RiVeting Adventures: CALIFORNIA!!! Journey up the California coast.... San Diego, Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Pismo Beach, Santa Barbara, Big Sur and Monterey

We are now headed into California where we will spend about four weeks touring all around and meeting up with family and old friends. Our first stop is Joshua Tree National Park.

Joshua Tree National Park is named for the Joshua tree that is found here. This tree resembles a tree in a Dr. Seuss book. When the Mormons made their way west they named the tree after the biblical figure, Joshua, because the limbs of the tree looked like outstretched arms guiding the Mormons westward. Native Americans used the Joshua tree for baskets and sandals. The flower buds and seeds were roasted and eaten.

We now continue west and went to gorgeous San Diego where we met up with Jack and Palma who showed us all around town and were wonderful hosts.

With our wonderful hosts...Palma and Jack

Visiting Balboa Park

Baby macadamia nuts

When we left San Diego we spent some time in Los Angeles where we visited Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and Juans aunt and uncle. Also we visited Juan's brother and sister-in-law.

Dinner at the beautiful home of Chicho and Veronica. Good times!

Visiting beautiful Palm Springs where the stars liked to go.

Mario and Marilyn

Lucy and Me.

We visited the areas where the San Andreas Fault runs. There was desert all around, except along the fault line. Water seeping up through the crack in the fault created a tropical area with palms and a swampy ground.

The Beverly Wilshire Hotel from Pretty Woman Movie.

Wonderful evening and dinner at Marita and Wilfredo's gorgeous home!

After leaving Los Angeles we headed north along the coast and our next stop was Pismo Beach, from which we visited Hearst Castle.

A short distance from the castle we saw an area where the sea lions congregate. So funny!!

We are now headed up the beautiful California coast and visited many beautiful towns along the way. Many areas along the coast were closed down due to storm damage. We could only go a short way along Big Sur because of road damage. There were also many areas with landslides.

View from Pismo Beach

Monterey

Gorgeous Monterey

Black tailed deer!!

Lone Pine Monterey with Big Sur in the background

Mysterious Ghost Trees off Pebble Beach. These cypress trees resemble witches and ghosts. They are victims of a blight of beetles which will kill many cypress and pines in California over the next 20 years.