The Hilbran Family: July 2009

Summer Vacation - part IV

We had one more day at Morro Bay and Chuck made me into a mermaid. I burried him as an octopus.

We also went to Monterey Bay and took a journey to the bottom of the sea to visit all the creatures that live in our vast oceans. My favorite sea creature was the jelly fish...and I took several pics of them!

There was also a petting zoo of baby sting rays that you could touch - here is Chuckie trying to touch one. We also touched and held starfish - they are actually very easy to pick up.

There were also several sea horses - did you know that the Males carry and deliver the babies? Wouldn't that be an interesting twist to for our society! Oh, and an anemonomone!

Summer Vacation - part III

The next day we ventured up to San Simeon where the reputable William Randolph Hearst lived in his self-designed (along with architect Julia Morgan) castle on a hill. What a view! Here are some of the pics we took...

The Neptune Pool was my favorite feature of the estate - it resembles the old public bathing pools (Neptune Pool seen in first two pics above).

There was also this really hilarious English man who took this pic of Chuckie and I at the end of the tour. Then, of course we had to stop at the beach in San Simeon as well - I wanted some drift wood.

Summer Vacation - part II

After a brief stay in the good old humid Midwest - we flew across the states to LAX. I LOVE CALIFORNIA! Oh, what great sunshine! We came to visit Grandma Luck (with a broken leg) and tour the area.

We went to Morro Bay and found a great little fudge shop. Then we ate the best fish (halibut) and chips I have ever had in my whole life. Sorry Pete's! We also went to the beach - of course, and enjoyed the quaint little fishing town.

We also found Hidden Valley Ranch - shhhh, it's a secret! There were vineyards everywhere you could see on the drive. Oh, and one of our greatest finds - an avocado ranch! Here is Chuck holding an avocado - the trees are huge!

Summer Vacation - part I

VACATION...at last! We haven't had a real vacation since we went to Chicago while we were living in Illinois.

The trip started with a quick visit in St. Louis to see old friends and then a drive down to Cape Girardeau, MO for Diana and Kyle's wedding. She looked so beautiful!

From there we visited our old home - Carbondale, IL where they just experienced an inland hurricane. Never seen so many uprooted trees. There was no power, but we did have running water and heat (gas). We stayed with the McLaughlins and had a good time despite mother nature's intent. I don't think any of us will ever forget that Mother's Day!