It's another warm day, perfect for shorts and T-shirt. We take frequent breaks along the way, most notably a lunch stop at Pigeon Point, with a lighthouse and a wide open view of the ocean. There are numerous state beaches along the way, and quite a few surfers enjoying the waves.
At one point, about 15 miles before Santa Cruz we stop to observe windsurfers and kitesurfers and take pictures of their acrobacies in the water. A car pulls in, a middle-aged guy comes out in a suit, shirt and tie and gets undressed right before my eyes to change into a wetsuit. This is California Dreamin' at its best, I think!
Santa Cruz as a town is charming and quite eccentric - home to the University of California (UCSC), it has a vast young population and a historic boardwalk with coasters and carousels. It makes a fun destination for a family trip. We arrive in Monterey but by the time we find the campground we miss the sunset. We are ready to explore the town by night, we start the Vespa before dismounting it and it works. So we grab helmets, and hop on it, and it won't start again. We are 4 miles away from downtown with no way of getting there. Frustrated, Petr spends the evening reading Vespa forums and manuals online, while I do some work and finish reading a book.
Morning clouds in Pacifica, CA.
The mighty Pacific ocean slamming against the rocks at Pigeon Point.
The lighthouse.
Waves and rocks.
A view of the coast.
A kitesurfer.
Another one.
A windsurfer.
Another one.
A cyclist with his dog in Santa Cruz.