April 16 - Today is Falls Creek hiking trail and Santa Cruz.  Sunny day, a little warmer, less windy.  Went hiking in forested area - lots of red woods, a lovely creek, awesome hike to old limestone kilns.

Hike was a good workout but there was something wrong with this forest - the whole time we were on the hike (over an hour) we did not see or hear birds, insects, butterflies, squirrels, crickets, snakes - nothing in the water either - no fish, no water spiders, no frogs. - it was eerily quiet - like Rachel Carson's book "Silent Spring" - kinda creepy.

Then off to Santa Cruz to see the wharf - we drove onto wharf and parked then walked to end to see the sea lions - an added bonus was watching a sea otter eating the mussels that were clinging to the big pylons.

We ate lunch at a restaurant on the wharf before heading off to drive along Seaview Drive - the houses are incredible in Santa Cruz almost beyond belief - oh yeah apparently the movie "Chasing Mavericks" was filmed here so watch the background and you will see some great homes.  Of course, I didn't take photos of any houses.

Our last day in California tomorrow then leave for Oregon - not sure what is in store - who knows what trouble we will get into.