June 30, 2013—Sunday—Santa Cruz/Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse aka Santa Cruz Surfer’s Museum near Pleasure Point

June 30, 2013—Sunday

            A mainly stay-at-home day. Ate leftovers from last night--believe me even more delicious the 2^nd time. After a trip to Costco, Kim, Iris, Dave, Malia, and Elena went to a hike at Falls Creek. We stayed home and continued what we started—laundry and cleaning up a bit around the house, stripping and washing the Teardrop bed and a bit of work on the blog. That and continuing to enjoy this paradise where we are so privileged to be at this time. Then we took off for West Cliff Drive to photograph the second and final lighthouse in Santa Cruz.

            There were only three keepers at the original Santa Cruz Light. The first keeper, A.A. Hecox, was

succeeded in 1883 by his daughter Laura, who faithfully attended to the light until her retirement in 1916. Arthur Anderson served until the light was discontinued in 1941.

In 1965 eighteen-year-old Mark Abbott drowned while surfing near the point. His parents used the insurance money to build a brick lighthouse near the site of the old light.

"Our family had always loved lighthouses, so we decided it was the best thing to do." (Nelson, p. 69) The lighthouse was completed in 1967. The new lighthouse replaced the wooden tower. The original lantern room was from the Oakland Harbor Light. (The lantern room was replaced in 1996 due to corrosion.) Today, a working optic with a red tint is housed in the lantern room.

The Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse is currently home to the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum. The museum was founded in 1985 by Longboard Union members Dave Dyc and Boots McGhee, who received permission to house the museum in the lighthouse. The museum opened in May of 1986, and is a branch of the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. The lighthouse is currently threatened by erosion, which is undermining the point.

           On the way back, we stopped at Dharma’s a fabulous vegetarian restaurant in Santa Cruz, for a quart of their Tahini Lemon Dressing and Marinade. I dream of this stuff, and still have not found anyone who has been able to secure the recipe, nor found any “faux” recipe on the internet. If anyone has this fabulous recipe, PLEASE won’t you share!! And a stop at Trader Joe’s for a new TJ bag as the big one I had was filled too full and the strap tore off. All this in preparation of leaving tomorrow L

          We contacted Zach Ledet and we’ll be going to his house in Suisun City to visit and spend a night or two after getting the photos of the East Bay lighthouses completed.  There are 3 or 4 of them…Roy is doing the navigation on these so not sure.   Also contacted Roxy and Rudy de Koning in Sacramento about staying with them until after the 4^th of July weekend. Campgrounds are booked and it’s too crazy trying to find anything available during this big family weekend.

          I have spoken to people at home in Prescott, and the loss of the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshot crew members hangs heavy over everyone. And grief and concern for the people of Peeples Valley and Yarnell who have lost their homes or are still evacuated until the fire can be brought under control.  The 4^th festivities which are legendary in Prescott, will be dedicated to the memories of those who fell giving their lives to save the homes, property, and lives of others.  A very sad sad day indeed.

         So this is our last night at the Wallace’s Garden of Eden RV Village in Santa Cruz. It’s been such a delight being here, seeing so many wonderful friends, and being recipients of such fabulous hospitality, great food, and friendship that can never be repaid. We hope to see them in AZ at our place soon after we return in October, and hopefully we can reciprocate just a little at least.

June 29, 2013---Saturday—Santa Cruz Harbor lunch at Aldo’s with Steph and Maureen; OAEC Reunion at the Wallace’s House

June 29, 2013-Sunday

        We have a date to meet Steph and Maureen Betita at the harbor today for lunch at Aldo’s. Steph

and Roy worked together when we lived here, and that’s when Maureen and I met. Maureen is a writer of sci-fi romance fiction and a truly creative and fun person. We keep in touch

on Facebook, but can’t wait to see them again.

        The day was perfect. Sunny, a slight breeze keeping things cool at the harbor, and under a big umbrella we had a great time talking, reminiscing, laughing, and had a great lunch. Could have stayed the rest of the day, but alas things to do for everyone. They frequent Sacramento, so told them to call if they were there during our slotted time and maybe we could get together again.

