The call of the waves

Paul missed the ocean. Visiting from Portland this weekend, I asked him what he missed most about the bay area. One of the things was the ocean. So for brunch we took off to Stinson Beach. Once there, we found that menu at the Sand Dollar spoke to us best.

Paul liked the look of the Stinson Beach scramble, so that's what he ordered. He said that combination of organic eggs, smoked salmon, cherry tomatoes, green onions with home fries was delicious. The potatoes had some spicing that colored them dark; they were not overcooked.

I was intrigued by Miguel’s Chilaquiles, which consisted of sautéed corn tortillas, tomato-cilantro-jalepeno sauce, Parmasean cheese and topped with scrambled egg & fresh salsa. I'd never heard of such a combination and thought I should be adventurous! And it was a lovely inventive melding of ingredients, which paired well with the fruit that I requested instead of the home fries. The tomato-cilantro-jalepeno sauce wasn't overly spicy and made a nice contrast with the tortilla chips and egg. It was light and struck the perfect note for me yesterday morning.

Reviewed previously:
December 9, 2007

Extending our visit to the town, we decided to visit the Healing Arts Store just across the street and a few steps down. It's a small and focused book store with healing object and art pieces inside. If you are interested in the healing arts and metaphysical things it has a collection of unusual books. I always enjoy these independent bookstores where someone has thoughtfully put their own personal stamp on the collection contained.

There were delightful little artful nooks around the outside of the ocean weather beaten exterior.

In the rear of the store there was a table and seating with several artsy pieces about.

Near the seating, just to the right of the store's entrance, there was a most intriguing small building labeled the "Sandtray Room of Self-Discovery". A little note above the door directed you to ask the person tending the bookstore for a key.

Curiosity peaked, I just had to do so. Inside there were multiple shelves lining the room with all kinds of little figures. There was a chair and instructions on the door.

The instructions directed you to get into a relaxed state, and run your hands through the sand in the sandtray in the middle of the room a few times, until inspired to choose some figurines to place in the box, and make designs in the sand. What a relaxing, step-out-of-time thing to do! The previous person made a tableau of what appeared to be Moses fighting a dragon. Use of the room is free, and donations are gratefully accepted.

Leaving the Healing Arts Center behind (with a few books and gifts), we made our way down to the beach proper. We caught a few waves.

And I had a blast dancing in them with my Crocs. I'm becoming quite the beach girl.

Family by the seaside. My host sister from Hiroshima days is visiting with her husband, and our younger brother now lives in Marin, so the family got together for some local fun yesterday. After a refreshing walk breathing in the redwood scent at Muir Woods we decided to go to Stinson Beach for a drink and rest before the next round of activities.

After a quick survey of the scene, we decided to try the Stinson Beach Grill for some of the famous local BBQ oysters. Delectable! And we were seated promptly and given friendly and timely service. This is a place I'll come back to sometime to try a full meal.

We took in a little slice of the beach also. It was a glorious day yesterday!

An abundant day at the beach. I started out the morning yesterday by going to a lecture and meditation entitled "Spiritual Prosperity: Living in Abundance". There were signs that although the experience would be great, that it wasn't the day for it for me. Last week was so rainy, and I did a lot of editing and computer work, all closeted up in an office or at my home office, and here it was a gloriously sunny day. First sign, I passed the building inadvertently, and it's a very familiar building to me. Second sign, when I was waiting for the green arrow to turn left on the pass back, it seemed to take an inordinate amount of time... in fact after I felt that way, I waited 4 light cycles without it turning green, and the man behind me in the Jaguar, impatiently drove off and made a u-turn at the next stoplight. I soon followed. (And the light had fixed itself by the time I got back!) Third sign, although the lecture was great, my muscles were restless and my mind was wandering... so I left at the first break knowing I really needed some nature time! So on a whim, I picked up my Dad, who also hadn't been on a good outing in a while, and drove the long way via Muir Beach to Stinson Beach, and arrived for a late lunch.

We walked past the deck section of the Sand Dollar Restaurant & Bar, and it looked so inviting, we decided to lunch there. Good choice it turns out, and we were warmly greeted at the door.

We were soon seated (we decided on an indoor seat) and water in signature glasses came promptly.

We looked around the restaurant and saw the friendly 'bar' part of its name.

And looked out the charming window, through the flower boxes to the opposite side of the street.

Dad tried the Mirror Pond Ale Fish & Chips, which he said were good (and ate every bite of this big plate!).

I had the New England Clam Chowder - so creamy and full of fresh clams!

I matched it with the pear salad which included seasonal greens, candied walnuts, crumbled blue cheese, and balsamic dressing. It was also quite tasty and eye pleasing.

After lunch we took a stroll to the beach. I was quite unhappy to see that there is still no fishing due to oil contamination.

But the beach was still beautiful and rejuvenating to be around. Others were enjoying it too, petting dogs, jogging and just sitting and enjoying the sound of the waves crashing and the fresh sea air.

I found a curving tree branch which was stable to rest on in the sand, and Dad leaned on it and breathed deeply while I continued to snap photos. What could be more abundant than this, the time and freedom to enjoy what is around you?

On the way back to the car, we saw new yellow blooms in December! Abundant earth we have don't we?

A Beach Kind of Morning. Since Dad will be cooped up recuperating from a routine surgery (checking on cancer remission) next week, and we were both up early, we decided to head to Stinson Beach for a little adventure, as well as try a new breakfast place. It was a stellar morning, and as we wound up the hill from Mill Valley we passed a long row of Eucalyptus trees, which were giving off their characteristic fresh scent very strongly. We stopped at a look out point just as we started climbing Panoramic Drive over Mt. Tamalpais. Once I hopped out of the car with my camera, you could hear so many birds singing sweetly from the trees - it was so happy and tranquil, and the view was great! You can see our progress to the town, and then our trip to the beach for a walk in the slide show above (I took a total of 90 photos, but tried to limit myself here!) I believe you can click on a photo to go through to a bigger version. We truly went over the river, and through the woods (green and lush), and down the coast just a little to the beach.

Parkside Cafe. The destination breakfast place was quite easy to find, and we were glad that we wanted to take the route over Mt. Tam since we found out that Rt. 1 is closed along the coast until March 28th. Mud slides routinely take out pieces of the road in winter, and I guess this winter must have been bad for it. I was hoping to take the coastal route back, but that was no longer an option. The staff at the Parkside Cafe were very friendly, and took care of us delightfully.

We enjoyed looking at the paintings (and patrons) around the restaurant while we waited for our breakfast.

We also enjoyed gazing outside the rather dirty window pane to a sliver of the beach, the round metal thing you can see in the photo in the middle of the path, is the vantage point from where I took the photos at the beach proper in the slideshow first above.

Dad ordered what he called a "lumberjack's" breakfast, blueberry pancakes and a scrambled egg. He enjoyed every last bite, and was glad for a beach walk afterwards!

I went Norwegian, and had a toasted bagel with lox. A variety of tastes, smooth salmon, salty capers, crisp red onion, cool and ripe red tomatoes with cream cheese that melted on your tongue contrasted with the chewy toasted bagel. A sensual delight. And what a great way to start the day! I made it back in time for my meditation class, and I already felt quite in the zone!