Day 5- A not so golden bridge

Today started with a relaxing morning in mounds of covers.  I even found the brand and style of pillow because it was so comfy I may need to get my own.  (I left my pillow at home so this trip is also an experiment in other types of pillow-we shall see how that that actually lasts). 

I ate a left over heavenly donut for breakfast and started on my way to San Fransisco.  You can KIND OF make out the bridge in some of the shots, but it was mostly foggy, wet and cold. So not a place I wanted to spend much of my time.  That being said, until I got back into the interior, it was chilly enough for me to need a sweatshirt most of the time. 

Not being satisfied with my coastal experience just yet I took HW 1 down to Santa Cruz.  

Eventually the clouds broke, so during the drive and I stopped at a small inlet to run into the ocean...up to my knees at least. The water felt great.  Further down I spotted a lighthouse and obviously had to pull over a take a look. 

In Santa Cruz I had lunch at Westend Tap and Kitchen. Ginger cider and the most amazing heirloom tomato flat bread (which served as a wonderful left over dinner as well). 

The drive from Santa Cruz to Exeter was long and boring.  Through farm fields of California.  Just as boring as the farm fields of anywhere else in the country, these just look drier.  The only thing I saw that made sense to farm in California was Sun.  I was pleased to see so many solar farms, especially today, as temps topped 110.  Literally taking my breath away when I got out of my car. 

Adding more coastal time made for a much longer day than it HAD to be, but this trip is about fun, and not just getting somewhere quick.  My mental health needed to run into the ocean so even though it made for 9 hours of traveling, I'm still glad I did it, and I will sleep well tonight. 

Roughly 350 miles in the car today. 

I arrived in Exeter a little after 5pm.  It is such a sweet small town that I plan to walk through more this evening. I warmed up and ate my left over pizza, with a ginger beer and enjoyed a provided cookie for dessert

 My airbnb is beautiful but still lacking in some areas. 

Pros: Less expensive than many local hotels, Completely private from owners,  I got "welcome home" cookies, Kitchenette (Nicer than a few places I've lived), Stocked fridge and mini pantry for breakfast. Extra Mini Fridge for your own stuff, Microwave, Wifi (not very fast, but it works), nice bathroom, A/C, TV, Pool table, Ceiling fan in bedroom, Desk and dinning spaces, quiet neighborhood, close to sequoia National Park (33 miles)

Cons: Curtains are sheer in both living and sleeping spaces,
on street parking, bed is very soft (again personal for me) but I woke up with a lot of back and neck pain-which is not good as I have hiking and over 300 miles to do today. 

Signing off for Now, 

-C