Santa Cruz - Father's Day Weekend- Day Three and on towards home

Here is Sunday, which was a Great Day, we both concurred; plus a bit of Monday to finish up.

It's 4 a.m. and we are hiking up to the Observation Deck in the Henry Cowell State Park to watch the day come on and the sunrise.

The sand-dunes we walked through were of interest; like walking on a sandy beach.

Drinking faucet for horses

Venus and the Moon were the only real light at first

the sky began to lighten

Color changes began to occur

and after a slow, enjoyable series of changing colors, the sun rose.

Plain but good-hearted Observation Deck.

Back down the trail we can now see and appreciate

This white-flower bush was all over, and so pretty.

After breakfast and a short nap, we headed to the Boardwalk to ride the train to Roaring Camp and back.

Me ready to go!

Jeffery also enthusiastic.

Our ride; front seats!

close-up of the lamps

Here we go!  Right down the street by the Boardwalk.

Right into the traffic, which must part like waters to let us through

The Dream Inn overlooks the Boardwalk, Wharf and beach

Down through the neighborhoods, under a bridge, and now, through a semi-long tunnel

After crossing a trestle bridge, we had to run along and cross the highway.

Me waving.  All along the way, people were waving at us excursioneers, and it made the trip more fun.

Jeffery's attempt to make us sick; the route was pretty much straight up on one side of the train, and straight down on the other.

We cross the San Lorenzo River

Looking down from the bridge from the train's open car

Roaring Camp, where we'll have lunch while the train gets turned around.

Barbeque sandwich, corn on the cob, coleslaw, beans, a drink, and two marshmellows to toast was our lunch

This is the steam engine that runs through the redwoods up to Bear Mountain.  We want to do that excursion, too.

To show how steep the canyon walls were; several of us touched the branches from the train.

Every train I was ever on, except maybe Edaville, took me through some industrial sections of town.

This train crossing warning sigh is called a "wig-wag" because it swings back and forth like a clock pendulum while the bell rings.  No safety arm comes down.

Back to the Beach

It's a beautiful day

It's a busy day on the Boardwalk

We have decided to take the famous wooden roller coaster, the Giant Dipper, before heading to our hotel

This photo from May gives you an idea of how foolish we are for riding this roller coaster, but we just had to do it.

This photo of the official photo moment shows how much I was enjoying the ride.  I had to close my eyes, and simply endure the horror until it was over.  I'm glad I did it, but I'll never do it again.  Even Jeffery admitted it was scary.

As we're walking back to our car, the train comes up the street one last time for the day; heading back to Roaring Camp

Umbrella photo for the collection

This is a building in Watsonville California at 6:30 a.m. as I head home on Monday

Here's another pretty building in Watsonville.

my strange sense of humor

We sure did have a good time together, got some exercise and some freckles, ate good food, and enjoyed simply being with eachother.  Our next adventure on the calendar is High Sierra Music Festival!