Little Blue Cottage

This post idea came to me after a night of looking back at my camera roll and remembering all of the things I did last year. That happen to anyone else? Just me? Okay. Lol.

At the very top of last year, one of the first things I did was... quit my job. But the very NEXT thing I did after I quit was take a trip somewhere I had never been before. Because why not? I had all the free time in the world so let's use it. (The beginning stages of unemployment were truly the best and most liberating.)

I spent a few days looking at AirBnb's, anywhere within a 2 hour drive of Los Angeles. I was looking for something not too expensive but still a nice getaway. (Planning a trip by yourself is really nice because you don't have to take into account anyone else's opinions but your own.)

Finally, I came across this little blue cottage on top of a mountain. It was only about $100 for the night and a two-in-a-half hour drive away. Not too bad. I booked it and a couple days later I was on my way.

I honestly love the driving part of a roadtrip. It's part of the whole experience. I am fortunate that I live in California because anywhere you drive is just gorgeous. The landscape also changes so quickly it makes it feel like time's flying by. This trip was the best because I had just left my job and I was driving through these amazing environments listening to my favorite music and feeling so free.

The cottage itself was the most perfect little thing. It sat on top of a mountain, in the backyard of someones' house. (The drive up was a little sketchy but worth it.) There was a fence surrounding the cottage so it felt like it's own property which was really nice. As I entered the gate and turned around, in front of me was a beautiful view of the mountains and the lake. To my left was the cottage- perfect size for 1-2 people, with an outside fire-pit (electric) and a table with some chairs to look out at the view. It felt like a mini wonderland to me. Just the right size. And it was quiet. So so quiet.

Sun started to set when I arrived, so I put my things in the cottage and immediately laid down on the bed. This bed was so plush and comfy... wow. There was also a bath robe hung outside of the bathroom door and a few small snacks sitting out. I packed a small bag of some food (fruit, canned soup, and oatmeal for the morning) and placed that in the fridge. Ahh. I was here. Time seemed to be moving slow for the first time in what felt like a year.

I heated up the canned soup and started the fire outside. I journaled a bit before eating and then watched the shadows on the mountains turn from deep hues of purple to black. The fire was warm and I sipped on some tea as the stars began to pop out one at a time. It was amazing.

For the rest of my time there I did whatever I felt like doing. I took a really long, hot shower while listening to music. I watched Cameron Diaz in "The Sweetest Thing". I read a bit. I danced a (lot). Soon enough I grew tired and fell asleep in the cozy bed.

In the morning I made oatmeal and sat outside at the little table overlooking the mountains. I took things slow. I didn't know what I was going to do for the day. Luckily, the cottage hosts had a little booklet on things to do nearby. They mentioned some natural hot springs in the area and I decided that's what I would do first. I put on my swimsuit, some clothes on top, packed up my things, and left the perfect little cottage.

I found the hot springs that sat along a river and eventually flowed into the lake. The hot springs were a little busier than I would have preferred so instead of hanging out and making conversation with people, (I wasn't in a place where I really wanted to make small talk) I walked along the river and found a spot to take my shoes off and dip my toes in the water. It was a littleee cold, but not too bad after some time.

And yeah, I kinda just sat there. I just looked out at this gorgeous scene in front of me. River, mountains, trees, birds- the whole 9. I eventually hiked back to my car and went into town to get some food. Everything was so new, so I took my time getting to each location. So much time that the food place I wanted to go to actually closed for the day lol. After walking around for a sec and finding a restroom, I headed back home. I made a pit stop on the way back to grab some food and eat in the car. I went to a grocery store and since I was so hungry, I loaded myself up with like, a ton of snacks. It was awesome.

It takes you through the Sequoia National Forest to get to this cottage/town. Since I didn't have to time to stop at it on my way there, I decided to stop on my way back. I didn't spend much time here, but I did park on one of those spots on the side of the road that give you room to park. (You know, the little extra spaces you can pull into when driving through the mountains?) I got out of my car and actually walked down into the mountain. The river was flowing more intensely here so I sat down and just watched. The rocks were surprisingly .. soft?? I honestly felt like I could take a nap lol...

As much as I didn't want to leave, that was my last stop. I got back in my car after my final mini-expedition and drove home as the sun was setting. Once again, listening to my favorite music and soaking up the insane views of the red, pink, and orange sky along the way.