Traveling Geologist: "I can see Russia from here!"

It's sad but that was the first thing that came to mind when I looked out over the pacific ocean and couldn't even see the horizon! Where did the sky end and the ocean begin? Yea, I can see where you would be able to see Russia from here... right... ok, so I am not in Alaska... but same coast! : ) Maybe that was Japan I saw... : )

It had cleared a bit by the time I took this picture. I can see the horizon here!! Apparently I had a spot on my lense....darn it!!

So I spent last weekend living out of a hotel and looking for an apartment. I finally found one that looked fairly safe. Antioch and Pittsburg are both industrial cities by the river. I started moving in on Wednesday. I slept on my air mattress the first night and finally got Furniture on Thursday. I finally unpacked the last few things on Saturday. Headed to the YMCA for a swim and then found a few tag sales to look for some extra stuff that will be disposable... then I decided to hit the road!

I started work last Monday. The staff is really nice. They had a student leave Friday so we all went to lunch together. My supervisor of Rehab is a speech therapist! I love it! So great that the recognize its importance in a nursing home! They actually only have a full time SLP. They have a part time PTA and part time PT.. they are hiring full time OT/PT.. unfortunately is a very old building and there is so much that can be improved.. Hoping to make a few changes.. in fact the supervisor has already passed on some of my advice to the nursing department. So it will be an "interesting" assignment. Doubt I will be here longer than 13 weeks! Famous last words.

The location is awesome though. I made it to Santa Cruz in about an hour and a half with traffic. I spent some time at the beach and then drove up the Pacific Coast Highway to San Francisco and got to the Golden Gate Bridge by sunset. I didn't have much time in the city. Drove by Fishermans Wharf on my way out of town. Iwill have to spend another day or few exploring the city itself.

I will be updating this post and the lake tahoe post with more pictures soon. I have also posted a few new albums on facebook.

The drive through the hills to the beach

DEL MAR Theater??

Hey WAIT? Did I go the wrong way? East or West coast?

Sand Volleyball anyone?

Ok, I realize that San Francisco has trolleys downtown but TRAINs on the street? AUGHH!!
Nerve racking the first time you see a train coming at you while driving down the road!

Welcome to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk!! I feel like I am in NJ!!!

Maybe not.. no trees like this in NJ!

Donuts as big as your head?? NO Thank you!

Then after eating lunch at a local cafe and sitting on the beach reading for an hour (long enough to turn pink in some spots that I missed applying sunblock) I headed north on the Pacific Coast Highway.

Kite surfing? Again, not sure of the name of all of my water sports! Looked like a snowboard where your feet are attached and then the kite, well the wind guides you! And boy was it windy!