Ever Forward: "We've been on the run, driving in the sun, looking out for number one. California here we come!"

Mom came out for a whole WEEK of beach vacation in the California sun. Only two things - the coastal weather was in the 60s and we were cold more than we were hot, and I didn't mention until later that I don't actually have a bedroom here in Santa Monica. I sleep on the couch - which is totally fine for me but makes it difficult to host visitors. However, we made it all work and in typical Mom fashion she took it all in stride.

On the Fourth I ran a 10k in the morning, then we had brunch and walked around the Venice Canals, decked out for the holiday.

Mom couldn't get over how big the vegetation can get here, given a year-round growing season. These flowers were taller than her.

On Friday we hit the road up north, going as far as San Simeon and the Hearst Castle. Had to hand it to mom - the Castle was pretty amazing. I wasn't expecting much and was just trying to be a good hostess, but you have to respect it just for the sheer effort. Mom's historian sensibilities were in conflict viewing some of the legit antiquities taken from lands far away and plopped in this house in the California hills.

That day we went to Morro Bay for lunch and also went back for sunset. Morro Bay's iconic feature is the huge, impossible to miss lava rock right off the shore.

It doesn't even look real!

We ate lunch at a restaurant on the pier overlooking the boats and kayakers.

Back after the Castle for sunset.

We had dinner in San Luis Obispo and then stayed overnight at an air force base on the coast. The next morning we drove 14 miles off Highway 1, on winding roads past farms and grazing lands, out to a small beach called Jalama.

It was pretty foggy but still cool to see. We had a great breakfast at the little beach store, then hit the road for Santa Barbara. I could smell the wine miles before we got there......