California Adventures (Continued)

The 18th at the Ritz Carlton Ocean Course in Half Moon Bay.

The last few weeks have marked many fun times along our continuing "GREAT CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE."  Our latest journey took us to the Monterey Peninsula for good times with our family and for an amazing 35-34 shootout victory by the PLU Lutes over Menlo College.

The white sand beach at carmel was stunning!  (As was my wife :-)

The 17-mile drive between Monterey and Carmel takes you to Pebble Beach, America's top golf course.  It is filled with million dollar views (and homes) along rocky cliffs and sparkling blue water.

Pebble Beach was built in 1919 and has taken its place as one of the most famous courses in the world.  The AT&T Pro-Am takes place here every year and has also hosted numerous US Opens and other major tournaments.  It will host the 2010 US Open.

Lunch overlooking the 18th green is spectacular.  (Side Salad = $22)

Christie, Mom, Dad, and myself in front of the 18th green - the best finishing hole in golf.

SAN FRANCISCO - PART TWO

Mom and Dad above the Golden Gate.

With PLU playing in the Bay Area, we made our way to San Francisco a few days early to hang out with my recently retired parents.  We did the usual tourist things, such as clam chowder on Fisherman's Wharf, coffee in Sausalito, and going to the Golden Gate lookout.  We also traveled down the coast on Highway 1, weaving through some incredible beach side towns (Pacifica, Half Moon Bay) that I never even knew existed!  It was, dare I say, GOOD TIMES! 

Just another deserted beach fifteen miles south of San Fran.

The Golden Gate bridge.

We joined the PLU football team for a tour of Stanford's remodeled football stadium.  When I played there in 2002, it was an ancient, spacious 80,000 stadium that rarely filled over half way.  It has since been remodeled to reduce capacity to an intimate and intense 55,000.  Awesome!

FRESNO

Rees holding up his first trophy - proving to me without a shadow of a doubt that you don't have to teach kids to love winning... it is genetically built into us!

My brother Chad and his wife were going out of town for 3 days, so they asked "Aunt Christie and Uncle Jason" to come watch the kids.  We had an incredible time hanging out with our two nephews - Rees, 3.2, and Cole, 1.5.  I also am in favor of everyone stating their ages rounded to the nearest decimal point.

Rees and Cole hanging out after Rees' last soccer game.  Cole's first word was "ball."

On Halloween, we took the kids to a carnival at a local church.  Cole was stunning as a horse and Rees, keeping with family tradition, went as a quarterback!

All in all, it has been a fabulous time with family and friends.  We are now headed to Seattle for Thanksgiving and for other business opportunities.  Cheers!

~ J. Twice