A week ago we came back from two weeks of bliss in California. The last proper, going abroad holiday I’d been on was 25 years ago so you can imagine how excited I was at not only going away but spending two weeks with Mr Tiddles (Richard) who I’m not afraid to tell anyone, I have fallen in love with.
We had a hoot from beginning to end as we travelled in a campervan from San Francisco, down the central Californian coast to Monterey Bay and Santa Cruz and then across to Sequoia National Park, Death Valley and then Las Vegas, returning via Pamona (Los Angeles), Mount Baldy, Cambria and finally returning to San Francisco for our last couple of days.
We often free camped over looking beaches and oceans and took in a motel every few days to enjoy showers and huge beds!
The beaches we visited were amazing and mostly very quiet with it being off season, the scenery and changing landscape absolutely stunning. Arable lands, orchards, solar farms, desserts, mountains with snow (and yes we threw snowballs 7000ft up) and vineyards.
We ate sensibly and lots of vegetables but nevertheless enjoyed wine and lots of Irish Coffee at Buena Vista’s. We also did lots of walking and I was convinced that maybe I may actually have lost weight during the two weeks! It didn’t happen but did stay exactly the same and have lost 5lbs in my first week back home! 
Richard (Mr Tiddles) is behind me 100% in trying to get below 200 lbs and I feel because my mind is in a happy place and the love I am able to feel, receive and give, that this is providing a good, stable foundation to keep on going. I am thinking when I reach 250 lbs I am going to teach myself to ride a bike again. In the interim it will be lots of walking…
Wow, he is cute and you are beaming, ain’t love grand. So glad you had a good time and am thankful to be reading all this good stuff on your blog. Looking forward to loads of good stuff in the future. Best wishes indeed.
What a wonderful vacation. I love the California beaches in the off season and miss them (I moved from SoCal three years ago to Texas). It looks like you had a wonderful time! I’m so happy for you. And hurray for falling in love! Thanks for sharing your adventure with us!
You’re absolutely glowing!!! Happiness is the best strategy. So happy for you. What a wonderful vacation and a wonderful start with a new love!
Hallo Tiddles….cant call you Richard now!!….so happy for you both to have found each other, you look so perfect together ..heres to happy ever after guys! xx
Good morning Kate,Thanks for your lovely words since I met Carolyn.
She is someone very,very special who i would love to spend my life with.xx.
aw…that’s so lovely, Carolyn deserves a bloke like you in her life, she inspires me with her inner strength and beautiful soul even though we have never met!
Kate,As we all know ,it is a two way street in any relationship,Carolyn doesn’t always recognise what i receive from her in our partnership,so every little chance i get ,i tell her how special she is ,sure one day you will get to meet up.x
It sounds as though you had a wonderful time (and lovely to see Mr Tiddles!), here’s looking forward to the two of you reaching your next goals.
Don’t wait to try cycling. My son is down just under 20 sts and he cycles regularly. I cycle nearly everyday and I love the freedom I feel. There are cycle tracks all over the country. Look up Sustrans for info about your area.
Brenda in the Boro
Lovely to see your happy, glowing face……so glad you had such a wonderful vacation! Nice to see some good things and people happening to you, too!
Looks like you had ( and still having ) a great time C,keep up the walking,start the cycling and anything else that comes to mind with MrTiddles that makes you sweat off a few pounds! YEE HAR…….
Awwwww thanks. Am not afraid to wear my heart on my sleeve…he’s an absolute sweetie 🙂 and we had a fantastic time. Loved being in each others company and had tons of giggles. xxx Cycling.. I may well try sooner than later then Brenda!! xx
Lovely to see you looking so relaxed and happy. I love the idea of the free camping by the beach with your lovely Richard. Keep enjoying life . . and blogging of course! x
Hi Molly,Thanks for the offer,but i don’t know you,and i am madly,deeply in love with a Lady on here.xxx
Thanks Molly…we had a fab time and it was wonderful waking up to surf!!! xxxxx
You look like you had a wonderful time! 🙂 (That green-aqua shirt looks great on you, btw, very summery and pretty.)
And simply because I snerk whenever I hear this Austin Powers line, I must ask: Isn’t it amazing how the English countryside looks nothing at all like southern California?
Thank you !! xxx
Hey, what a fantastic post to start the day with! We did the same route only in reverse last summer. Unlike you, I managed to put on weight, and I’m still trying to shake it off now. That’s why today is the today I start the wartime rationing diet – exactly a month before you come to speak to my local Women’s Institute about your experiences. Oslo meal for lunch, and rather less pork for dinner than was originally planned. I’m so glad you’ve got the support of Richard while you continue with your diet; I’m sure it’ll be much easier now. He looks lovely and I hope he continues to appreciate you as much as we all do. I look forward to meeting him next month.
To be honest eating this way is the only way I’ve ever been able to ‘be on a diet’ without feeling hungry as I still get potatoes and lots of veggies!! Ahhh we can chat about America!!! Looking forward to seeing you too!! xxxx
I’ve been reading your blog for the last couple of years. I just had to comment, that it’s lovely to see you looking so very happy. Keep up the walking and cooking and I look forward to pictures of you bike riding, tandem, maybe?
Daisy, Daisy give me your answer do.
I’m half crazy all for the love of you.
It won’t be a stylish marriage,
I can’t afford a carriage.
But you’ll look sweet,
Upon the seat,
Of a bicycle made for two.
Tandem bicycles are very cool… and THANK YOU for your kind words and for reading my blog!! xxx
It’s wonderful to see you so happy Carolyn 🙂 I’m sure Richard will provide added encouragement for your weight loss goals. Best wishes to you both.
Thank you!!! I’m so happy I could pop disgracefully and make quite a big mess! C xxx
Oops Richard, you’ve made me blush! Of course I meant the two of you 🙂
Hee hee 🙂 He’s very sharp- I can’t keep up with him! 🙂 xx
You two make a lovely couple. Here’s wishing you both a long and happy life together.
Thanks Sue 🙂 xxx
Next year when you go on an other vacation,( to celebrate reaching your goal.) You can come to the east coast of the US. I will be happy to show you guys Philadelphia PA.
Thank you Holly- that’s a lovely offer! Closest I’ve got to the East Coast was a 30 minute turn around in Maine (after getting off the CAT ferry from Nova Scotia) as we had to pick up some Canadian visas! xxx
You two make an adorable couple!!
Thanks Kim!! xxx
You make a lovely couple and look very happy. You took one of the most beautiful road trips in the USA. The beaches are wonderful but come back again and see the Oregon and Washington coast next time.
I have been reading and enjoying your blog for quite a while and have to say that I am so happy for you. When you had to leave Canada it seemed so sad but look how that turned out! You have a whole new life AND a new love to share it with. WOW How wonderful is that?!?
Thank you Candace…it’s funny how things work out!! Will check out the Oregon/Washington coast online for now…the USA is so vast! C xxx
Ooh, I love a man with a beard! Seriously, all good wishes to you both, and Caroline, after all you have been through, you deserve some extra love in your life!
Mmmm so do I 🙂 His beard is getting long and I can now play with it and make beard rays so he looks like Neptune 🙂 xx
Aww! Your happiness shines right through the screen, I’ll say that – bless you both and best wishes! 🙂
Thank you sooo much!! xxxx C
You both look so happy. Best of luck with your weight and fitness goals. With your positive attitude I’m sure you’ll succeed. Love and best wishes, Helen x
Thank you Helen! xxx