How We Lost Our Groove in Santa Cruz

We left our friends in Yosemite and headed towards Monterey where we parked our home at Sunset State Beach. We arrived just in time for the sunset and that was the last we saw of the sun for what felt like years.

In Monterey we enjoyed the aquarium and clam chowder on the wharf. It was an idealistic day that was topped by taking the boys to their first old fashioned candy store and if their eyes weren't as big as saucers, they were at least half way out of their sockets.

On the wharf

On Sunday we headed to Santa Cruz. We pulled up to our site that was surrounded by some of the largest trees we've ever seen. There were kids running around the park and Oliver had quickly made friends while Austin chilled on the couch listening to his stories. Little did we know we should have encouraged some outdoor play as it would start to rain in an hour and then it would rain and rain and rain. We made friends with our next door neighbors Dianne and her three year old son and kept checking with each other if we had heard if there was going to be a break in the weather or giving warnings on the local skunk that had taken up residence under their camper.

The Cutie next door

The first day or two we made the best of it and headed into San Francisco where we found a cool park called the Golden Gate Park and played on their playground and explored the California Academy of Sciences (very cool!). We visited the Natural Bridges. We played in wet tide pools and with huge pieces of sea weed. The two littles covered themselves in wet sand and it felt good to be out. The next day we threw on some rain gear and took a hike in  Henry Cowell State Park that was next door to our site. It was a bit magical walking through these huge trees that were dripping with the water that this part of the world so desperately needs. I was able to reconnect and visit with my old college roomie and her new baby girl which was a really great day spent just outside of San Francisco exploring parks, having lunch and enjoying their local ice cream!. The next day the rain was still with us, and what seemed like a cozy time in the camper all of a sudden....wasn't.

Getting Wet!

He could stay here all day :)

Things that hadn't been hard now were. Keeping the camper dry was a full time job as everything was just damp, including the walls. Getting clothes washed was a bit of a waste as we then had to walk them back through the rain to get back to the camper. Feeding the dogs left your feet muddy. Walking the dogs left the camper muddy. We got grumpy and grouchy and I felt itchy to be out. It was a relief when my dad arrived and provided a distraction and was able to laugh at us and in turn had us laughing at ourselves. We regrouped.

Huge Seaweed!

A day out in San Francisco had us feeling like there was so much to see and do in this area. We visited Alcatraz, Ghiradelli Square, Lombard Street, and the Golden Gate Bridge. It was a day of togetherness that was welcomed with open arms and the week ahead looked to be promising, grey skies and all.

I flew out to LA to join my mom and my sister for Ellen Part 2 (saved for a later post) and heard about The Storm. The Storm of the Century was headed straight for our little neck of the woods in Santa Cruz. the ground that was soaked already was going to get another dumping and there would be more trees down and mudslides to navigate. We began to worry. After some quick decision making the boys and I changed our flights home to be on Tuesday so Chris could start driving on Wednesday and be out of the storm. At the moment, that extra $500 felt really painful, but in hindsight, when on Thursday the majority of people who stayed in the park were evacuating, it felt like the right decision.

Chris made his way home to Colorado and we are drying out, making plans, and getting excited for the next part of the journey!