A month ago Mia told me to request a day off work for a surprise birthday weekend. That's great because it's Valentine's Day which is also Presidents' Day weekend so requesting 1 day off work should equal a four-day weekend! However I found out we don't get that federa holiday off, so it was a spectacular 3-day weekend surprise birthday bash. What Mia did was contact my whole family - mom Carol, twin brother Scott & wife Nicole, older brother Matt & wife Julia. They all live in the Bay Area and the plan was to occupy a really cool large house in Carmel. It was awesome. On the drive up the famous highway 1 Mia and I stopped for a hike. We took the wrong trail (tan bark trail) inland until realizing it doesn't turn towards the cove we were looking for. Then we found the correct trail. The weather was perfect. Sunny and warm while a huge XXL swell was rolling into the coast and crashing high over rocks - even into the road.

This greenery and empty trail system doesn't  exist in Los Angeles — This greenery and empty trail system doesn't exist in Los Angeles

I felt like i went months without being able to take deep breaths of fresh air. I just stood in silence with nothing around except for a breeze at the tops of trees and this creek washing down, and just took huge breaths of fresh air until I felt li… — I felt like i went months without being able to take deep breaths of fresh air. I just stood in silence with nothing around except for a breeze at the tops of trees and this creek washing down, and just took huge breaths of fresh air until I felt light headed. A major contrast from my regular Friday's.

The end of the tunnel where a pier used to extend out to

This trail to the cove was used to load bark and trees into boats long ago, which is insane given the ruggedness of the coast here. There was an awesome little tunnel and a bench lookout. The same pier was used to smuggle alcohol during the prohibition era.

Once everyone was settled into the house we utilized the pool table and ping pong table, the fireplace and the kitchen. It was a lot of fun to see everyone. On Saturday We hiked point Lobos trail which was in walking distance from the house. After that we heading into Carmel and found some lunch. The AT&T Pro golf tournament was happening so the whole town was congested with gold enthusiasts and tourists, which was fun to see.

The weekend felt way too short and we all agreed that this kind of thing needs to occur more often.

Point Lobos closes off the trails so you cannot go hiking through woods on your own, keeping them nicely untouched

A very famously photographed tree to the center-left of the frame

The incredible view out of a window in the house we rented

Chapters

30 years of age