Santa Cruz

At the moment I'm sitting in a cafe in the downtown area of Santa Cruz while a man with a large gray beard sings Beatles' songs.  He's doing alright.  Today I plan to drive further down the coast, possibly to Big Sur.  I got a tip from someone that it's safe to go there now, in other words, it is no longer on fire.  So that's what today holds, so maybe I'll add more later.

Yesterday was really bright and sunny.  I woke up and walked about a mile and a half into the downtown area, hit up a cafe for breakfast, and then walked to the beach.  The beach was really busy, and part of the boardwalk is an amusement park so there were a bunch of roller coasters and rides.  At one of the shops along the boardwalk I hastily purchased some sun tan lotion and a really cheap sand-mat.  I found a spot on the super hot sand, and layed out for fifteen minutes.  After baking I jumped into the water.  First time in the Pacific!  The water was very cold and the sand that swirled in the surf was dark with small gold flecks.  After my beach stint I walked back downtown and caught an afternoon showing of The Dark Knight.  It was awesome.  For dinner I had some great falafel.  I am happy to report that San Francisco is the only place I have ever been served cold falafel, and that Santa Cruz is not afflicted by the same bizarre compulsion that lingered at that cafe in Haight Ashbury.  

Today it is cold in Santa Cruz.  Alas, for the cloud cover that I thought I had escaped from once I left San Francisco has somehow found me.  Therefore I must venture further south to escape this cloud cover once more.

Time to hit the road.

- paul