lately all my posts have been travel travel travel but i’ve put myself on a strict schedule so i can get mostly caught up [fingers crossed!] before my trip to europe in a week. now we’re back to my epic trip to california for work [remember? i just had an awesome dinner in pismo beach and we’re onto day 2!]. the next stop is moro bay. we drove here in the morning to have breakfast with a local avocado grower as well as a guy who works for calavo in farm operations. on the way, we drove by the madonna inn and ken told us all about its themed and individually decorated rooms – 110 of them! it’s a fun idea, and it kinda made me want to check it out!
we arrived a little early at moro bay, so we stopped at the beach. moro rock is stunning – it’s a small mountain made of stone [although small is all relative though – it’s actually huge!] jutting straight up from the beach. i had never seen such a thing.
{moro rock from a distance}
{the beach}
{i had never seen a squirrel on the beach before!}
{one side of moro rock}
{a rock formation on the other side of moro rock}
breakfast was yummy – we went to a good ol’ fashioned local diner, and we had a really nice time with the avocados guys, sharing what we do and learning more about their fascinating professions. after breakfast, we headed out to the groves. it was about a 30 minute drive through the hills to get there, and the scenery was positively gorgeous – golden rolling hills dotted with green trees and the occasional picturesque old barns tucked in the hillsides.
on the way, we also got a glimpse of the breathtaking whale rock reservoir.
{i managed to get a blurry pic as we drove by…}
{…but the one i got on the way back was much better.}
soon we were on a dirt road and there were avocado trees all around us. we parked on the side of the road and got out of the car so that bill, the grower, could show us his trees and their fruit and impart some good avocado knowledge on us! we learned all about the challenges that the farmers have to deal with – strong winds, heavy rains, wild pigs, deer, coyotes, and the enormous expense of water in california, among other things. it was interesting to hear about how the trees have to be pruned and some of the fruit removed at times so that all the trees’ energy and nutrients are going to a limited number of avocados in order to produce the most delicious ones possible. in addition, the farmers are constantly watching the mexican market in order to be smart with their fruit and get the best price.
after our time in the groves, bill was nice enough to introduce us to his wife and give us a tour of their home, which was nearby. it was absolutely gorgeous, with a wonderful view and the golden hills all around them. i couldn’t imagine living in such a beautiful place.
{here is the front yard [or was it the side yard?] of their home. basically, there was beauty all around them.}
we so very much appreciate these gentlemen going to breakfast with us and thank you to bill for the tour of his groves and his home! what fun!