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Coastal calm

Trippin to Santa Cruz

By Carl Fisher

September 15^th, 2019

The Labor Day long weekend called for at least one excursion and I had been neglecting to give Santa Cruz the attention it deserves. Even though it's not that far away geographically from San Jose, spirituality it seems much farther. Maybe it’s a mind set thing. Or just being right up against the ocean rather than an inner Bay. It’s easier to appreciate the vastness around you when the horizon seems to go on forever.

Before hitting the beach, I explored a some inner sanctuary by taking in the Natural Bridges Monarch trail. No butterflies were spotted, but there were other winged creatures to admire.

landLubBin

Sometimes it's enough to just sit back and take in the view.

beaCh time

This far north the water is pretty chilly, which is why the legs were the only part of me that I was willing to immerse. Others were much braver. It seemed that the younger you were, the more inclined to go for the full immersion.

making a splash

I don't know if I was ever young enough to take such leaps off the edge as I was witnessing just out from the Santa Cruz lighthouse (aka the Surfing Museum). Sure, a wet suit helps fight off the chill, but you still have to get up the courage to make the drop.