Tuesday in the redwoods

Forest of Nicene March State Park hike. Lunch at George's Picnic area. Drive through Big Basin.  Laundry . Dinner at diner and  marianne's for ice cream.

We followed the light blue line, but we didn't get as far as John is pointing.

We did get to the Top of the Incline!

Monday - elephant seals and butterflies

Drive to ano Nuevo. Lunch at Pescadero Stop at natural Bridges state park

Sunday in the redwoods

Today's adventure included a train ride, a hike in the redwoods and an albino tree. The Roaring Camp Railroad operates just sat and sun, so this was the day if we were going to go for it. Railroad is close (ish) to town but we decided to go early to find it and explore before 11 a.m. Train. We parked and got our tickets then went next door to Henry Cowell state park. Nice .8 mi trail through redwoods and a great intro from nature center guy. (& redwood expert) We learned from him ..and the brochure, there are albino redwoods.. Who knew? One was a stop on the nature trail, but then after the train ride we saw another on a short hike to an observation point where we could see all the way into Santa Cruz to the roller coaster.

I'm glad we spent the $ to go on the 1 hr train ride. John sat next to one of the crew and learned more about the operation..family-owned for 3 generations. Staff is paid, not volunteers, which is unusual.

 After our hike up to viewpoint bench, we drove back to the BW and dinner at Betty's, a local burger spot.

An albino redwood tree on the .8 loop nature trail

Large fern..not bracken. Who takes photos of plants for later ID? We do.

An even better albino redwood..off the main trail. And (below) a sycamore tree. Always reminds me of a song from Sunday School.

Walk around town

We explored Santa Cruz on foot this morning. Too bad I didn't have my pedometer. We walked through old downtown when homeless were just getting up and the tourists weren't out yet...9 a.m. Neighborhoods of Victorians and stucco mediterraneans up on a hill above downtown. Lots so little independent funky motels and fancy bed and breakfasts. We walked up sea cliff dr. To lighthouse park, past a surfing competition, to a park I heard about from front desk person at motel.. More butterflies... Even more than at Pacific Grove. I think we got some good photos. Funny part is that there were tons of people around and we only saw one other couple looking at the butterflies. Maybe low key on purpose. Then we walked back down to wharf and walked to the end where sea lions, noisy and sleeping kinds, slept on the walkways under the pier. Not sure how they get up ther unless they climb on I high tide and just stay... The wharf is 100 years old this year and businesses (shops and restaurants) along it have been around years, too. Then we walked back, had lunch along the way. Estimated walk distance - 5 miles.

Aquarium day and first butterflies

We went to Monterey today and it was a good thing. This weekend is the Monterey half marathon so we would have been in the middle of a big traffic mess. Plenty of buses of kids, but they were excited and enjoying the animals (and each other). Watched the otter feeding, jellyfish, octopus, kelp forest, anchovies, puffins. Penguins were getting remodeled and If there were rays we didn't see them. Photos when we get home...

Then we went to Pacific Grove to the butterfly sanctuary. I was prepared that maybe we wouldn't see any butterflies... But we did! We heard from an expert that there were about 8000 there today. When I spotted a branch loaded with butterflies ... Wow! Glad we had our binoculars with us, which we shared with some other visitors.

We drove home the scenic route to catch a few beaches.. Sunset and Sea Cliff.

Santa Cruz - November 2014

We took off from Portland in high winds, cold temps and mid-air bumpiness and landed in OAK Thursday in 60ish degree. Got our Chevy rental car and drove to Lafayette, stopped for lunch and then stopped at Lafayette Cemetery. Hadn't been there in awhile, but we found WSD, CBD and WBD quickly. Paths are bumpy, bench near the plot is disintegrating, but it's a nice spot. Went to walnut creek to see Uncle John. Visited for a while then headed to Santa Cruz via 680, 17 and got here before dark. Took a walk down Ocean Ave to stretch and see lay of the land. Friday we'll drive south and probably go to aquarium in Monterey. Staying at Best Western Suites, in mid renovation, but so far, not loud. Trying not to get on work email! J told me to go down for breakfast and now I'm back and he's asleep!

We bought a little $7 underwater camera at Long's Drugs and figured it was worth a try for our kayak/snorkel outing. There were bunches of these little yellow guys in the shallow water.