Santa Cruz highlights:
Breakfast with Eva's friend Maria, who also had once organized a talk for Sharon in Flagstaff.
Taking myself out to the movies (Die My Love and Nuremberg) and dinner.
Trying free-camping at a pull-off where Maria thought I wouldn't be kicked out, but twice patrol went by with a loudspeaker in the middle of the night; “THIS IS A NO PARKING ZONE!! MOVE YOUR VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY!!” But they never knocked on my door, so… she was right!
Having a sandwich at Benito's Deli in Half Moon Bay where Eva had taken us when we came out for a visit. Still epic.
Reading a book in the middle of the day by the ocean.
I tried to explore Monterey but the rain was unrelenting and I turned back to the mountains. It was at Pinnacles National Park where I wrote my last post. The rain was making me claustrophobic and sad. Thankfully it cleared (for one day) in the morning and I got a great hike to the High Peaks. I took the “steep and narrow” path which was exciting. Not inherently dangerous, but you had to pay attention.
I had planned to drive to Lake Isabella and possibly up the Kern River road, but again, torrential rain. I thought, “It can't be raining in Death Valley, and it's only four more hours” but I was wrong. About the rain. I was feeling not as alert as I should be, so I free-camped again at a “place of interest” (California route numbers history), and again, lights in my window late at night but no knock on the door. Next morning I'm headed the last bit to Death Valley, and I came to a road block, but I was on the inside! I deduced the highway patrol had seen where I camped and decided to leave me alone.
Death Valley is so beautiful. Yes, the environment is inhospitable for the unprepared, but there's no need to qualify this beauty with adjectives like harsh or rugged. It's just beautiful. And, at least for my experience, rainy. How many people get to say they waited out the rain in Death Valley?! Finally the sun streamed through my window this morning. Sure enough, the main drive through the valley was closed for flooding. I almost drove the 13 miles to see Dante's Peak, but at the entrance a sign said, “Flash flood zone next six miles”. Over the mountain was another storm brewing. I kept going.
I'm at a funky, adorable place called Death Valley Hot Springs. Built in the 40s by researchers. They brought various patients here for healing and study.