Why are gas prices so high in California?

OK, I may be really dumb, and this is a serious question, but tell me in what universe this makes sense? These are gas prices from across the country this week. In Simpsonville, South Carolina regular gas is $2.13. In Denver, Colorado, Regular gas is $2.70. And in Oceanside Harbor, California, Gas is a whopping $4.36!

Why are gas prices so high in California?

Even read this article - http://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2015/07/12/survey-us-gasoline-prices-down-2-cents-in-the-past-2-weeks that states "California sees prices at the pump spike amid national downward trend".  This asks the same question but the answer seem lame.

Its Better to See Something Once Than Hear About it a Thousand Times

I read this phrase the other day as I was bouncing around Pinterest.  It struck chord with me because there so many wonderful things to see and experience in this world that everyone should be inspired to get out and LIVE and EXPLORE this world while we are in transit from one reality to another.

I've been lucky enough to travel to many fabulous destinations and I've been luckier to be able to capture some fabulous memories about those places.  I decided to take the Korean proverb "Its Better to See Something Once Than Hear About it a Thousand Times" and apply it to some of my favorite images from places i've experienced.

In the top left is the proverb.  In the bottom right is the location of where the photo was taken and what I see when I look at it.

By the way, my Pinterest page is http://pinterest.com/abeytaphoto/

The Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) at dusk as the
Arno River flows beneath it in Florence Italy

Central Park in the Fall.  The rich and bold
Colors in an amazing landscape in New York City

The pier just before sunrise in Oceanside California

Two lovers on a romantic escape on the
Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic

Enjoying a warm bench on a crisp fall day
In Amsterdam, The Netherlands.  This couple
Enjoyed the view of the Prinsengracht.

Keys Creek Lavendar Farm

Not too far outside of San Diego, just north of Escondido, there is a beautiful lavender farm called Keys Creek Lavendar Farm (http://www.kclfarm.com/).  From Mission Valley, its a short 50 minute drive to this quaint little area full of various types of these purple blooms.

We took an early drive this morning to make our first visit . . . and now I wonder why it took us so long to get there.  The staff is friendly, they have acres of land to walk through and explore, and a great selection of lavender based products . . . who would have thought of Lavender Body Mist?  Well, I guess people who grow lavender.

If you check out there website, they have lots to share . . . even recipes you can make with lavender . . . like their herb goat cheese tart!

Anyway, being the shutter bug, i wanted to share with you these beautiful flowers . . . I am not even sure i did them justice.  If not, take your own ride up north and see for yourself.  There are lots of other places to visit like Rincon Casino, Lawerence Welk Village, or, take the long route home and go west towards the coast and drive south on 101 through Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solano Beach, etc.  You won't be disappointed.

Oh, go earlier rather than later . . . although it was a nice 72 degrees this morning, it was getting warmer.