Santa Cruz to Lake Tahoe 24th to 27th May

Downtown Santa Cruz

Not sure if we saw the best parts of Santa Cruz but I enjoyed the laidback atmosphere and the wonderful cozy internet café where everyone gathers.   They had about 35 different coffees and teas to choose from. 

  Allen found a picture on the wall that looked like one of his old girlfriends! 

 Santa Cruz’s name to fame is that it has the oldest seaside Amusement Park on the west coast. 

 

The rollercoaster was built in 1924 – no, we didn’t go on it.

 

Beach volleyball is very popular here.

Sadly we saw more homeless in town than anywhere else we’ve been too.   

Shopping was fun.  We followed the crowds to a sign “40% Discount” at O’Neill Surf Shop.  They’d set up a stall outside the shop and were selling cheap Ugg Boots.  Just what I need.   The assistant was over the moon, “Selling Ugg Boots to a pair of Aussies, man I really feel I’ve scored”.   

Onward and Upward  ( She means North )

On our scenic drive we stopped dead in our tracks at a sight that could have been Cornwall (UK).  It was a Lighthouse perched on top of a rugged coastline.  It was called Pigeon Point Lighthouse. 

 

  The Lighthouse stands 115 ft tall and has powerful lens called Fresnel lens.  Read all about it.  

 

Four of the original Light Station buildings have been converted into a Hostel.    

 

 

The wild flowers looked spectacular. 

Half Moon Bay State Beach

Arrived as lots of other campers were arriving for the start of the Memorial Day long weekend.  The weather had suddenly turned ‘orrible, it was cold and bleak but they still came pouring through the gates. 

 

Quite by accident we found a Visitors Information on the campsite that was hidden away behind the Ranger’s Station.  Not a good location for passing tourists.  After opening the heavy door I realised not too many people enter these premises.  The question I was dying to ask the lady was ‘how long have you been sitting here?’.   I wanted to dust her off.   Allen was much kinder and asked, “What interesting things can we do at Half Moon Bay?”  After a very long silence she said, “Oh there’s bird watching!”

Linda in her new Ugg boots. Note my Ugg Slippers

Have you looked outside, the fog is so thick you can’t see a hand in front of your face!   She then suggested we could fly a kite!  Our exit was quick.

Lodi

 

For all our sins we arrived at KOA Tower Park.  As we entered the Park the smoke from the BBQ’s were stinging our eyes but through the haze we could see we had landed in the middle of a cultural melting pot.

Every family had their own boom-box blaring and as we tried to find our site we had to negotiate kids, dogs, bike riders, skateboards, balls and frisbees.   A massive party in our backyard.  

 

 

We noticed our neighbour looked the image of Bill Cosby!  He had at least 8 ankle-biters and they were all singing and dancing to the music.  No sooner had we hooked up when the kids disappeared to the swimming pool and the music was lowered to a more reasonable level. 

 

Time for a drink and it wasn’t tea!!  Just got the glass to my lips when all the kids came running back screaming at the top of their lungs, poor little Rasta had cracked his head open in the Jacuzzi.   Bill Cosby just shook his head and laughed.  

The KOA was situated next to a Marina.  Lots of families were hiring boats for the day and some were just moored enjoying the lovely weather.  Watched a little boy on a standup paddleboard, he made it look so easy.