Good Eats, and a Happy Sunday

More from the San Francisco trip. (I gotta milk it, right? But this will be the last post about it, promise.)

First, we made it to church for a great Sacrament meeting. I very much appreciated not having the kids. It makes a big difference in church, to not be wrestling Spencer and entertaining Samantha, who knew?! (Besides me.) I actually was able to listen and retain some of what was said. yay!

Next, I have to tell you about our favorite lunch -- a great memory I'm sure I'll enjoy for a long time! We ate at a restaurant that had this as a backyard...

Have you ever had a dining experience that just seemed absolutely ideal? Well, this was one of those times, for me. It wasn't just superb food, but more like the stars aligned just right for me that day -- the food, the whole dining atmosphere, the mood of the day, the weather, the company. All of it. Perfect. Except, it was a little bit pricey, I guess.

So, we went to a place at Half Moon Bay called Sam's Chowder House. Brian said it's a chain, well, it must be rather popular, because the whole parking lot was packed, and cars were lining the streets as well. We were lucky to have a 20 minute wait, which we spent walking along the beach. When our buzzer rang, we were escorted to our table -- best seats in the house, out on the back patio overlooking that same beach we had just walked along. Our view...

And, from the other angle...
Me, enjoying the view...
Brian, enjoying me taking so many pictures. :)

Our simple meal -- shrimp ceviche and avocado appetizer, New England clam chowder, and their famous lobster roll. We shared all, and it was plenty (though the appetizer was a bit skimpy on the portion size, we thought). The lobster roll was delectable, especially with an extra squirt of lemon. mmm... Here's the last morsels, since I didn't think to take a picture until it was almost gone...

And Brian, finishing off those last morsels. Can't let good lobster go to waste, you know?!

After lunch, more beach time, more wave watching. Ha, here's Brian, sitting on a rock that just got sloshed. He knows I'm taking my time getting the picture, hoping another big wave will come in and soak him...

Along with wave watching, we got to do some seal watching, too. We went to a beach that is famed for its tide pools. But it was high tide. So, instead of hunting for starfish, we were privileged to watch seals coming up to sunbathe, just a ways down from us. Not sure how clear this picture it, but here are a couple of seals making their way up the beach...

We took a path to a bluff and looked over the top at them...

Thirty-two, at first. And we watched another two straggle up out of the water to join the group. I love to watch them move. It seems like it must take sooo much effort. But they manage.

A picture of the happy couple, awww....

More waves, I really just couldn't get enough...

More coastal driving, and a sunset off the pier at Santa Cruz...

What more can I say? It was a really wonderful getaway for us -- one of the "bright sides" of Brian working away from home.