Best of Yosemite Photos

The best photos from our May 2011 trip to Yosemite:

6th Anniversary

Had a wonderful full-day date to celebrate our 6th wedding anniversary. Started off the day with a delicious breakfast at our favorite local family-run Carpinteria restaurant, Esau's. The interior of this place is all surfing theme. There are several surfboards hanging in the dining area, and many paintings and photos of surfing, and continuous video footage of surfing legends. The food was delicious. I had a "gnarly burrito" and Sweewawa had a smoked salmon omelette.

Then headed off for Stand Up Paddle Boarding near the Santa Barbara Harbor, a first for us! We fell a bunch (me a lot more than Sweewawa) but the wetsuits were warm and it was a blast. Started to get the hang of it pretty quickly. SUP is decidely even more fun than ocean kayaking. First of all, the challenge of keeping your balance is quite invigorating, and once you get good enough at it the feeling of standing and paddling along the gently moving waves is quite relaxing. You really get a great view doing SUP. The picture below is right where we were paddling -- absolutely gorgeous stretch of coastline right near the Santa Barbara harbor. Definitely excited to make this be one of our regular sports.



After working up a mean appetite, headed to Cold Spring Tavern, a unique establishment I have been wanting to try since even before we moved here a year ago. I thought this place would be perfect for our anniversary, and it was.

Cold Spring Tavern was built in the 1860's as a way station for stage coach travelers as they made their way across the San Marcos Pass. This now paved road is what we use to travel from Santa Barbara over the Santa Ynez mountains to get to Lake Cachuma and the Santa Ynez Valley wine country beyond. The buildings, decorations, and the surrounding nature really make you feel like you are experiencing an untouched piece of history. Dining here is the first time we had had this feeling since enjoying Honey Mead by candlelight at the Fleece Inn in Bretforton, UK (in the Cotswolds). As if this wasn't enough, the food was delicious. I had charbroiled new zealand rack of lamb with champagne - mint glaze -- nom nom nom nom. Bar-b-que baby back pork ribs, which was also excellent.



After our early dinner there was still plenty of natural light. We rode our "stagecoach" back over the San Marcos Pass and decided to take the scenic route past the Santa Barbara Mission. Took a romantic stroll along the Mission Rose Garden before heading home.



What a day!

Exercise!

Sweewawa and I have been working hard this spring to get in shape. Have been jogging by the ocean, watching the seals, dolphins, and sandpipers along the way. Also have been playing tennis at UCSB and at the end of our street in Carpinteria. Swimming at UCSB pool with the beautiful mountains in the background has also been a favorite. As well as hikes through the beautiful local terrain. So much fun outdoor stuff to do in the Santa Barbara area! To supplement these great activities and to work on the all-important core, I have decided to start doing the onehundredpushups and twohundredsitups challenges, starting this week. These are great, free, programs that look very cool. Links are below:

hundredpushups.com

twohundredsitups.com

Happy exercising!

Cheers,

Dr. Kowawa