Arriving in Santa Cruz, California in the early evening we found a hotel for he night, asking the gentleman at the front desk for a dinner recommendation. On the way to the restaurant we drove around a little, passing the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk with its roller coaster and ferris wheel sandwiched between the street and the sand.
Driving onto Santa Cruz Wharf the next morning, a novelty for us east coasters. I always like to open my car window when near the ocean and as soon as our tires hit the wharf we heard them, the sea lions honking and barking. Parking near their vocal stylings we walked to the railing, Mister Rain telling me that he could see the amusement park on the boardwalk from here.
Looking down into the water, the sea lions were swimming and playing. Many were on their own wharf, sunning and relaxing. One larger fellow did not move; using the binoculars this marine biologist declared he was of a mature age. Going with that, “He is not in the mood to suffer these young fools surrounding him,” I said to my husband.
Mister Rain was unusually quiet. I asked if he was okay. “This may be the coolest thing I’ve ever seen,” he said.
We stayed for a long time watching the incredibly engaging sea lions propelling themselves straight up out of the water as high as they could so that they would then be able to hurl themselves onto their wooden chill zone. Often they would get their head and flippers onboard but couldn’t hold on. Eventually they made it, those of us on the wharf cheered when they successfully landed on the platform.
Finally we tore ourselves away. Our next stop was the Natural Bridges State Beach. The star of the show here is the Natural Arch, a result of coastal erosion (photo above title). Originally there were three arches but two have since collapsed, also due to the ongoing disintegration caused by waves and wind. The first fell in the early 20th century, the second during a storm in 1980.
The scene was picturesque. Gulls and shorebirds perched atop the arch, beach goers were spread across the light sand, smooth and inviting, its color a complimentary contrast to the dazzling deep blue sea. Yellow flowers covered the south cliff beneath us.
All I previously knew of Santa Cruz was the amusement park next to the ocean. What I found is a captivating town surrounded by the beauty and wonder of nature, causing my pulse to quicken and my breath to catch without ever riding the roller coaster.
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