Santa Cruz-Soquel

October 16th,

We got a couch to stay at!  Super lucky.  Was a long, very hot ride in partially urban settings.  Going thru Santa Cruz on the number 1, the highway became a freeway at some point which apparently means no cyclists.  Freeway is an ironic name for the road though since we were passing all the cars on the parking lot road.  I think that's the real reason we're not allowed on the freeway - too much road rage from all the idiots that haven't figured out that a bus or bike would get you there sooner.

I harvested a large number of PRICKLY PEARS in my ongoing quest to live closer to the land (try to prepare to survive the baja).  They are well named.  Those bloody tiny prickly slivers easily penetrate any exposed flesh.  I burnt them off with the stove but it was not 100%.  Got about 15 of the prickly beasts.  Mostly green, they were still quite sweet.  Yum! Also tried prickly pear pads.  These are super gooey when cooked and must be an acquired taste because I couldn't figure out how to make them not taste like mucous from the back of my sinuses.  Ya - yuck.

Stayed with Ciara and Jamie.  Two awesome people who hung out with us, played catan, talked, etc.  They even had dinner ready for us when we arrived.  Thanks!  

suculent plant on the roadside