Our last stop[and my last available space on my memory disc] was at this opulent landmark--the Madonna Inn[built during the 20's also]--in San Luis Osbispo, just where the Hwy 1 meets the 101. We speed up travel for Ventura--my son's and Forster's last week of his trip--ready for the surprises awaiting our exploration of LA and Hollywood!! 

These 2 almost-adult males are trying out their fighting techniques--nobody wins but everybody learns how, so one day, when in earnest, the dominant male will challenge[or be challenged] for the best females. These are mostly young males in the cove, the females with pups were here earlier in the season--except for the lone pup, in the last photo. 

Elephant seals in a protected cove, not far from San Simeon, are on the beach during their 'molting' period---stranded by nature---for they can't feed until their new coats are renewed! Since they are the largest of the seals, it takes a lot of food but, fortunately, they are great swimmers and divers and can dive to 5000 ft depths for food!!---far deeper than most any other of their kind. 

With all the earthquakes, this structure is still standing---he built it very well. Rebar and concrete with the abalone shells for decor--plumbing desguised as handrails [inside and out]--up, down--quite a structure---the poor man's Hearst Castle is definitely worth seeing. The tour takes about an hour [children free, adults $10.00] and is given by Mike O'Malley, a local plumber, the new owner. The local residents remember Art very well--he collected the trash in the Cambria area for several years and claimed to have 'found' all his building supplies to build/create his house--another believe it or not? 

Forster demonstrates----only for the photo---and this is the double stool one---for it seems that for awhile, Art had a lady friend, so made this 2 stool affair for them to share----or so the story goes---believe it or not? 

--here's the first one,in halves, since the tree fell several decades ago, it now looks like 2 separate houses/sheds but isn't. Upper right pic shows one of his workshops,of which he had several---for it seems Art Beal liked his beer and to build, so every time he built a new addition to his home and a new workshop close by, he also built a bathroom---so as to never have to go very far to take care of the problem several beers make--- 

As seen from the road, Art Beal's house on Nitt Witt Ridge, is quite a sight--all [apparently] 3 stories of it. But looks are deceiving, for the property goes back quite a way up and into the hillside and the 3 story house you see is really the second one, the first, begun after WW1, has had a tree fall into the middle of it! 

By contrast, in nearby Cambria, is Nitt Witt Ridge--often called the 'poor man's Hearst Castle'. It too is a Nat'l Monument but hasn't the money or popularity to maintain its charm with quite the style of Hearst but we found it wonderful! Take a look--- 

By contrast, the interior Roman Pool--with its delicate Venetian glass blue and hammered gold mosiacs, ripple-free water [creating the mirror effect] and classical marble statues [copies, not originals] was/is an even depth of 10 feet--making it not as popular for guests for swimming, as the outdoor Neptune Pool but was very beautiful to look upon. 

Forster's favorite, the outdoor Neptune pool, flanked by colonnades and a Greek temple facade. It holds 345,000 gallons, varies in depth from 3 to 10 feet and the white marble basin refracts the light, making the water appear blue! 

From the most valuable[center- "the shy venus"]16 million+ to replicas[ lower right, bas relief] to the oldest [Egyptian sculpture,center-top and bottom]---all seem to blend, in their own context--quite an art lesson, all mixed up like this-- 

Many of the famous ceilings--all suspended from the structure itself--like hanging horizontal paintings. Priceless beauty!! 

Multiple exterior shot collage of the 3 guest houses and the 'Casa Grande' itself---- 

First stop,--- Hearst Castle at San Simeon---now a Nat'l Monument, protected by the State of California--can't be changed/finished, must be left, preserved, just as it was when William Randolph Hearst left it in 1948,[dying only 3 years later,at the age of 88, never having had a chance to complete his dream.] after working on the building process for over 21 years with architech, Julia Morgan.  

Leaving Monterey and Carmel area, we continued south on Hwy 1, stopping for the famous 'bridge shots'----built in 1931 & 1932, part of the post-Depression projects]and enabling folks with automobiles to reach a part of California that had been only within reach of the very wealthy [by ship] or local ranchers [good horse & cattle country and used as such by the Spanish, etc., before CA was settled]  

--Science Under Sail--a program sponsored by the Monterey Aquarium--a 3 hr sail and study of marine life for young people, with an actual hands-on approach. See it all, up close and personal---help with as many aspects of the boat [Derek M Baylis, seen on left of collage. top and bottom] such as the hoisting of the sails, steering time at the wheel, collecting specimens from the bottom of the harbor,[such as the bat sea star and 21 legged sunflower sea star]and just enjoying the time sailing. We were disappointed to not see any sea mammals, but it's breeding season and there aren't too many found in the Monterey Bay, this time of year. 

Monterey Bay's fisherman's wharf, sea lions and cormorants[birds on the break-water rocks]--all the location for--- 

Monterey Pine trees, picturesque rock formations [see the hound dog with his head buried in the rocks? clue, Forster is taking a pic of it--] and the famous, rocky coast of 17 mile drive. All visited by Forster's mother's family, when she was quite young, and can be seen in the old family '8mm movies', that were all collected onto vhs tapes, several years ago. Of course, now need to be transferred to DVD's!! 

California Sea Lions basking in the sun, as seen along Carmel's 17 mile drive. 

Feeding time--both the sea otters and penguins--receive very carefully measured and individually designed amounts of the proper food for each of their individual needs. Careful records are kept to assure this happening. These are still wild animals. 

jelly fish---fascinating to watch--- 

Sea Otters at the Monterey Aquarium---8 hrs grooming, 8 hrs sleeping, 8 hrs eating--what a life!! Only warm-blooded sea animal, thus needs to keep that very dense fur in top shape to keep warm in the cold pacific waters--so 8 hrs spent on grooming doesn't seem so much. Most of his activities are done in the water too, even the grooming!! Cute, aren't they? 

--then the rest of the day, after Chinatown--Cable car rides, Ghirardelli square[of course, Hot Fudge Sunday after lunch at Fisherman's Wharf] Maritime Museum [climb on the old ships], more cable car back to Chinatown to complete the shopping---that backpack got really heavy by day's end too!! Long but successful day!! 

Chinatown!!--Forster's 'best place on the trip'--SF with all its old and new, mixed architecture--mixed nationalities [locals and tourists]--beauty on the hills in the middle of downtown SF, several blocks long and about 3 blocks wide, with lots of hidden treasures to be seen/found. And, of course, plenty of shopping--Forster found his swords!!-highlight of his trip, yes!! 

Got home [San Ramon] in time for a Bar-B-Q at a friends house---no fog for them, high in the upper 90's!!---so they'd all gone swimming, while we were in the cool fog-shrouded city!! Yes, that's one of the familiar & cool facts about visiting SF, going from weather temps in the 90's [or even 100's!!] to the cool 60's, just by crossing a few mtns and bridges---really cool stuff, but really hard to make visitors/tourists believe. Answer--always bring a jacket or sweatshirt, just to be safe and comfortable!!