Feb 14-27, 2026 - February is a short month, but we got to celebrate Valentine's Day and Marilyn's 6 month birthday so it was short but sweet!
On Valentine's Day, Kev and I decided we'd celebrate with a trip to Carlock's Bakery. We were happy to find that it opens at 6AM, so we didn't have to wait too long for breakfast. (we get up at 4AM most mornings!) And we got to see this amazing sunrise on the way there.
Kev checking out the assortment of pastries
My favorite, cheese/raspberry danish
And in the evening we headed to downtown SLO to check out McCarthy's Irish Pub. We're always happy to find Guinness on tap
Marilyn trying out a pair of kneepads!
Selfie with Marilyn
blueberries in a push pop
3 happy girls. Did someone Photoshop Marilyn into this photo!?
Friday night dart game
Cupcake for Marilyn's 6 month birthday!
hanging out
Oops, we've got cupcakes that need to be eaten
It's been months since I've gotten a contact nap with Marilyn!
A walk in the Elfin Forest
Hanging in the swing
Enjoying a nice afternoon on the deck
Saturday Feb 28, 2026 - The temperature was supposed to get to the high 70's today, so Kev and I decided to take our bikes to Morro Bay for a ride. On Saturday afternoons the Siren usually has a band from 2:00-5:00, so we parked near the bar and figured we'd ride for a few hours then hit the bar before heading home.
We rode down to the rock
then headed back along the bay
and then down the trail to Morro Bay Strands SP
It was a beautiful day for a ride
Then we decided to ride into the SP and take our bikes on the beach and ride back to Morro on the beach
pretty view of the rock
Great spot for a bike ride
it was a few miles ride from Morro Bay Strand back to the rock
The beach was a little more crowded down at this end
They were having a surfing competition
which was fun to watch
Then Elaine texted that they were at the beach, so we decided to ride back down to Morro Strand! Nothing like a bottle while you're lounging on the beach!
She's definitely a beach girl
Different Strings (classic rock band from Santa Maria) at the Siren
Sunday March 1, 2026 - We woke up early this morning and decided we needed to go for a hike. It was foggy out but the forecast said it would be clear by 10:00AM, so we headed to Montana de Oro to hike Valencia Peak, which is a 4.5 mile round trip hike with about 1200 ft of elevation.
The only problem is, we're hiking in a cloud!
But sometimes foggy weather is fun.
The trailhead said to be alert for rattlesnakes, cougars, ticks and poison oak. Luckily we only saw poison oak on our hike!
We're headed up!
Since we couldn't see the views of the Coast, I used my Seek app to identify some of the flowers I saw while I was hiking. This one is a Coast Morning Glory
We hiked by a few mule deer that didn't seem to be phased by us
California Hedge Nettle (it reminds me of Lupine)
No bikes or horses allowed
Orange Bush Monkeyflower
Catching our breath and getting a selfie
Miner's Lettuce
The sun's up there, just hard to see with all this fog!
we're headed UP
Coast Paintbrush (these were everywhere and so colorful)
follow the trail
California Poppy (I'm looking forward to coming back in April, when I hear the park is covered in poppies)
Elevation 1347 feet
I was happy there was a picnic table at the top. But I was not quite so happy about this view!
Oh well, it was a great hike, we'll just do it again on a better day
As we hiked down, we began to see the views, but still with some fog
I loved seeing all the windy hiking trails on the next hill over
Spooner's Cove in the distance
nice mountain folds
hey I know him...
getting closer to Spooner's
views of the Bluff Trail way down there.
We love MDO, so nice that's it's so close!!
As we were driving away, Valencia Peak was visible. We were just an hour too early!
