santa cruz wharf

20 October 2007

the hood

Gene at Turning the Pages of Life had this idea to post about the area where we live.

"I would like to take a minute and build upon the warming the world through friendship idea that many bloggers recently participated in. We post on our blogs, get replies and post on other people's blogs, and over the course of time start to get to know each other a bit. We can guage the personality of another blogger through the words they type but wouldn't it be nice to get a little insight into what they really see when they look out their wondows?"

...here is a little insight into "my hood"....

Santa Cruz is a small coastal community about an hour south of San Francisco.

Known for our redwoods and rollercoaster we attract the tourists year round.












The locals are a rather bizarre mix…but many of us think of ourselves as either Eastsiders or Westsiders. Unofficially the dividing line is Downtown….but to my way of thinking...it is really the Harbor.


Without a doubt…I am an Eastsider.
I live in the area known as Pleasure Point.

















Although surfers come from all over to ride these waves, most of them are local….and they adhere to a very specific hierarchy. If you are not a local…your respect is required. There is the “official” surfing etiquette…and the local surfing etiquette.





























At the end of my street is a small eucalyptus grove which boarders the lagoon called Moran Lake.

Moran Lake is filled by both fresh water via a large upstream watershed…and salt water from the Pacific Ocean.

At times Moran is deep enough to row a boat for several miles…and at others it is bone dry.















The water runs back and forth via a small spillway under the road. On the other side of the spillway is a small beach where I have been known to spend some time.












From this beach....if you look off to the right you can see the city of Santa Cruz…

To the left and around that rock is the coast between The Point and The Hook.


A few of these pictures I’ve previously posted…but they are my favorites. They are all within a five to fifteen minute walk from my home. I am very blessed to live in such a beautiful place.




























13 comments:

Travis Cody said...

I've been to Santa Cruz several times and it is definitely one of the stunning stops along the California coast.

Ian said...

Aw, you almost make me want to head back out to Cali again. Almost. I think I'm good for a couple years. ;)

Ian

Jeff B said...

My wife and I used to live in Sonoma County. We miss a lot of things about the bay area, this being one of them.

Great pictures/post. Thanks for the memories.

Mel said...

*sigh*

Lucky you.

Does a sea of corn count?
(no beach with it, unfortunately...)

Liz Hill said...

So lovely!!

I need to do this---what a neat idea!

Thank you for sharing your blessed spot on this rock.

And thanks again for calling in and chatting--maybeb next time I can get the DH to call in as well ;-)

Justabeachkat said...

Wow...what a beautiful place to live! Absolutely gorgeous photos. Thanks for the tour of your "hood".

Hugs!
Kat

Anonymous said...

You are one lucky girl! Those beach pics are to die for :-) I can almost hear the waves crashing.

katherine. said...

travis: the next time you and Pam are in town, let me know!

Ian: considering you are posting snow photos....I am not surprised. However you were only in southern California...you guys would like it here better.

Jeff: Sonoma is lovely too!

mel: I love great large fields!
sea of corn...oceans of wheat..

Turnbaby: the show was fun...glad I could hear it real time. You guys are a riot.

kat: we kats like our beaches...smile

Kai: if I had to live away from the beach...I'd live in an area like yours!

Odat said...

What a great idea!! and what a great area! Pleasure Point! I love it!
Peace

JAM said...

I've never really been to California (changed planes at LAX) so this is all new to me.

Great photos and definitely a beautiful place.

I especially liked the photo with the orangey sunset and it's reflection with the surfer.

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a great job! :)

These photos are great.

Desert Songbird said...

You're killing me with the photos.

Mimi Lenox said...

I always say ahhhh.....when I come to this blog. Soothing to my pencil skirt. Thank you.
You ARE blessed.