Inflatable Boat ride in Santa Cruz. The Butterfly Trees. The Wharf at Main beach. Steamer's Lane and the Lighthouse surfing museum.

Dad bought an inflatable boat that looked like a canoe from an advertisement in the back of a magazine. It had a sail. Dad and I went down the coast from Santa Cruz going south. We went out beyond the waves and sailed in the open ocean. It was a big adventure for me as a young child. Then we wiped out going thru the waves to the beach. Got Rolled.

Mom and I went to the butterfly trees. It had a grove of eucalyptus trees literally covered with Monarch Butterflies. This grove causes a peaceful easy feeling... most of the butterflies stay motionless while a tiny number flittered back and forth. http://www.santacruz.org/monarch-butterflies

We enjoyed going to the Wharf. At the very end sea lions and seals live underneath. They are really large beasts. Walk to the end of the pier and there are viewing openings so people can watch them.
I've always enjoyed the restaurants that served us clam chowder and crab louis. I could look out the window and see people surfing near the lighthouse in Steamers Lane. Mom told me that Grandpa dove off the very end of the Wharf and swam back to the main beach. I'm not sure why he did that but I guess it was just to see if he could...

Dad and I went on a deep sea fishing boat run by the Stagnaro family. He got seasick and didn't have a good time. We boarded the boat on the Wharf. I don't recall if we caught any fish but it was really fun to be way out in the ocean.

There is a surfing museum in the lighthouse and you can watch the surfers up close from the top of the cliffs. I was always amazed that people could walk over the rocks at the end of the staircase while holding a surfboard... Truly and acrobatic miracle...

Read More of My Autobiography at:
http://gvan42.blogspot.com/2018/03/growing-up-in-los-gatos-california-in.html