The Martinez Family: 2007 California trip 2

There at last!

After a long second day of travel we made it to our destination. We met Grampa Whitey and Grammie in Monterey where they were treating us to a high class stay at the Pacific Grove. After some time we settled down and goodnights were said, we retired for the night and retreated from the cold to a wonderful night's sleep in comfortable rooms with warm cheery fire places.

Jo and Becca kiss Grandpa goodnight.

The morning broke cool, crisp, and beautiful. We broke our fast in the suites' charming dining room. Here we have the knights of the breakfast table round.

Sir Robert

Sir Calvin

Lady Johanna

Lady Rebecca

The Rock incident

The four of us brave knights finished our breakfast first, so we left to go do some exploring. Behind the dining room we found a wonderful pile of inviting boulders and rocks to climb on. We didn't have many big rocks to climb back home, so the temptation was irresistible... to at least two of us. The one downside to this wonderful natural jungle gym was that it was in plain view of the dining room's large windows and French doors. Calvin and I just had to climb those rocks though! There were no signs saying not to, and who cares if a few breakfasters see you climbing some rocks? Robert and Rebecca could not be convinced however, and made sure they were far enough away and out of sight so as not to be associated with us. They were sure we were going to cause an avalanche. Combined Calvin and I didn't even weigh three hundred pounds, how could we displace several thousand pound boulders? Full of adventure we climbed.

It was beautiful up there! There was a delicious breeze blowing, the gentle winter sun was warm, and you could just see glittering Monterey bay over the tree tops. We tried to persuade Robert and Rebecca up again, they really did not know what they were missing! But they were stubburn and kept reminding us of unwanted eyes watching from the dining room .

Nevertheless we enjoyed ourselves. We hopped from rock to rock, enjoyed each view, and took pictures. After some time we eventually decided to come down. Calvin started down first, as spry as a mountain goat he hopped from boulder to boulder to rock...OoPs! Calvin stumbled as the very last rock he stepped on coming down shifted loose. Three mouths gaped open, six eyes nearly popped out, all hearts stopped. Not at our brother who quickly recovered himself, but at that giant rock rolling towards that big pretty dining room French window........Thud! WHEW! It just missed and hit the side of the building instead! Four sets of hearts started again. As a matter of fact they jump started into overdrive. The thought of eyes from the dining room suddenly became an uncomfortable reality. I scrambled down as quick as I could and tried to help Calvin remove the rock from the side walk and replace it where it belonged. Hmmmm... For being so willing to roll in the first place, it sure wasn't in a hurry to get back! Twerpish Rock! We pushed, we pulled, we grunted, we strained, turned red in the face and then.....! Nothing. We never got that stupid rock to budge as much as an inch. I have no idea how Calvin bouncing on it caused it to move in the first place! It was a special act of providence, and that is all anyone can say! It was meant to be there I suppose. Our efforts to move the dumb rock were obviously futile, and when someone who had seen our shenanigans from the dining came out and suggested we just leave the despised piece of matter alone before we hurt ourselves, we took her suggestion. Who knows, to this day it might still be lying rolled up against the dining room as proof of the Martinez clowns having been there.
We were not yet done with our scene making for the morning. Later right before we left, Calvin managed to catch one of Robert's fast balls in the nose while playing catch. You would have thought that you were at a crime sceen if you saw the mess it made in the parking lot!

Monterey Bay

Later we drove down to the bay, it was beautiful. We were really looking froward to the giant twenty foot tall waves Grandpa kept telling us about.

Wow! Look at that wave! To poor Grandpa's chagrin the only waves that day barely broke twenty inches, and perhaps would make a tide pool proud! (Grandpa you need to come to Texas and see some real waves!)