This past Sunday Ed took a road trip to visit Shannon in Santa Cruz. She and her boyfriend Mani left the rigid confines of South Orange County about a year ago for the forested wonderland that she had dreamed her entire life of living in. Shannon and Ed have always been very close, so it was hard to see her leave but at the same time Ed knew this was a step she just had to take!
So, on with the show:
On the road northwards.
Cowschwitz, as Ed likes to call it. This is along the 5 freeway somewhere in the vast Central California valley. Sometimes you gotta remember where your meat comes from.
Arriving in Santa Cruz! It sure is green and pretty up here.
This is Ed at a really pretty tea club that Shannon and Mani frequent. It’s very chill and you go in and just strike up conversation with whoever’s there. You pay a monthly fee and go as much as you want. The tea was really delicious.
Shannon and Mani at the tea club.
More detail shots of the tea club. All of the woodwork is reclaimed from trash, demolished buildings, etc. worldwide. Cool, huh?
Shannon and Mani’s house! It’s up in the hills overlooking downtown Santa Cruz. It’s a guest house on a large 5 acre property.
Another shot of the property…the house in the background is the main house where the landlord lives.
Spirit, Shannon’s dog that bit Ed’s neck two years ago. He’s definitely getting older. He struggles a lot more when he walks or runs (he has three legs). Hey dawg, Ed forgives you now.
Shannon playing dog soccer with Spirit and her landlords’ two dogs, Yogi and Eepo. These dogs are adorable. Eepo (the Lab) never runs out of energy though!
Mani’s old diesel Benz! Ed has always loved there cars. He plans to convert it to run on veggie oil. Ed loves it.
Shannon’s landlord built this treehouse for his kids. It totally rules.
This is Ed doing his best Risky Business impression on Shannon’s slippery floors.
And then, Ed made his first sushi for their picnic lunch! Ed officially knows how to make sushi now!
Hiiiiiya!!!
The three of them then went to Santa Cruz’s famous Mystery Spot. It supposedly has all kinds of bizarre things going on that makes physics not apply. In reality, it’s all probably a play on angles and optical illusions. No matter, it was a TON of fun for $5.
Ed’s best Matrix impression:
Trippy:
Shannon looks like she needs to be exorcised here!
Afterwards, the three of them picnicked in town by a surf spot. It was mindblowing – these are “average” waves in this spot and they were huge by Southern California standards. These waves crash right into rocks and the rocky bluff Ed was taking these pics from. These guys have WAY more guts and skill than Ed will ever have! Ed wants to live!
All the while, the sea lions were barking away!
After lunch, Ed, Mani, and Shannon took a leisurely bike ride through town (well, skateboard ride for Shannon).
We’ll post today and tomorrow’s pics soon!
