Santa Cruz was fantastic!! You didn’t hear from me because, well, I was busy! We played a lot of ball and ate good food, but the best part was the people! MB’s place was magical! Right along the creek with huge redwood trees all around and MB’s special touches everywhere. Thanks for hosting – you and Jorge were fantastic! It was so great to see some of my favorite SOB people too – Steve, Kumi, Janet, Mike – and meet new friends Rudy, Keith, Mark and all the ladies who played in the tournament – what a blast! Special guests beach volleyball pros Geena Urango and Eric Beranek, were a great addition and made the weekend even more fun. Thanks for coming and can’t wait to see Geena play in Dallas! Have I mentioned how much SOB has meant to me? This extended family that I have chosen (and have chosen me as well), is so fun and loving, they were there as I went through a hard time, and they have given me the courage to take on this adventure because now I know people all over the country and I’m hoping we get a chance to play more volleyball wherever I go. I’d share more details about the weekend, but suffice it to say there were a lot of laughs and good hearted fun – it was tough to leave this morning.

Did I mention that MB’s place was down a very steep narrow road without the best upkeep? To get out of there, After some slipping and sliding and inching up the hill in first gear, the Outback made it! Like the Little Engine… I think I can, I think I can…..

I’m on the move again. I noticed something today. I may not always trust people, but I put my blind trust in Cliff. For those of you (anyone other than Shyla) wondering who Cliff is, when we were in Ireland, that is what Shyla and I named our Siri after changing it to a man with an Australian accent. You should have heard him pronouncing all the Irish street names! Hilarious, but I digress. As I was leaving the Santa Cruz area I had no idea how to get to the 101. I just turned everywhere Cliff told me to and after a bunch of beautiful back country roads, TA DA! He got me straight to the right highway. You should all know that I love my paper maps and have an atlas sitting on my passenger seat, but Cliff is the bomb!

I drove through Central CA today for the first time in decades. All these city names and state beaches reminded me of my childhood. I had completely forgotten how gorgeous that part of the country is. It was a very pleasant drive, longer than I planned, but I made it in time for Sunday dinner!!! Man, I miss those days. I also saw a lot more Campers, RVs, and vans on the road today – even got a thumbs up and wave from another tear drop! I’m wondering if I will see more travelers as I head south and east.

Recommendation: The Picnic Basket when you are at the beach in Santa Cruz – yummy and simple

Tip of the day: If you ever try to do this kind of traveling, try to pack your camper last – do NOT start putting stuff away in the camper a month ahead of time. Or, at the very least, make an inventory list. I am having a very hard time finding things I am sure I packed