The Motives Do the Laundry!

Monday, August 16, 1999 - THE DAY OFF

Time for our vacation day.... Paul took the reins of the minivan and drove us (Paul, Louie, Douglas, Phil, Milo and myself - The Motives that stayed in San Jose) to Santa Cruz. We listened a little to the live tape he recorded of the Ashkenaz show but we stopped 'cause it caused an argument involving Phil. Either we listened to it loud and not talk or talk and not listen to it. I chose the talk option although I thought the tape could be quiet and we could still talk at the same time.

We did our laundry, priority number one and had various juices and smoothies at a juice bar nearby which had of course, good looking young women. Do you sense a pattern here?
Louie and I patiently waited for our laundry on a bus stop bench. Afterwards Paul was lookin' for a beach as we drove all around Santa Cruz, in a circle actually, which got Phil upset as he just wanted to "communicate with the elements." I again instinctively told Paul how to get to the Pac. Coast Highway, Route 1 and we got there and finally found the beach we desired past the surfer's museum up on a hill overlooking the Pacific. The beach was called Natural Bridge State Beach. There was a huge rock in the ocean with a hole in it, hence the natural bridge. The surf was rough. No swimmers were in the water but we did see surfers with wet suits. We walked along sand, rocks and tiny cliffs where Phil saw an alcove to set up his "home". It was even "decorated" with rocks. Phil also brings along sketch pads and he's pretty good. We got barefoot.
Doug at the Pacific Ocean
Documentary Filmmaker Louie with Still Photographer Milo
The Beautiful Pacific on a Beautiful Day
Your author and photographer "posing" at the beach
Red-Beaked Sea Gull
The exciting part was Paul made it to this ledge across another alcove while the tide was coming in, threatening to strand him there where we would have to get a rope from above and pull him up or something. I tried to make it there but got doused with a big wave! I was sandy, wet and cold and walked back to the other side in defeat. There was a lull and Milo and Phil made it to the alcove. You know what? They made it back too!



Phil & Milo Racing to
Get to Paul's "Lair"
Made It!
Since we did laundry I was able to change into clean clothes. I was naked outside the van right as a policeman drove by. Oh well. Nothin' happened.
Our next stop, Henry Cowell State Park to take a short walk in an old redwood forest. It was majestic and quiet (as long as some of our members stopped talking! Douglas was especially hyper.). It was named not after the 20th century composer, but a land-fucker (as Paul called him) who cut down lots of redwoods in the 19th century to fuel lime kilns in the area. He was apparently a big land-owner in San Francisco and was instrumental in that city. There were some old growth redwoods here as well as young ones due to his abuse.


Paul in front of a really big piece of wood.

Douglas Being Filmed by Louie as He Contemplates Big Trees.

Afterwards we drove along Highway 1 checking out the ocean, farmland, "wild cows" and stopping at a fresh fruit stand near Half Moon Bay. We eventually ended up in 'Frisco and had Mexican food on the Haight at the same place where Louie and I had a burrito after we arrived, Taqueria El Balazo. It was a full fun day. At dinner Douglas was teaching Milo the history of the Caribbean involving Haile Selassie as well as Manley in Jamaica. Phil was talking about socialist stuff we generally agreed upon and I was takin' it all in.
To Previous Installment - Pleasanton and Berkeley Gigs To Next Installment - The Raven Said "Livermore"
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