Surf, Sun, Cold Weather and Chimneys

 A week was spent in  the small coastal town of Carlsbad, where I experienced surfing in the coldest water I've ever been in! The biggest problem was every time I needed to duckdive (get under the wave) I would immediately get an 'ice-cream' headache. I learn't to put up with it though and soon started realising that surfing in California would mean not feeling my feet for a few hours. Offshore winds and fun waves compensated for the cold, and the last stage of my trip was spent in Newport Beach, in a house that was literally on the sand.The house was that of a lovely lady who became like a second mother during our stay. A house of 3 girls and the two most beautiful poodles in the world. Kosmo and Henry. 

We spent our days cruising Newport Beach on our old-school bikes and eating fro-yo (which is short for Frozen Yoghurt and yes it was as good as it sounds). 

My favourite flavours definitely being cheesecake, cookies and cream and cinnamon scroll. It was a mix of pleasure and pain however, because taking a bite of fro-yo meant either instant brain-freeze or a ridiculous drop in body temperature, and us poor Aussie girls were no match for the harsh cold of the Californian winter. 

A visit to Universal studios on a rainy day was probably the coldest day of my life and it was reported that it was snowing six miles from where we were. We literally froze, and an abundance of hot chocolates, churroz and cuddles kept us from near frostbite. Okay so maybe a bit of an exaggeration, but for us spoilt with the warmth of the Australian sun, the cold really proved to be a challenge. It was well worth it though, and Universal Studios was a great experience. The sunsets from the beach were just incredible, and every afternoon I was once again reminded of the beauty of the world we live in. A memorable sunset was spent eating at the end of Huntington beach pier in a restaurant called Rubies Diner. Well, Rubies really was the epitome of what you'd expect a typical American diner to be. Girls in red and white short, checkered-dresses which matched the colour scheme of the diner, with bright red plastic seats and burgers and milkshakes atleast 10 times too big. After our meal we rode home at record pace. That much greese and junkfood could not be good for the body, but the afternoon was most definitely good for the soul. 

 Evenings were spent cuddling up with the boys (Kosmo and Henry) by the heaters, the friendly fire burning in the background. We were definitely spoilt, with all the comforts imaginable, freshly baked cinnamon scrolls for breakfast and 5 star cuisine for dinner.  Our routine for that short time was perfect, and leaving my Newport home with its huge chimney and precious occupants was a challenge in itself.