Santa Cruz/Monterey Area

So much to write about, I hardly know where to begin. I guess the logical place to start is our arrival in this neck of the woods. We stayed at an RV park in Watsonville, about halfway between Santa Cruz and Monterey. We started out with our “work” before we could play. It was time for sanitizing the water system in the motorhome. Not something you normally think about but something that we have to do from time to time when you are drinking through a water hose or your onboard tank. After that was done, we started looking for a dentist as it was time for our six month cleaning. Not an easy task I have to say. First you have to find someone that is in the network with the insurance company and then to find someone taking new patients and doesn’t have a long waiting list. We stopped at one to inquire and was told they couldn’t get us both in so on to the next. The next one we stopped in their parking lot and both decided it didn’t look like a place we trusted. Back to the drawing board. The third we stumbled on because it was right across from the Anytime Fitness Center we were working out at so we walked in to ask. They could take us but you would think you could just go in for a cleaning. Well, no, you have to get all the x-rays first even though we had just had them taken at our last dentist visit in Virginia Beach. And no, they won’t take them from there. Anyway, had to do it so went through all of that and it was stressful. Even more so than going to a new hair stylist. But it is done and won’t have to worry about going to a strange dentist for a year.

Now with all the chores done we set out to explore. We drove around Santa Cruz and Capitola. We had dinner with a good friend, Chase Newby, at a terrific restaurant called Shadowbrook, built into a hillside . They have a cable car that you can take down from the parking lot. Too cool! Check it out. 

Monterey and Carmel were next on the agenda.  We drove along the coastline admiring the water, the golf courses and the lovely homes in Carmel-by-the-Sea.  That is where we stopped for lunch.  What a beautiful town.  

On Saturday we got to see Kean’s brother, Kevin, drive his race car in a race at the Mazda Speedway in Monterey.  It is a hobby for Kevin and he was up for a race and the timing was perfect for us to go watch.  Even got to hang out later for dinner in Monterey Bay.  I had never seen a car race in person and it was fun. 

The last part of the trip was a hike at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park at Big Sur.  Great hike up the mountain with gorgeous views of the coastline from the top.  And the forest itself was amazing with all the redwoods.  The photo at the top is from there.  Here are some others.  As you can see we had some company on the trail that day.  A couple of snakes were sunning themselves.  Not sure what type they were but they didn’t rattle so that was a good thing.

So there you have it.  A great week and a half in a fun-filled place.  If you ever get the opportunity to come to this area you will see how much there is to experience.  If nothing else the drive down the coastline on Route 1 is something you just have to see.  Thanks Renee Newby-Friedman for the advice on what to see and do.  Wish you had been here to show us around.

So now we are on our way to Oregon.  A couple of stops before we get there.