Under the Boardwalk

Song - Stars & Stripes Forever by the U.S. Marine Band

For the Fourth of July we headed down to Santa Cruz for a few days but it didn't look like the above picture......

It looked more like this! PACKED!

Luckily we were a few miles away in the Redwood Forest.

Painting, reading, walking and relaxing.  It was incredible weather and we ate dinner on the deck every night.

We brought our guard dog Mika with us!

There was a parade down our little lane that began with the new fire truck blowing its siren.

Followed by the old fire truck blowing its rickety old siren.

Followed by kids young and old.

 

People decorated their cars, trucks, golf carts, bikes, strollers, skateboards and shoes.  Anything that moved.  Mr. B and I just parked our lawn chairs in front of our cabin and ate our lunch while waving to the parade going by.

Heckle and Jeckle were in the tree nearby, cheering on the crowd! Every morning we would wake to them making a weird clacking sound. Apparently it is the noise of dominate females.  They sounded just like the bushmen tribe in "The Gods Must be Crazy".

 

Later in the day we took a drive to Lighthouse Point to watch the surfers but there were few waves and even fewer surfers. 

People were enjoying their Fourth out on the water.

And on the wild rides at the Boardwalk.  We got caught in a major traffic jam so I was able to take plenty of photos from the car.

How often do you think they inspect those bolts????





"You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family 
picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flied die from happiness.  You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism." -- Erma Bombeck

Hot Summer Nights

 Heatwave by Martha & The Vandella's

My dad at the Boardwalk beach a few years ago!

Just returned from 3 days in Santa Cruz with Mr. B, Andy & Ashley and Max. 

Mika got to stay with Grandma & Grandpa and get spoiled for a few days. 

It has been so hot here in California that the hills are brittle and brown while the trees are begin to show signs of distress. Everyone and everything is "crisping up" - is that a word?

However, Santa Cruz was beautiful up in the Redwood forest.

Our first night there we dined out on the Wharf.  For the life of me I could not get a good photo of the Boardwalk with all of rides whizzing by in full color.  (I think I had better read my camera manual!)

Is it plumb Mr. B.?

The guys worked on the cabin deck.  This has been a real team effort as everyone goes down to work as they find the time. Notice how Mr. B supervises while Andy is "in the trenches"???

Ashley and I fed the guys and worked on individual projects inside as it was warm even there. However, late one afternoon she took me for a joyride in my parents golf cart.  I didn't know golf carts could go so fast!!!

Just kidding, she was an excellent driver and we enjoyed taking a tour of the park with Max sitting between us.

Max supervised the guys work from inside the cabin and he made sure that Ashley & I were safe from big dogs that would walk by.


On Saturday evening we played a wild game of shuffleboard.  We were not too sure of the correct rules but Andy & I are sure that we skunked Mr. B & Ashley!!!

Huveros Rancheros casserole with a poached egg on top

This morning the guys did some work and then the four of us went to Gayle's Bakery in Capitola for Brunch.  Yum-oooh.


If you have never been there, it's a great spot for some wonderful food, casual dining or getting something to go and heading to the beach for a picnic! 

Always a hit with my boys - Fresh Fruit Tartlettes

Cute "broken plate" tables at Gayles

One question for my brother Tim.....what's up with this addition? You used 45 screws for a temporary little step?  Mmmmm......I had better check the receipt book for the cost of that item!

Mr. B checking out the decks progress....

Looks plumb to me!

 Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.  It turns what we have into enough, and more.  It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.  ~Melody Beattie

First One in the Water

Song - Surfin' USA by The Beach Boys

For years now, I have really wanted to attempt painting a "Woodie" so I have been wanting to go to Santa Cruz and see "Woodies on the Wharf". So this last Saturday I had it circled in red on my calendar.

                                       

But it was not meant to be.....as we ended up having commitments at home.

Mr. B and I were able to head on down the next day to enjoy some time in the ocean air.

The weather was incredible.  It was so clear that you could see across the Monterey Bay!

 We spent time with my parents at their cabin and then the four of us headed to the Wharf for dinner.

I'm not a big seafood lover and after seeing this guy in the window, I opted for the prawns.

Fond memories from my youth but now I'd like to keep my teeth!

After dinner we strolled down the wharf and watched people enjoying the Boardwalk.

A tank of fresh crab

The Big Dipper

Cocoanut Grove

Warm evening to sail

On Monday morning Mr. B and I had breakfast on the Wharf and watched the surfers near the Lighthouse.

Small swells but they seemed to be having fun!

The closest I got to a "Woodie"

 

  

I discovered a mama seagull on top of an outbuilding on the wharf

She seemed to be saying "What are you looking at?"

Then a little head popped up and I realized she was protecting her little brood.

"Hey, what are you looking at?"

.....I mean haven't you ever seen Spiderman playing a guitar before?

"Hey, what are you looking at? oops! I mean....check me out!"

 

"You'd catch 'em surfin' at Del Mar, Ventura County Line, Santa Cruz and Trestles." - The Beach Boys