Carmel-by-the-Sea

Carmel-by-the-Sea, a set on Flickr.

A beautiful stop along the old #1 (or PCH) headed to see Joel in LA.

Trails of Marin County

Marin is mostly park land with a small network of towns scattered along the coasts and through the valleys where the former rail line used to be. The older homes are craftsman cottages whose early owners were probably from San Francisco and likely used these in the Summers. Many of these places were never insulated and don't have proper foundations. The next influx of development was in the '50s which spread the California bungalow style through the area with the slanted roofs and hardwood floors and giant floor to ceiling windows. Lots are small and most back onto steep hillsides. For many people in Fairfax, San Anselmo, Mill Valley and other quaint little towns, residents have direct access to hill top trails that connect and spread out across the county. The trails are actually fire roads and once on these roads you can get all the way out to the coast if you just keep going.

Many of our neighbours are long distance trail runners, mountain bikers and road cyclists. I'm not much of a runner but I have started to do a walk/run on one of our closest trails. I took my brother up this hill on his visit at sunset. Not a bad view!

A weekend in LA

LA Spring 2008, a set on Flickr.

BBQ in March

The weather has been brilliant this week with temperatures in Fairfax reaching the beginning of the sundress index. Luckily Jessica and I were equipped with such apparel and braved the warmth without fear. 

We decided to invite our neighbours and some friends over for a BBQ tonight to celebrate the end of Winter (yes I know we really haven't suffered enough to celebrate but if you were here, wouldn't you?). It was a great evening and is hopefully just the first of many.