Beach crawling...

By 9:30 the sun was bright, the air temperature was near 80, and the beach paths were filled with people on foot, bicycles, four wheel bikes, scooters, skateboards and Segways. We'd talked briefly about renting a two-seated four wheel bike, but decided that we needed to take Sassy and Nica on a long, tiring walk before we left them alone. Not long after sunrise Margaret saw tents being raised along the beachside sidewalks on Cabrillo Blvd.; the first tent was almost directly across from our room. The Santa Barbara Sunday Art Fair was going up before our eyes! As we headed northwest to Stearns Wharf, (see the wonderful bronze dophin sculpture at the head of the Wharf) we passed artisians from all disciplines, displaying and selling their wares. We walked nearly to the marina, than turned around and headed back towards our hotel, this time taking in the amazing collection of arts and crafts available for sale. About two thirds through this hour and a half long stroll up and back down the beach path, Nica decided she'd had it! When our little dark gray dog gets too warm she simply throws herself on the ground in the shade, a puppy "boat anchor", until she's rested and ready to go on. There were a couple more stops as we traveled the last few blocks back to the hotel - one for Nica, insisting she needed another break, and the other for us when Larry bought Margaret a tiny ceramic "Love" angel from a Santa Barbara artisan - a precious momento of our trip.