My wife and I spent the last three nights in the Santa Cruz & Capitola area, which is adjacent Monterey Bay. You can see that Santa Cruz (click on map to expand) is in the upper portion of the map, with Monterey and Pacific Grove in the lower portion of the bay. You can also see that Monterey Bay borders a rather deep ocean canyon which drops off precipitously.
This is the Capitola Wharf, at the end of which is a seafood restaurant called the Wharf House, where we had dinner Monday night.
The area is replete with kayak rentals. There is a three mile radius limit for paddling. Three miles is a really, really long way if you’re in a kayak. These people are in the midst of one of the famous Monterey Bay kelp beds.
This is the Stockton Bridge in the town of Capitola-By-The-Sea. In the area, because of the wages, Capitola PD is where one wanted to work when looking for local law enforcement employment. This is the Soquel River running under the bridge and towards the sea.
Entrance to the wharf.
If there’s a will, there’s a way.
Small boat fishing. The ocean was very calm.
Boats anchored south of the Capitola Wharf.
Today is now a “driving back” day. As you read this I’ll be heading north, once again, on Highway 1 back towards work. Heavy sigh. Please click on the photographs for full expansion and detail. Take care, dearest readers. Back to the chug tomorrow.

BZ