I have to start with the ocean and the fog banks off of the Santa Cruz shoreline. One of my favorite sights.

We stayed in our friends’ driveway in Santa Cruz and visited old haunts, more good friends, walked along the beach and in the redwoods. Santa Cruz has changed since we lived there, of course. And yet it had the same feel as before: a small, sweet beach town paired with a fast paced and bustling metropolis. Take your pick!

As always, there were surfers…

And the lighthouse

The Wharf to Wharf run that we got caught up in trying to get to the beach… hundreds and hundreds of people running and walking the 6 mile race. A great community event!

And finally, this friendly gull and friends hanging out in the Whole Foods parking lot. 

By Tuesday morning, we were feeling the need to head back toward New Mexico, though leaving Santa Cruz was a little hard. Cool breezes, foggy mornings and sunny afternoons, redwoods and ocean. We miss that for sure…