby and the surf roared up on the boulders just outside. You could hear and smell and see the Pacific Ocean. What could be better? Not much, except I was really missing Mike.

Next stop was our friend Carole's. She and her hubby built a spectacular home pretty much from scratch that overlooks the Pacific. It is not your little ticky-tacky place, but one filled with odd angles, much wood, lots of windows, an expansive outdoor deck, and many quirky details. See the ocean out the windows?

Inside overflows with art, and artsy and musical objects. One table was filled with paints, colored pencils and sketches depicting a study in emotions. Another area displayed wooden guitars and bits and pieces of guitars being fabricated. It is like a mini-museum of interesting "stuff." I always enjoy a visit here. Something new to see every time. And good wine, too!

Back to L&T's we sat on the wooden balcony enjoying the view of the ocean and harbor while we waited for Captain Tom to return. Once he was freshened up, we decided on Pasta Moon (website) for dinner. This is another ol' fave.

Thank goodness we had a res, as it was overflowing even on a Sunday evening. We started with cocktails  ... and why not! Then got right into a bottle of wine and good eats. I had eggplant parmigiana, Lisa had peppardella pancetta, and Tom had the fish special. All wonderful. We shared a sesame seed spongecake a la mode dessert as we shared memories from the past and news of the present.

After a leisurely meal, Tom gave a little tour of Princeton Harbor and the new things there. We rode to the end of the pier and saw Pillar Point with its necklace of lights. On the other side of that point is where the super surf of Maverick's Wave (website) runs.

It was foggy and cool. The very opposite of the last couple of days in Ashland and Chico. Not sure which I like better.



Back at T&L's, Tom hit the hay for an early morning appointment. Lisa and I did our usual girl talk'n'talk well into the night with a little port and port filled chocolates. Ummm good. All of it. Her, me, port, dogs at our feet, the sea view, life at its best.