soCal day 2:: boats + beach cruisers + balboa

This was the first trip we've been on together that we didn't have much planned except going to the Temple and renting beach cruisers. While B worked the first part of Friday, I looked up a few bike shops and packed up our stuff so we could head out as soon as he was finished. (And spent some more time at the pool :)

We weren't really sure where we going, so we put the address of the bike shop into the GPS. It became apparent that it was taking us on a very roundabout way to get to the Newport Beach area, but there couldn't have been a more perfect mistake. It led us right to Balboa Island and told us to take the ferry to Balboa. We still weren't sure if this was the right way to go, so we parked the car on Park Street and then walked to check out the ferry.

That few block walk to the ferry was magical! Every house, shop, and street looked too good to be true.  It was like the Prince Street in Alexandria of the West.

We hopped on the ferry (only $2!) and took the short ride to Balboa. There is something about being on a boat ride with the sea breeze blowing through your hair that takes every care and worry away.

We didn't end up finding the bike shop we originally were looking for, but Balboa was too quaint to leave. We ate lunch at Chicago-style pizzeria and then rented some beach cruisers from Seaside Bike Shop. 

And then the beach cruising began!  

We biked along the beach, through cobblestone streets of Balboa, and to the Wedge, which overlooks Corona Del Mar.

Then we biked a few miles north to McFadden Square at Newport Beach. It was much more busy and touristy, so we opted to head back to the beach at Balboa. Unfortunately, just as we were turning around, we noticed B had a flat tire. He had to run back the whole way while pushing his his bike. I offered to take a turn, but he wouldn't let me. So I did the next best thing: snapped some pictures. 

By the time we got back to the bike shop, it was cooling off--which meant not much time left at the beach with the sun still up. I'll put all of the beach pictures together in a later post.

We rode the ferry back across to Balboa Island, all while the sun was setting. We couldn't have planned this afternoon better.

B's boss insisted we eat dinner at The Capital Grille. Little did we know how pricey it would be! (We are talking $145 for the two of us, yikes!) I called ahead to make reservations and told them it was an anniversary celebration. When we got to our table, they had left heart confetti and a card for us.

We probably won't ever eat at that nice of a place again, so we enjoyed every minute. And made a few funny memories including accidentally getting chocolate cake smeared all over the white tablecloth. I'm sure they were relieved to have us hoodlums out of their joint by the end of the night. Such a great way to end our day.