        When we got home, Iris said that they had invited some of the OAEC home schooling families over to get together before we left. This is such a treat being with      
such fantastic people and I love seeing them again. Donna came with Bella and Cassandra

          

  
(whom I didn’t even recognize and had to be told who she was), Patty and Mike came, and we were joined by Mary and Darren Luther a little late but they were so wonderful to come since they had just gotten home that afternoon from an Alaskan cruise and had tons of things to do and needed to rest. I’m glad they weren’t practical and came to see us. 

        We ate outside on the back porch, with lots of sharing and laughter, played Cornhole (have got  
to get one of those when we get home…fun and even Roy liked it), and had a great time. We were then playing Mexican Train inside when the “kids” from OAEC when I was there showed up. The Luther boys, Connor and Caleb; Patty and Mike’s Dylan; Cassandra was already there; and so were Nick and Ty since they live there.  Okay, I am official older than dirt…these were all tow headed little children when I left, and they are all handsome and beautiful young adults now, doing their own thing, have their own lives, etc.  It was wonderful and sad at the same time seeing them all.

 What a fabulous stay we've had, and I must say the best part was the people as usual. This trip is becoming more and more about the renewal of friendships than about lighthouses or loos (Roy is definitely falling down on the job in that arena) and that’s okay, because friends are immensely more important and satisfying than buildings. Everyone is invited to come and visit and stay with us for as long as they’d like whenever they’d like. We love this group and they will always be a part of my heart.

 

June 28 2013--San Jose and Ty's Birthday

June 28 2013-Friday--168003 Odometer reading

         SO here we are cuddling into the Teardrop after another great day in paradise.  There are great guitar riffs and bass sounds coming from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and tonight Gene Rawlins from the original Santana band is playing. Friday nights all summer is the Summer at the Boardwalk concert series with fabulous music and big name musicians, and people come from San Jose, and North and South of Santa Cruz by the hundreds. Numbers of people in attendance easily hit 1000 and fill the boardwalk. I wish I was there, but my body is telling me here is a good place too. If there was a way to sell our place in Prescott and move here, there would be no argument between us about doing it...we love it here. But alas, we know why it's so bloody expensive here...because it is truly paradise.
          Went to San Jose today (it is NOT paradise...I hate the traffic) to see Mike and Itoko Long. Mike and

Roy have been friends since Air Force days, and that's a damn long time!! It's been much too long a time since we've seen them, nearly 11 years. They have a different place then when we left the area--a nice condo with 2 bedroom 

(one used as an office) and 2 bath, a cute patio with lovely flowers, and within walking distance to markets and establishments they need to frequent. We reminisced, caught up on things going on now with kids and grandkids, laughed, and talked, cherishing every minute of our too short visit. 
          After our visit, we made our way over Highway 17. Still the same and glad we left early as traffic going to the Boardwalk was, as usual, packed.  But no accidents, so no back ups and that's a good thing!
          Today is Ty's 19th Birthday!! We got home a bit after 3pm and it was still in the high 80's, but within 30 minutes the breeze came in and the temps started dropping. Thirty minutes later is was a cool and respectful 73 degrees. These temps may not seem hot to you guys in Phoenix and/or Prescott with your 100+ daily temperatures, but believe me with the humidity, it's not pleasant. Iris, Dave, Roy and I sat on their  shady back porch and relaxed and

talked. Dave was up at 3:00 a.m. to go fishing, and Iris left at 9:0am to go to the farm to work; Ty and Jenna went on a huge hike/swim at Big Sur to celebrate his birthday, and Nick went to SJSU for orientation--freshman this year. Kimara, Malia, Elena, Iris' sister and children visiting from Switzerland were at the Boardwalk after a long day of Jr Life Guard competition for Malia. Soon everyone started arriving back to the house. 
          About 4:30 we received a call back from our friend and former chiropractor Robert Jaramillo and

we set up a 5:30 meeting time at Marianne's Ice Cream on Ocean Avenue. It was so good to see him again...as fun, inquisitive and  charming as ever, and still gives great hugs!  He was especially interested in Uruguay, and we 

discussed the pros and cons. He had in years past trekked in Chile, Argentina, and other South American countries, and wanted our take on why we had wanted to (and still do) move there. Who knows...if he decides to head out that way, we may go down too, but that's a big if. He still has his parents here who are aging and need his help, so I truly don't see it happening in the near future. 
          We came back to the Wallace residence in time for a sushi do-it-yourself bar, with Iris and Dave having made, sliced, and diced ingredients from their freezer, back yard and pantry--smoked tofu, salmon, cucumber, nuts, avocado, etc., along with sheets of nori for wrapping and Tamari and Wasabi for spicing them up. Delicious!!!  I had purchased a gluten free chocolate loaf cake, but we decided to not eat it as Ty and Jenna and friends had gone out to dinner to celebrate and he was not present at the time, but came back in time to partake in some celebrating with Stuart's ice cream, sparkling lemonade and pomegate juices, the delicious cake and the traditional blowing out of candles and singing, etc. Then a game of Mexican Train began with all the laughter and cajoling that goes with it. 

