Short But So Nice

 

 I needed to getaway.  It was just overnight, but it did the trick.  Cambria is just over two hundred miles away.  It's halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco.  I kept hearing about people I knew going there for a weekend and now I understand why.

We stopped there a year ago on our way up north and it was really a whirlwind stop overnight before we continued on our trip to our main destination.  This time it was the destination and while it was just overnight, it was a lovely experience.  The reason for the midweek trip to was to see the holiday lights at the Cambria Pines Lodge.  

We picked up Jakey from school early and took off on our journey.  The ride there was filled with ocean views and short enough that we got there in the late afternoon.  The Cambria Pines Lodge reminds me a little of the hotel and conference center in the Yarn Retreat series.  There is an assortment of buildings with guest rooms and then a main building that handles registration and has a lounge and restaurant.  

There is a large garden area which becomes the Christmas lights area and on weekends had a Christmas market.  The market sounded nice, but the benefit of the midweek trip was no crowds.  There was just a scattering of people as we went through the labyrinth  of displays.  Along with millions of colored lights, there were things like a display of all the different Santa Claus like characters from assorted countries.  

The air was chilly, but the weather is pretty much the same year round.  All those colorful lights totally erased all my stressful feelings.

In the morning, we went to Moonstone Beach.  They went down on the wet sand.  I found a bench with a fabulous view.  All those ocean air and peace was a nice touch to refreshing my spirits.  

There was moss hanging off the trees as we drove to the downtown area.  The shops were lovely.  I stopped in the local yarn shop.  Of course, I couldn't leave empty handed.  I bought a pot holder weaving set.  I have always wanted one and I like those kind of pot holders the best.  And then every time I use one I made, I will think of the trip and how happy I felt.

On the way back we stopped at Morro Bay.  It is known for the huge volcanic rock sitting partly in the water.  They went to go climbing around and I stayed in the car and started on my first pot holder.   

It was dark on most of the ride back, but the moon gave off enough light to make the ocean almost visible.  And then just like that we were home.  Just gone overnight, but it was just the change I needed.