A Beautiful Day

Eucalyptus Trees

Beach at Santa Cruz

Today we are truly snow birds. The morning dawned grey, but quickly turned bright blue.
Santa Cruz was the destination; we drove along the coast amazed at the stretch of open sea, blue sky and beaches. This is the first clear sky since we left on this trip.

Our goal today was groceries, gas and propane, and goodies for the holiday. Several bakeries line the main street of SC. Q chose the French bakery. Lo and behold, next door, a charcuterie. O happy day. Baguette, pastry and pate.

After shopping (and what a great Trader Joes) we headed to the beach. The water was colder than I expected.

My foot

This morning, before we left camp, we had chosen and reserved (!) a campsite on Lake Pinto. This is essentially an RV park within a city park on a lake. A perfect location to allow us to enjoy more time in Santa Cruz and Monterrey, and is reasonably priced.

It is amazing what sunshine and warm weather will do for the spirit. The weather is just right. Not too hot, not too cold, and not at all like Oregon. Its taken 850 miles and 9 days but we finally have achieved sunshine (at least for today.)
Now were are at Pinto Lake Park, a campsite within a city park on the side of a 10,000 year old lake. The beautiful orange of the trees seems actually to be the result of the long term drought, and the pool of water surrounding it, the result of recent heavy rains. Certainly the combination of the orange foliage and blue sky reflected in the puddle creates beauty,


Rain after Drought

On the downside, Rosco got a tic at our last site. He, we have often experienced, has sensitive skin. It took a while to discover what was making him so miserable. This is the first time I have removed a tic, but read how to do it at the campsite registration kiosk (I guess it happens a lot). Icky. Now, he is still itchy and on Benadryl, poor guy.

This last photo was taken as the sun was setting - the first clear night. There is a fingernail moon in the trees. Then the stars came out. A really beauty filled day from beginning to end.



Fingernail Moon at Sunset