get away!

i just returned from a quick trip to pacific grove. i was fortunate to accompany hubby on a business trip. He was attending the ecofarm conference at asilomar. fabulous!!!! i love little get a ways with my man! especially to the coast. we always stay at borg's motel, right on lovers point:)

here's the view right out our motel door.

there are little beaches and a long trail that goes in both directions. you can walk to cannery row! i was enjoying the view when all of a sudden:

some eejit decides to eat their breakfast right in my view!!! yes, i could see them clearly- adding half and half to their coffee, letting the dog join them at the table, etc. total bummer. luckily it was only 2 hour parking and they did not extend their stay. i did manage to finish my thuja socks knit from orange flower yarn waiting for their departure. i used size 3 needles- my favorite for socks these days!

then i realized- OMG! the only other knitting project i brought was lace. nothing wrong with that but i can't knit lace with other folks around. i need something basic. like socks. an addictive knitter without a project is like a junkie without smack. you just gotta have it. my fingers were itching and beginning to sweat. my stomach was beginning to tighten. withdrawal symptoms were setting in. clearly the only thing to do was get a fix. forgetting my oath, i got my fix at 529 central avenue.

a skein of madeline tosh dk-settled my nerves and i quickly cast on 44 stitches and started another sock- i can quit anytime i want, really!

there's so much groovy history in the area that really fascinates me. remember our trip last fall? you all learned about my interest in Steinbeck and my fondness for Ed Rickets-. well, on our last night in pacific grove i was laying in bed looking at the local "things to do" rag and something grabbed my attention immediately. Ed Ricketts' Pacific Biological labratory was to be opened to the public!! a dream come true for me. i've seen the outside of his lab many times on Cannery Row- and always wanted to get inside.

they were giving hourly tours all day. there's no way i could miss this event . bare with me friends; i just gotta share some of the tour with you.

i entered into the living room area.


unfortunately none of this stuff is Ed's. the list of folks that used to hang out with Ed is quite amazing(Henry Miller and Joesph Campbell to name a few-and all the colorful locals!!!)-wish i could have been a fly on the wall! we were fortunate to have Frank Wright at the tour- he actually knew Ed back in the day and he told us stories.

That's Frank on the right. on the left is Michael Hemp author of "Cannery Row- the History of John Steinbeck's Old Ocean Avenue." we own that book-if i would have i was going to meet him i would have brought it for him to sign.

Author Scrap Lundy was also there.

i had to get his book, "Real Life on Cannery Row."

i can't wait to reread Cannery Row and then read Scrap's book. he researched for ten years to find out the truths behind Steinbeck's Cannery Row. here's more photos of the tour:

snacks were provided. too bad i just had a huge breakfast! here's Frank sharing more stories.

next we went out to the back of the lab. This piece of equipment was what Ed used to render shark liver oil.

the next photo was taken at the end of the pier looking towards the back of the laboratory.


next we got to go down below where Ed gassed cats and other "sciencey" things to get specimens ready to mail out. guess you'll have to read the book(s) if you don't know what i'm talking about. these filing drawers are supposedly the real deal- i just had to touch them! i'm such a geek!

if we hadn't had to hit the road i would have stayed all day-the folks putting on the tour are awesome! their love and passion for Ed, Pacific Biological Laboratories, Steinbeck and Cannery Row is phenomenal. they will be offering more tours in the future so check their website if you will be in the area. One more photo in honor of Ed. courtesy

it was a whirl wind trip but so worth it. i had a wonderful time. the ocean replenishes my soul.

i forgot- here's a piece on NPR for you listening pleasure!