Vacations MUST include golf for my husband. I don’t play, so the challenge is to find something to do for 4+ hours.
My childhood experience of sneaking in to the Concord Motel pool has evolved to crashing the pool area of golf resorts. I spent yesterday sitting by the “Private- Members Only” pool of an elegant Santa Cruz club- reading a book. The selection of a golf course is determined by the convenience of a nearby downtown shopping area or a nice pool.
 We drove to Pebble Beach today and walked around- spectacular… but I don’t think I will be crashing their pool 🙂
 Arrived to our destination last night in time to see the full moon over Monterey Bay- very beautiful. Staying in a charming home in Capitola, and we are anxious to explore the area. 
 Leaving tomorrow to visit another beach town- Santa Cruz, California. We will spend a week exploring their coast (Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur) and then our last 2 days in San Francisco. 
 Well, my life is very ordinary- in an extraordinary environment!
 The wild goldenrod blooms with yellow flowers in October - adding color to the sand dunes. And the back bay marsh grass fades from bright green to a more muted color- eventually turning brown in the winter.
 The pumpkins and mums in front of the year round homes look great, too!
 With the tourists gone, the sea gulls have turned “organic”. Instead of potato chips, the birds are feasting on crabs and small fish. Interesting to watch their hunting skills in action- dive bombing in the shallow water and actively searching the water’s edge. 
 Walked just before dark last night. I was admiring the beautiful bright red sky after sunset and the large crescent moon…until a critter crossed the street in my path. Thankfully, it ran behind a house without an official greeting!
Capitola Surfing Beach
We live by the surfing beach in Stone Harbor, so I know to look the other way when the young (and not so young) men are wrapped in a towel next to their cars in the morning. They try to be modest…especially with the nun’s retreat house in full view.
Tonight, we selected a restaurant by the beach just in time for sunset. Didn’t realize that the public rinse off shower was located in front of our patio dining area. One by one, the surfers dropped their boards on the grass, and proceeded to remove their full wet suits while juggling a towel. It was our entertainment for the evening!Â