Jenna and Ty

  

Malia Kim and Elena 

                                                

The birthday guy blowing out his candles

This is such a great family and so are their friends. We are so grateful and blessed to have been welcomed into their home and included in their lives and to have stayed here in our Teardrop this week. 
         I'm hoping to get up early tomorrow and work on this blog. I'm SOOOOO far behind and some days are getting mixed up with others at this point, plus I have tons of photos to edit! But being with friends is so much more enticing than typing and editing!!!

June 27 2013--Santa Cruz and North Lighthouses--Dancing on the Beach

June 27 2013—Thursday---167870 Odometer reading

          After doing three loads of laundry, much needed, we took off to the lighthouses up the northern coast near to Santa Cruz.

          First on the list Ano Nuevo. However, we found out there is no lighthouse at Ano Nuevo. There was a light…a full Fresnel lens…but it was mounted on top of a water tower, and then on top of a scaffolding tower.  When the U.S. Coast Guard decided to decommission it, it was to be placed onto buoys, but alas, suddenly it disappeared. Roy figures it’s in a frat house somewhere in the area.

          There was a lightkeepers house, which is still there but badly in disrepair. Plus it’s out on an island off shore. It used to be connected, but with the years of waves, wind, and wear, it became an island and thus in accessible from land. Today there was fog, so tried my best, but couldn't see anything out there.

          Next was Pigeon Point. This is a full Atlantic-

style lighthouse, one of 3 on the West Coast of the U.S., and we have been here many times before. I took shots from south of the lighthouse on the bluff instead of up close and personal, so the magnificent coast and waves, along with the blooming spring/ summer flowers, can be seen. It's a beautiful edifice, and also a hostel where you can stay, thus having lodging at one of the most picturesque locations for little to nothing. What a treat.

          The surf is high today and the water is a beautiful Caribbean blue. Wild flowers are in bloom, and taking photos is a joy. Only down side today is some pretty gusty winds, that were a little

 
disconcerting while standing on the edge of the bluffs.

          On the way up we passed farm stand and Swanton’s U Pick farms advertising fresh organic strawberries, carrots, cabbages, Olallieberries, blueberries, blackberries, figs and more. It’s making me crazy not to be able to take this abundance home and can/freeze/dehydrate in order to have it in my pantry to enjoy during the cold winter ahead. It also makes me think of my loaded apple and plum trees at home with fruit going to waste. Sigh!

          From Pigeon Point we headed to the Montera Lighthouse. No problems getting up close and

personal here, plus getting great shots of the lighthouse and the surrounding grounds, buildings, and ocean cliffs. Walked right up to it, and held onto the doorknob while Roy took a photo of me next to it. It’s a short lighthouse, but still filled with character. It too is a place where you can stay overnight.

It would be a fabulous get away to come to to read, write, meditate, relax, and just get completely away in a setting that you would pay thousands of dollars for anywhere else in the world. Surrounded by the spray, surf, sites, sound, and smell of the ocean, relaxation certainly wouldn't be difficult, nor would creativity. I think it’s a definite to do in the future for me.

 

          On our way back to Santa Cruz we stopped at Bean Creek Beach as the skies were filled with the para-sails of wind surfers.  It was so pretty and unexpected it put a smile on everyone’s face.

 

          And is there any chance of driving by Pescadero and not stopping for a bowl of the Cream of Artichoke or Cream of Green Chili soup?  Not for us, especially the green chili soup for Roy. Many years ago I was privileged to get the recipe from them, and so I had to taste it again just to make sure mine still tasted the same…will do the taste test when I get home and make it again. A bowl of that creamy delicious soup with the crunchy sour dough bread is the best meal ever. Too bad I had to skip the bread, but still worth it (and I did have a little bit of the crust with some butter on it, just couldn't help myself).

