Crystal Cove

When my eldest son called me at Christmas and asked what I was doing on January 29 - I told him that as far as I knew I was absolutely free. He then booked me a room at Crystal Cove State Park - in the cottages.

I have stayed there many times in the past, and love the quaint cottages restored to their former selves. It is a quiet hideaway for me - no tv, no internet connection. Recently I read people were paying thousands of dollars to stay in hotels with just those amenities - amazing!! Everyone needs time out.

Even though I thought January - probably rain - but what the heck - I love the sunsets and the sound of the waves at night. And the pods of dolphins that swim past in the morning.

This January has been extraordinarily warm and Sunday night the sunset was the most beautiful one I have ever seen from Crystal Cove. Catalina Island, Palos Verdes, and Catalina Island were all in sight. The waves were calm - the sky was clear.

When I woke up at 3 am I could clearly see Orion and all the constellations. There is not a lot of city light to interfere with the show in the sky.

I met another woman who had traveled from Riverside to meditate and journal - apparently I am not the only one that takes advantage of that. It was her first time - and she was without her husband. She was nervous at first and almost turned around and went home. But she persevered and was ecstatic that she had.

If you need a little peace in our hectic world - try to book a small room in the dorms - very inexpensive - and retrieve a piece of your sanity.

Thank you son - you know me well!!