We keep coming back!
HCRI is like a romantic, ruined estate being restored to become a magically creative, artistic place. The natural surroundings, and the property itself, are so vast that you don't mind, or even notice, other people, the occasional piano playing in the common room above you, the parts of the carriage house that are undergoing construction, etc. My husband and I like the Walden Room (have been there five times now). It is enormous, with its own kitchen, relaxing area, open shower in a wonderfully tiled bathroom. Also, a kitchen table, a coffee table and a huge table for using computer, etc. The centerpiece of the room is a queen-sized bed around whose four posts Sunny has exquisitely hand- tiled his unique design on the floor. Everywhere you can see the beautiful wood paneling and interesting design that Sunny has brought to the place. He is a talented artist with a huge vision! We can sit on our tiled patio and relax, right next to as yet unfinished rooms whose outside walls are covered with Tyvek, and still admire the beauty of the place. Really, the "on-going" or "in progress" aspect of the place does not at all get in the way of the beauty and -- believe it or not -- the privacy -- of it all. You go to breakfast by crossing a wonderful swinging bridge that traverses the creek. And breakfast is a varied and generous meal indeed: an egg dish, some type of sausage, biscuits, poached pears, and fresh fruit, pancakes, etc. And the most wonderful and interesting company! Great stories, and somehow one always feels a personal connection with the guests, and with Sally, Sunny, and their staff. Up the hill is Sunny's "spa", a combination of bathing pools and cabins, again a vision becoming a serious reality. Within five minutes' walking distance is the beach, and there are trails going up into the hills to walk as well. A part we enjoy is toward evening, when the sheep clatter over the wooden wagon-bridge and come down into our yard, right up to our patio to munch the green grass. (We keep our dog inside for this part!) You enjoy the feeling of being in the raw country, while being comfortably taken care of, and connecting with the natural world and with unpretentious, interesting people.