Surfing & Sea Birds, Monarchs & Bikes

We really enjoyed touring the seaside pathway in Santa Cruz and watching the many surfers catching waves. We also sampled some beer at a local organic brewery and saw pelicans on our way to Natural Bridges State Beach, where the winter generation of monarch butterflies were hanging in droves from the eucalyptus trees. To top it off we were directed to the "Bike Church" where volunteers offer tools and tips for fixing up your bike, and Karl finally solved the ticking noise that was driving us both crazy on long climbs with a simple re-grease and tightening of his pedals. Our last stop in Santa Cruz was at Trader Joe's - it was our first time shopping there - which our American friends have often talked about given the great deals that can be had on delicious organic food. Yum!Read more