Leg One
On Friday morning we rose exceptionally early and set out to pick-up our rental car. We were unfortunately unable to get a PT Cruiser and had to settle on a Pontiac Grand Prix (it was that or a Trail-Blazer.) And by 11:45 we were loaded-up and ready to hit the road. 5 hours and 345 miles later we arrived at Julie’s Childhood home and hung-out with the family before heading off to dinner at a pub in Palo Alto (or was it Mountain View?) The next morning we were treated to a stately breakfast that included a pile of waffles the likes of which I had never seen before. It was truly a wonder-inducing stack of breakfast-breads. We were on the road again by 11:30 and after coffee in “downtown” Los Altos we headed over-the-hill to see how Santa Cruz has faired in the two years since our departure.

We parked downtown and remarked that though some store-fronts had changed, and corporate America was gaining ground bit-by-bit into the fiercely independent heart of Santa Cruz. Look! An Urban Outfitters! Look! Quiznos and Baja Fresh! Etc etc. We then stopped in at my favorite taco-joint on the planet where I had my favorite tacos in the world. Then it was off to San Jose to Visit with Andrew and Jodi (who we hadn’t seen since their wedding!)