          Back in Santa Cruz, we went down to the harbor early to find a parking spot as tonight is the Crow’s Nest music/dance on the beach. We were meeting Donna Seda and daughter Bella, Mike Morash and Patty Talbot, and Iris and Dave down there for some listening and dancing pleasure. 

 

Oops…Guayo couldn't go in the seating/dancing area, so we sat outside by the restaurant in the shade as much as possible and I went in to dance a little and take photos for a little while why Roy babysat the Guayo.  Then on to home for a big snooze in the Lil Guy Teardrop…it has been a long day.

June 26 2013-Wednesday--Point Sur, Point Pinos, Arrival in Santa Cruz

June 26 2013, Wednesday---167761 Odometer Reading

        Back tracking today after a day and 2 nights in Monterey at a motel.  A needed respite for all of us..

        We are off to Point Pinos Light in Pacific Grove, home of the Monarch butterflies and the 17 Mile 

Drive. We arrived, and it is not open today. However, an employee was coming out, and allowed us to go on to the grounds to get a few shots without the fences being in the way. We talked to her a bit and found out some very interesting history and goings on about the light.

      The US Coast Guard “gave” the lighthouse to the city as they didn’t have funds to maint it, but a bit of an albatross for the city too, as they have limited funds also. She told us that a foundation was set up, with entry fees and donations helping out, plus many very skilled artisans and trades people gave their labor free. That still left plenty of costs for materials. She said the special paint for

the chimney was $300 a gallon…and one of the workers accidentally spilled one of the gallons!  Tours were Thursday through Monday, so we couldn’t go through the building itself, but still gave her a donation toward the restoration and maintenance. I want these wonderful lights to be around for my grandchildren and others to be able to see them, and they are going by the wayside faster than I thought possible.

        After a bit of a drive around Pacific Grove, we headed south for the Point Sur Lighthouse and gorgeous coastal drive that we had missed in the fog and drizzle of two days earlier. SO much better today then on Monday. The sun is out, the fog is sparse, and the waves are high, so we’re able to get some of the classic Big Sur coastal photos…Bixby Bridge, Big Sur coast, Rocky Creek, and various beach/rock/coast photos.  These amazing feats of engineering, the bridges crossing the ever-sliding Highway 1, were built in 1931 and 1932. They are continually being worked on, and the road between them is continually sliding into the ocean and having to be redone.  We came through three such construction sites, one of which is being built with a huge edifice going over the road, like a tunnel but with the West side open to the view, and made to look like rock work. The end result is that the slide will go over the edifice and not destroy the road each time it slides….and believe me, it will.  

 

  

   

        As we approach Point Sur, the fog has decided to come in again, and it was quite surreal…it looked like a giant wave between the rock of Point Sur and the coast.  Of course our luck…fog covered the lighthouse and the gate was locked as we’d missed the tour time. Oh well, we decided to travel further  along 1 south and see what we could see.

        We proceeded to River Inn and grabbed a bite to eat at the general store, some nice cold water, used the facilities, and made a purchase of a tie dyed hippie t-shirt!! 

     
      There were so many beautiful flowers, and I got so many great ideas for gardens back home...I am collecting photos and ideas for redoing the backyard at home and putting in more flowers, more plants, and just more ideas and beauty.  It makes me want to run home and get busy...almost!
 
  

        Turning back north, we lucked out...the fog lifted and we were able to take wonderful photos of Point Sur Lighthouse. 

Photo taken by Dale Ditsler on tour earlier in 2013

       Once back in Monterey, we stopped at the hotel where we had left the Teardrop in order to avoid turn around and parking problems for the day. On the way south earlier that day, we joked about not forgetting to pick it up and then having to drive all the way back from Santa Cruz!  

       So we hooked her up,headed North, and by late afternoon we arrived at our wonderful friends’ Iris and

Dave’s home in Santa Cruz, parked in their backyard (with help from Dave who could back up the Teardrop just fine).  It is the Garden of Eden with everything bearing fruit, blooming, and in rows and throngs of beauty.           

       Plus Donna and Henry heard we were going to be there, and dropped by to give a quick hello, and Iris' sister and girls, along with Ty and Nick are also there. It's so wonderful seeing everyone again!! This will be a wonderful stop over in so many ways!