A Day By The Ocean Blue

My good friend Margaret has returned from the Emerald Isle and it just so happened to coincide with my celebration of Mr Columbus getting very, very lost. So we decided to catch up over a Coastal Adventure. Which usually is our go-to catch up adventure when she returns to the bay.

I loaded my green machine sweet bike into the back of my Rav4 (you may call it nerdy but I call it the absolute perfect car for me) and rolled over to Marge's where we loaded her ruby red Schwinn into the back as well. And we were coast bound.

We made the traditional stop at the HMB Coffee Company (and later decided we have never NOT stopped there first. We like tradition).  And cruised down Main St just in time for the announcement of the winners of the World Championship Pumpkin Weigh Off! 

I'm inclined to believe the best things really do grow in Napa as that's where this 1985 pounds of pumpkiny goodness hailed from. I wonder if they water him with wine?! 

After trying to get a few pics of the newest local pumpkin celebrity we had to escape the amateur paparazzi. Kanye would have NOT liked this scene. People were all up in this pump's biz. 

We went back to the car and unloaded our sweet rides and did a little warm up. 

More like Marge warmed up and I snuck a few shots of it.  And we were off. The best way to get your adrenaline pumping is definitely to cross Highway 1 on a bicycle. I'm adventurous when it comes to crossing streets - if the countdown is more than 3 seconds I like to go for it.

Facing a state highway while on a bike? Challenge accepted. 

We crossed and survived and were well on our way to the coastal trail. The same trail my family went to on Father's Day. 

On one side we have the gorgeous hills that separate us from the foggy-ten-months-out-of-the-year coast and on the other side we have the clear-blue-crisp-only-two-months-a-year Pacific Ocean.

Even the ice plant seemed to be changing it's wardrobe for fall. 

Eventually, 5.5 miles later we reached our destination.  And reward: Pumpkin Ale.

We sat outside under the hot October sun, and caught up on all things US and all things Ireland. 

Over fish & chips - the cuisine of the motherland as well as beer & cheese platter - the cuisine of the homeland:

Good news we biked the 5.5 miles back safely. Crossed the highway again safely. A little exhausted, a bit sunburned, and very sweaty. 

We couldn't end a day in Half Moon Bay in October coming home empty handed. 

So we each snagged the biggest pumpkin we could carry. (I think I pulled a muscle) And learned those wheelbarrows and wagons are there for a reason.

Coastal adventure complete!!!

One jack-o-lantern coming right up!