Driving along the Redwood Highway, you never know which way the road will bend. First it goes to the left and then to the right. Ferns and mosses line the forest floor with dappled sunlight filtering through the trees...life is good! At a driving break in Half Moon Bay, I spotted these glass cherries, sorry Mary Lou the shop was closed so I couldn't find out how much they cost.

Travelling around you can see some amazing public art in both large and small towns.

This tree arches over the street in Pacific Grove.

This deer jumped in front of my car and disappeared in high grasses, by the time I found my camera and turned the corner, I found it munching away in the parking lot.

In Cambria we stopped again for a break and found this amazing bronze by Tim Cotterill, known as the Frogman.

This piece is almost 12 feet tall and the detail is amazing. He is found at Artifacts Gallery in Cambria.

I love it when photographing flowers if I find an insect in the shot. This bee flew in and wanted to be a part of the picture.

This dolphin fountain is in Santa Barbara at the start of the Stearns Wharf. Some birds flew in to take a drink just after I took this shot.

Here is one of the pigeons thinking of having a drink.

Now I've heard about putting your head in, but this is a bit ridiculous. He did it several times before flying way.

This is the view back towards the beach from the pier, I love the action in the sky. The Palm Trees make this picture so California.

When we got to the back of the pier we found a squadron of Pelicans hanging out. They let you get quite close to them. I love the red tip on this one's beak and how he is watching me so closely.

This one suddenly took flight and I managed to get a shot, not quite in focus, but still amazing.

In Carlsbad I noticed this tree, and found out it is called the Kapok Tree, just to the right and higher you can see one of the pods that has not yet cracked. This fiber was used to make inflatable vests. They have a beautiful pink bloom that looks like a cross between an orchid and a lily.

In Old Town we checked out some of the shops, I like the colours in this plate, makes you want to pick the fruit off and eat it.

In this shop their store window had a lot of Day of the Death displays.

The tiles on these stairs look like traditional quilt blocks and applique designs.

An outdoor cafe flew these lovely colourful cut out banners.

Once again some beautiful outdoor murals depicting a time gone by.

I have a "thing" for yellow lemons, can't pass them up. They make food so fresh and appetizing. I don't think these ones will spoil too quickly!

The Road to California started along the Oregon Coast in Seaside where I found these lovely flowering poppies...Then centre of this one looked so pretty framed in the orange/red of the petals.

Remember getting one of those postcards that said....wish you were here?

What a beautiful bronze of a girl about to fly a kite, was found outside a restaurant called Crabby Sue's in Canon Beach. The artist did a lovely job of capturing the concentration on her face.

Sue has some great signage around the restaurant. One time when I come down I hope to find her open.

We found the tide out, and walked out to the rocks around Haystack and found an amazing collection of starfish.

This one was hiding out in the shade.

One of the many vista points you can stop at along the way. The views are quite breath taking.

The lighthouse at the Coquille River is one of my favourite. This is taken from the Bandon-by-the-Sea side of the river.

Can you see the lady's face on this rock called Face Rock? She is looking to the right...

This bay is just to the left of Face Rock, the winds coming off the water are quite strong at times. This day there were not too bad.

This Roosevelt Elk was watching over the rest of the herd we came upon.

This painted lady in Eureka is now the home for some architects.

The Carson Mansion is now a private men's club open only to it's members. I like how the green of the house works so well with the lawns and trees on the grounds.

We walked along Main Street in Ferndale California and spotted this Victorian business front.

This lovely painted lady is now a bed and breakfast located just off Main Street.

If you look closely at the top of the front of this house you can see large O's have been attached to make the design.

This view is from later in the trip, from Hurricane Point looking back towards Big Sur.

We arrived in Las Cruces and went to Mesilla where we had lunch at La Posta. It used to be an old stagecoach station. Then we went walking around the old plaza.I love the painted doors and window frames in this area of the world. I've seen similar colours when I travelled in Greece.

This is a detail picture of an old bench sitting in the plaza for you to take a brief rest upon.

Once again the quilting image is found on the grill work, a hand along the top.

Different ristras of chilies drying waiting to be taken to someones home. Then we went to the White Sands National Monument.

Look closely, you never know when you will see flowers quietly blooming. If you look again you can see some footprints of a critter or two in the sand.

Keep looking, you never know when a flower will suddenly appear.

These columns are formed by the root systems when the surrounding sands are blown away.

The yucca is the state flower of New Mexico and is found all over the landscape.

The landscape is constantly changing with new plants emerging from where none were before.

At times you would think you were driving through plowed roads where snow has fallen, and then you realize how hot it is.

These picnic shelters are to protect you from the wind and the sand coming from the west. They almost look like ice boats with billowing sails.

I found the lines of this plant to be amazing and the sky behind it breathtaking!

We then headed up the Rio Grande and into Albuquerque. Then we drove onto Santa Fe where we walked around the old Plaza neighbour hood.

The carvings around the top of this building were quite spectacular.

The burro bronze is around the corner on Burro Alley, there are several paintings on the wall along the street.

Looking in on a alcove off the main walk.

I love the look of the banners at the top and the columns along the side with the sun streaming in.

Then we changed direction and arrived in Las Vegas, talk about a different way to look at things. All the neon lights and colours!

At 11:00 p.m. we went for a walk and enjoyed Andrea Bocelli singing as the waters danced at the Bellagio Hotel. Then we walked along the strip and looked at all the lights dancing in the desert.

The Flamingo Hotel has undergone a face lift from the first time I went to Las Vegas. Many of the old hotels are just faded memories and photographs.