I had dreamt about going to Northern California ever since reading John Steinbeck's novels while growing up in Germany. The region around Monterey and Carmel held a special appeal for me.
I finally made the drive one day from L.A. along Pacific Coast Highway up north, stopping many times along the way. When I saw the vibrant reds and greens of the iceplant against the white sands of the dunes I fell in love!