Drove our awesome MEAN as van (Chrystler Town and Country) down to 'cruisy, laid back' Santa Cruz - about 70 miles down the coast. Stunning country. Although seriously busy roads!! Not quite like the remote West Coast in the Sth Island, aye! Feel a bit nevous about driving on the right but slowly getting used to it.
Stopped at the Ano Nuevo State Park on the way down to check out one of the world's largest colonies of Elephant Seals. HUGE creatures - full grown adults up to 17 feet long, weighing 6000 pounds - and with big snuffalupagous type noses that are so ugly, but make them quite elephant- like :-) Cool to watch.
Stopped at Santa Cruz and set up our van - with a wooden frame, to put our mattress on - and space underneath to store all our gear. Seems to work quite well! Just about enough room for the 2 bikes too. Brent did a fab job of putting it all together (although couldn't believe it - he succumbed to buying a $2 saw from the $2 shop - which worked ok for about 3 minutes then made the job v difficult!). Think the set up will be ideal for allowing us to stop anywhere and sleep
Another thing we saw in the $2 shop - as an aside - a Pregnancy Kit!?! What the heck! That was random. Would you trust a Pregnancy Kit from the $2 shop? Hmmm
Checked out the old Boardwalk / arcade / rollercoaster rides next to the beach...and are just about to go and play on the local mountain bike trails. Yee haa!
Hey Em and Brent - sounds like you are having fun :) I like the police raid (although I'd be afraid of stray bullets!)
ReplyDeleteGo and make me insanely jealous of all the good riding you are going to do. See ya! Julie