Wanting to stay somewhere you can see Japan from - if you have good enough eyesight - they've found what might be the most incredibly-situated property in California. Step into the living room and your breath is taken away by the Pacific crashing a few tens of feet below the window.
We arrived on Friday in glorious sunshine in time to see Jack throwing live seafood into a paella, in honour of us and possibly also one of Amanda's senior work colleagues who popped in with her husband for dinner. The next morning the weather was not quite as lovely, but we had the best view of the storm approaching of anyone on the this coast.
No amount of wind and rain could deter Jack, now that his thesis on ocean meteorology is complete, from firing up the barbecue as the Burshtein-Tichons and Raz-Lissaks arrived for lunch. Hannah and I could not, however, convince anyone to join us for an after-lunch stroll. As we pulled on our waterproof trousers to laughs of derision I tried to explain that if visibility is over 10 feet it counts as a summer's day in England. Well, their loss. Shauli even took an umbrella into the hot tub later that evening.
We left on Sunday morning, in sun once again, and after spending that time beside the pounding surf and crashing waves Walnut Creek does look a little pedestrian by comparison. And will, at least until I head out to the shops again. Thanks for the invitation Jack and Amanda, and I hope your last two weeks will remind you why this is indeed the Best Coast.
The living room view. Told you!
The supplies for the coming army are squared away.
Look what swam past the window! Whales were continually passing by, putting to shame our previous attempt at spotting them.
Some more sea life, although this one's fate was different.
There he is!
Amanda is ready for her Saturday morning coffee in the hot tub.
Enjoying the view.
Outside the dining room window.
Jack brings all his forecasting tools to bear.
And these are what it was all for.
Shauli takes in the sea air (and water).
Jack returns, and it was worth it.
Aye-aye!
Family meal.
Ah, it's the summer holidays.
Perhaps not quite as inviting for swimming as yesterday...
Whatever.
Yep, typical holiday shot.
This is how old Hannah and I were when we got married.
Sagy had the great idea to take a long exposure photo of the crashing surf, but he left before it got dark enough to do it. So I did in his absence, and now take the credit, as usual.
Men, hot tub, red wine, umbrella...everyone's happy.
