California Dreamin'

On a winter's day - you take highway 17 to Santa Cruz. It's 7am as you reach the peak and get a glimpse of the Monterey Bay.



You descend into the foggy bay and find the parking lot at the Santa Cruz light house full and some crazy paddle surf contest going on which starts at 7:20am. You turn to Pleasure Point.



And the sky is gray. The steps down the cliff to the beach are sketchy.



The waves wash the dust off your surfboard - frequent, small, easy to catch, yet providing a decent ride. Best of all it's a weekday, so at 7:30 am you pick a nice takeoff spot just for yourself, no competition. Later, when the locals show up, you leave it to them and head to work.



Best of all, it's not just a dream.