A Mission and a Bike Ride

On our last morning in Monterey we woke up early (as we had been for the entire trip) thanks to our rooster, I mean baby, and we headed down to the beach for an early morning stroll. Beckett was being a major ham.
Back at the hotel we took a picture of the well-manicured courtyard with our window in the background. And then we let Becket take a nap in his crib/ cage while we packed up and watched TV on the internet with our headphones.
Then we said goodbye to our hotel and our room with a view.
When we first started planning a trip to Monterey these were my requirements: I wanted to see the aquarium and a mission and then I was up for anything else. So on our last day we headed out to fulfill part two of my "must do" list.

The San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Mission was founded in 1771. Nate and I were duly impressed by the architect, the history, and the little museum that features the founder of the mission, Junipero Serra's cell and the first library of California.
After lunch and a nap int he car for Beckett (and Nate) we headed back to Monterey for a bike ride along the coast. Here we're all suited up and ready to go.
But Beckett wasn't so sure about the whole thing.
In case you missed it the first time, Beckett really was wondering whether or not he wanted any part of this experience.
After we got moving he got marginally happier (and colder).
Along the way we enjoyed the sites along the coastline.

The hoards of harbor seals.

The Tsunami warning sign.

The incredible cypress trees.

The wildlife. (We actually saw several sea otters and a few sea lions in the harbor during our trip, but they don't photograph well.)

Oh, and there's our rental car.

We biked from Fisherman's Warf, where the track team always used to stop on its way to San Luis Obispo, to Asilomar Beach, where Nate and his family stayed on their Monterey trip.
We rounded out the day and the trip with dinner at a Mexican restaurant where we allowed Beckett, who had been such a trooper, to indulge his new-found love of straws.
The trip was a fabulous way to celebrate 5 fabulous years together.