It was dark by the time we finally got on the highway going south and so began my first real foray in the 1985 hippie-mobile that would be our home for the next few months.
The only downside to driving in this beast of a machine, was that the length of the passenger seat belt is just short enough to strangle my bladder within an inch of life
The only downside to driving in this beast of a machine, was that the length of the passenger seat belt is just short enough to strangle my bladder within an inch of life
After a few hours, and two urgent bathroom breaks, we arrived in Santa Cruz. TJ and I drove in a few circles before finding a vista point overlooking the beach which we were intending to use as a backdrop for our healthy dinner of hard-boiled eggs, PB and banana sandwiches, yogurt, applesauce, and mozza sticks, but just as we exited the car, two rad dudes pulled up on their bicycles and we got to chatting. George and DJ be their names and hospitality be their game! Within two minutes of meeting them, and explaining the Van Plan, DJ had offered to let us park in his driveway and stay in a spare bedroom in his house, which, after giving the “Spidy Sense” a good jingle, we decided to accept.
We walked all the way out onto the wharf and saw some sea lions just chillin’ on the wooden planks underneath before we turned around and headed back to DJ’s for some much needed sleep.
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| If you know you know. |
As we were approaching the Boardwalk, DJ suggested that we break ALL the rules, and walk across the creepy train trestle bridge instead of the well-maintained and significantly less treacherous pedestrian bridge.
I don't know if I was just feeling overconfident, or if I'd briefly lost all sanity, but I thought this was a great idea. I also thought that I would video our progress across the bridge.
What I hadn't accounted for was that this bridge has been out of commission for quite some time and as such several of the wooden rail ties had completely rotted away and were now covered with equally precarious plywood boards. I should also mention that there are several signs indicating that humans should not attempt to cross this bridge and that imminent danger awaits all who try. Actual danger. Not Vampires rising out of the mist danger.
I also did not account for how much the glare from my camcorder would impede my ability to actually see where I was walking. Also, I was wearing stupid foam shoes with zero actual tread on them.
What I hadn't accounted for was that this bridge has been out of commission for quite some time and as such several of the wooden rail ties had completely rotted away and were now covered with equally precarious plywood boards. I should also mention that there are several signs indicating that humans should not attempt to cross this bridge and that imminent danger awaits all who try. Actual danger. Not Vampires rising out of the mist danger.
I also did not account for how much the glare from my camcorder would impede my ability to actually see where I was walking. Also, I was wearing stupid foam shoes with zero actual tread on them.
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| The next day we reflect on the scene of our stupidity. |
Stupid shoes + rotting rail ties + immense darkness + glare from camcorder screen = I am an idiot. I had to stop filming half way across…when the piece of plywood keeping me from a watery death shifted and I nearly plummeted to my death. Again, I am not smart.
Back at DJ’s we hung out with his dog Porkchop, (a boxer who, while delightful, felt it necessary to leave us several stinky fart “presents” before exiting our room for the night) and then hit the hay. I fell asleep thinking how amazing it was that a person just opened their home up to us after a two minute conversation, and took us on a spectacular guided tour of Santa Cruz…by night no less! TJ says this is the essence of the Van Plan: never pass up an offer unless you’re gut tells you to run the other way, and after hearing the finer details of the VP, people usually offer up something. It’s really amazing.
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