Back in 'Frisco'

We arrived feeling quite tired after our late night and early morning. Thankfully Tina & Johns friends, Tom & Judy were there to meet us. They live in Redwood city, just south of San Francisco, and we planned to spend our last night and 2 days with them, before leaving from home.

They had a van so we all went in one car together. They were just great tour guides. First stop was this general store in San Gregorio. It was on the old road that the stage coaches used to use. This store is apparently a bit of an institution.

It is the only business in town and besides basic and tourist provisions, they had a long bar and on weekends live music. Well it was really rockin' when we got there. The place was full of old hippies just hanging out with friends. It had a great chilled out vibe. I would happily have spent the afternoon there!

From there we followed the stage road until we reached Pescadero. A small town with some great local made timber furniture.

They then took us to the coast and Half Moon Bay Brewing Co for lunch. This place was packed outside with large firepits to sit around as well as the normal tables and chairs. They had a predominantly seafood menu and I had one of the most delicious salds I have ever eaten with a side of garlic prawns.... I want it again!!!!

Back in the car it was a drive of about an hour to Santa Cruz. All of us tourists dozed on and off throughout this drive. We arrived for a walk along the Santa Cruz boardwalk. Well this place was crazily busy and in a time warp. I expected a young Frank Sinatra to jump off one of the many rides. There were all the old ones, dodgem cars, old timber rollercoaster etc etc (just think of all the old fairs you went to as a kid) the main entertainment area was at least a kilometre long and had a chairlift from one end to the other. It was interesting to see this side of California that we have seen in many movies but we were also happy to leave it.

From there a stop to watch a great drumming performance at a Japanese Festival then on to the gorgeous town of Capitola. Again very very busy we finally found a park up a side street. We wandered down and along the river. There was this absolutely gorgeous area of small small houses that the path ran between the house and their back yards on the river. Most backyard were approx 6mx4m. The houses were super cute and quaint.

From Capitola you can see right across Monterey Bay, to Monterey in the far distance. Around the waterfront was the Venetian hotel. For them it is like Venice. Not really but lovely just the same.



Dinner that night was at Shadowbrook. It is in the most amazing setting. There is no way you would know it was there without the guidance of a local. From the carpark, it was either a small 6 person cable car or many steps and paths through a beautiful garden and waterfall to the restaurant below. From there the restaurant itself was on 4 levels finally arriving at the rivers edge. The building itself was predominantly timber with lots of glass. Rather than one big dining area, it was more like 5 or 6 small rooms and then the main bar/ light dining area. This is where we dined as we didnt have a booking and the smaller rooms were booked out.

This is Tina & John at the restaurant, with their friends Tom & Judy.

From Capitola it was at least an hours drive back to Redwood City. By the time we got back we were all exhausted. After our early flight out of Seattle and then a full day of touring we were exhausted. All of us collapsed into the hotel beds within 5 mins of checking in.

The following day Tom showed us through part of Silicon Valley. He was previously employed by Hewlett Packard and one of the stops was this house in a suburban street where Silicon Valley started. This was in Palo Alto, the next city to Redwood City. Its really like the next suburb. Palo Alto also has Stanford University where alot of the brains & $$ for the area come from.



Tom & Judy kindly had us to their place for lunch. They have a great garden, with many kinds of veges at the front and now with their children grown up, the backyard is an orchard.

In one of the trees they pointed out a birds nest. At first we couldnt see it but finally we could make it out. The nest was about the size of a 20 cent coin and sitting over her eggs was a hummingbird. They are so tiny and when flying look like a medium size moth.

This is a close up in cose you couldnt find it in the tree.

We had seen hummingbirds in another small town we were passing through. Cant remember the name but to say 'hicksville' might help you conjure up what it was like. We were in a great roadside cafe full of bib overall wearing locals saying things like "I got me some chaws to do today".

Part of the entertainment was eavedropping. The other was when John spotted something appear just through the glass next to my head. It hovered for about 4 seconds then darted off. We were in awe to have seen our first hummingbird. The cafe had feeders hanging from the gutters, full of sugar water, and the birds were coming in to sip from them. We saw about 5 or 6 that day. Amazing!

Anyway our last day had us at a high point in the Santa Cruz mountains overlooking Silicon Valley then back down to a very busy (it was Fathers Day in USA) restaurant for a snack before being dropped at the airport. The place was on the water, at the exit before the airport from the freeway. Sitting in there the view was across the water to the planes landing and taking off only a couple of 100 metres away. Certainly made entertainment.

Well thats it for this trip.... we had a truly great holiday and lots of fun with Tina & John. As always it was not enough time to see all the things we wanted to along the way.

See y'all next time!!

xD&M