Redwoods, Pacific, and the City - What a Day

Our day off in the San Francisco area was incredible!  Mike O, Vince and I started out early Tuesday morning and headed south,  In no time at all we were climbing the Santa Cruz Mountains.  From the top we could easily see the Pacific off to our west and the peninsula to our east.

Looking east from the Santa Cruz mountains at the Peninsula south of San Francisco

Look from the mountains west toward the Pacific

We stopped in the delightful little town of Boulder Creek for a sandwich for lunch before heading into the Big Basin State Park and the amazing redwoods.  I was mentally prepared for the idea of these huge, ancient trees but I couldn't really appreciate either their size or age until I actually saw them.  All three of us were like kids, but Vince especially wanted to climb every tree.

Downtown Boulder Creek, California

Look in the lower left on the downed trunk to find Vince

And I thought Mike O was tall....

One of the smaller trees at the entrance to the park

What can I say?

Shooting straight up in the midst of a redwood circle

We finally tore ourselves away from the woods and headed for the coast.  It was cool and windy but beautifully clear.  I'm so used to the eastern coast and the flat, open beaches.  California is much different.  Driving up the Pacific Coast Highway was a thrill in itself, but stopping every so often to take in the cliffs and the kitesurfers and lighthouses and caves and beaches was a jaw-dropping experience.

From a cliff overlooking the coastline

We made our way down the cliffs to this open space

Wow...

Mike O got this great shot of  the lighthouse at Pigeon Point...

...and this shot of kitesurfers taking advantage of the high winds.

Check out the spray from the wave hitting the rocks in front of Vince

Vince admiring the Pacific sunset

After sunset we stopped in Half Moon Bay for dinner then headed north into the city.  It was late, but we drove across the Golden Gate into Sausalito, then drove back into town to meet some other cast and crew in the Top of the Mark, a bar on the 19th floor of the Intercontinental Mark Hopkins hotel that offers a full view of the city of San Francisco.  What a city!

Driving across the Golden Gate Bridge at Night

The San Francisco skyline from the Top of the Mark

It was a day of incredibly diverse landscapes and terrific fun with my friends.  I can see why folks around here are willing to risk the occasional earthquake.  It's worth it.