March 28th, 2024: Last night, we had made plans to meet Holland's cousin Theresa, in Watsonville for Supper - Holland hadn't seen her in quite awhile.
This morning, Holland read online about this place in Santa Cruz, called 'The Mystery Spot'; and he wanted to take me to see the 'Cement Ship' … so, we went to visit the sites ;-)
The SS Palo Alto was constructed of concrete in 1919, and named for another Bay Area town, and since being docked at the Seacliff Wharf in 1929, it has became a beloved icon of Seacliff State Beach in Aptos-CA where generations of fishermen gathered to cast their fishing lines.
The Mystery Spot was discovered in 1939 by a group of surveyors; and opened to the public in 1940. It is located on what is known as a gravity hill … also known as spook hill or magnetic hill.
We had to pay a fee to get into the State Park (my 'America The Beautiful' Lifetime Park Pass that I was forced to buy at Yellowstone to replace Bob's Card, was not accepted here; the spendy Pass doesn't include State Parks - of course not!); but we did get a $2 discount {for "being Seniors"} … isn't that big of guv newscum?
Once inside the Park the atmosphere was wonderfully scented, lending a magical pull towards the dying shipwreck - it was easy for me to understand why this area has a hold on Holland; he was born in Santa Cruz, and grew up on the beaches in the region. He played here as a young boy, and this was his home turf in his teen & young adulthood years. He has tried to describe the scents and the shipwreck … but experiencing the atmosphere up close and personal is a special treat :-)
We drove a short distance along the sandy beach, listening to the waves beat against the sandy beachfront; pretty wildflowers hugged the cliff, and a huge wooden staircase stretched from the beach to the Park's parking lot high above (in my mind's eye, I could imagine Holland and his sibling racing up and down it, as boys on the loose will do ;-))
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I was glad to see the frilly blossoms that were also scattered around our KOA site; I didn't have time the other day to snap off pics of them before we went exploring - and they had pulled into themselves when we got back: the drizzle this morning kept them closed up. So, when I saw them opened up here, Holland pulled over so I could show yu'all how pretty they are :-)
Granite chunks on the beach surprised me - I always considered granite to be mountain rocks (very prevalent in the Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainer, & Mt. Baker areas); the cliffs of the Santa Cruz region appear to be sandstone.
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Our next exploration jaunt was slated for "the steam engine park": aka, the Harvey West Park ;-)
Before we got to the Park, a pioneer cemetery caught my eye …
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The cemetery fronts the steam engine Park; so after I got pic's of the art-crafted headstones that appealed to my artistic nature, we drove the short distance to the Park :-)
Harvey West Park, in Santa Cruz-CA, is a very nice Park.
The warm sunshine was very welcome - grass was still wet, but the sunshine was warm on the skin; squirrels were happily chirring, and we were pleasantly enjoying our outing.
Holland was revisiting memories … and making new memories with me, alongside him on this hometown trip. I was making new memories, and enjoying the reminiscing stories (and imagining Holland running through the grass here, looking in the museum windows, and climbing all over that steam engine ;-))
We still had some time to kill before meeting his cousin Theresa for Supper, so Holland drove to The Mystery Spot: and we quickly left - there was nowhere for us to park Betsy (very little/cramped dirt parking lot, and scabbed together carnival set-up, and people everywhere); it was very tight getting back out to the main highway - we nearly scraped the bark off close tree trunks with both side mirrors, getting around the big tree in the center of the dirt road. Driving into the place wasn't as cramped … getting out was another story due to the side bank on the exit road.
All the adventuring we did all day long, still did not close the time gap between Bucket List check-off's and Supper Plans - so, Holland added some more excitement to the Day, by driving me over to Freedom :-)
Holland had lived in freedom, for a little bit of time; and I wanted to see it.
Seeing these {new = to me} places, gives me insight into my new husband.
Following our foray into Freedom, we headed back to the KOA; where we relaxed for about 3 hours before we drove to Watsonville to meet Theresa and her father, for Supper at Jalisco's.
We passed a farmhouse that reminded me of the Winchester House - the way it was structured with it's 3 visible levels, turrets, windows, balconies, dormers, ect.; butting out from it, in every direction: it's not as magnificent as the Winchester House … but it did seem to have been built after the same {after thought} pattern ;-)
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These old vintage houses interest me.
Holland was surprised I mentioned the Winchester House. His eyebrow arched, and he said, "You know about that?" I said, "Of course. I know about the rifle, too. I'm not against firearms Holland, I just happen to think 1 is enough. But I do know about firearms: Colt, Winchester, Ruger … in fact, I had a Ruger; and you know I know how to use a firearm."
I get a kick out of surprising new husband with little tidbits, now and then ;-)
When we drove Watsonville downtown streets, I "oohed & aahhed" over the pretty and detailed fancy vintage sky-high's.
Jalisco's looked like a fine place to eat … but it wasn't: the backdoor parking was very difficult to find and tight to navigate; once back there, parking was ridiculous - everyone but us was in tiny cars, parked haphazardly blocking exit routes until they decided to pay their food or bar tab; and drive their cars home.
Cars would pull in; see there was no space available - and back out, praying they didn't back into an in-coming car … or nick the corner of the building: it's a pocket parking lot, basically for EV's and bikes. Holland had managed to get Betsy in, carefully back her into an available slot, and wedge her in place without bumping side mirrors: how he did this is still a mystery.
And I was there.
Maybe I closed my eyes waiting for the screech of metal and jolt of a bump - neither happened, thank God.
Theresa's mother was Holland's Aunt Murdean - from the Redmill branch of family.
And she's a hugger: aside from her warm and friendly inclusiveness towards me, spontaneous hugging makes her a winner to me :-)
Holland and Theresa were glad to see each other again. I felt comfortable, and included. They shared Life and family updates. Conversation was good, laughter flowed freely, and there were no awkward moments ;-)
I wasn't impressed with the food that carried a hefty price. Holland's taco salad was made with grilled chicken … and my nacho's were also made with chicken chunks (steak could be substituted, but thinly sliced steak is not hamburger): it just wasn't right, somehow.
Jalisco's get's a thumbs down from us :-(
I can honestly state that I love Holland's "down South family members".
**SANTA CRUZ-CA: (https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2024/03/santa-cruzca.html)
