Before we reached San Francisco, we stopped in Carmel (pronounced car•MEL for all you Indianapolisians who are used to CAR•mel) because dogs are allowed off leash on the beach. Very exciting! Isabel had a great time, though I think it was more novel to me than her (for her, it was just like any other open place for her to run freely).

She kept trying to lick the water, but then finding it to be salty, she became displeased. The waves rolling in over the sand were puzzling as well. Where she normally bounds into any water she can wade into, the movement of the waves caused her to back up to avoid the water altogether.