Bathing in the Redwoods, a Father’s Day tour on June 19th, sounded like a great time to break out the big bath towel and soap and look forward to another unusual LPR experience. All soaped-up while lounging in a tub amongst the big trees would only add another chapter to the legend of PCA’s Good Time Region. But it wasn’t to be. The tour happened as planned. Taking a bath along the way didn’t.
The sunny Sunday morning began with the start of the tour along the road next to the Pasatiempo Inn in Santa Cruz, 30 LPR members bright-eyed and bushy-tailed chatting, laughing and ready for the day’s drive. Our tour guides, Hugh and Nancy Calvin, made sure everyone signed the PCA release form before handing out a small bag with a wash cloth and two tree-themed cookies tucked neatly inside. I thought I understood the cookies, but the wash cloth was an interesting item considering there was no bathing on the day’s agenda. Nancy explained that the wash cloth was a symbol of the tour and one could do with it as one pleased. So we ate the cookies and stashed away the wash cloth for a future use.
Club events, any club event, is successful only because of those who attend, as we say out West -the cast of characters were: Pascal Anistasi; Chuck Bloom; Don Chaisson, transfer into LPR from Yosemite Region.; Tim & Gwen Clark; Gary Goelkel and son Steve; George & Carol Grialou; Judi & Girault Jones; Dave & Bobbie Lamberson; Bob & Karen Morgan; Johnny & Kathy Musser; Peter Ridgway; Vince Vincent and friend Adrianne; Jack Wallace; Yours Truly & Mrs. Truly and, of course, Hugh & Nancy Calvin at the forefront.
At the appropriate time Hugh assembled the masses for the pre-tour safety and pep talk, emphasizing that a tour is not a race and the pace would be within the posted speed limits, most of the time. (Porsches like to get up and go occasionally, right?). That said, it was time to line up and get going. We traveled in one group with us near the middle and Vince Vincent as the sweep car, since we had CB radios it was a good way to keep eyes and ears on the group. CB radios may sound quaint these days but keeping in touch with the tour leader from various places in line is a definite plus.
The route was fairly simple – straight onto Hwy. 17 into Santa Cruz, right onto Ocean Ave/Graham Hill Rd. to Hwy 9 to Hwy 263 to Skyline Blvd. to Alpine/Portola State Park Rd. to Pescadero Rd. and our final lunch destination, The Loma Mar Store and Kitchen in (population 167) Loma Mar, Ca. A total of 47 miles, a short drive, but what awesome scenery along the way!
If anyone has ever journeyed any of the roads mentioned they know why this tour was called, “Bathing in the Redwoods.” The California Redwoods are nothing short of spectacular and we were treated – some may say we bathed – in their spectacular beauty for most of the tour. A gorgeous sun-splashed day only added to the enjoyment of these moments in time.
There were many smiles and congrats to Hugh and Nancy for a job well done. Oh, in case you wondered, this was the Calvin’s first guided tour for LPR and they pulled it off like seasoned pros. As LPR’s Tour/Safety Chair I want congratulate Hugh and Nancy for their first- ever effort at putting on a tour for the club. Amazing job!
Homeward bound we continued onto Pescadero Rd to Hwy 1 North, the ocean vistas provided a stunning contrast to our previous Redwoods driving adventure, we then turned East onto Hwy 92 in Half Moon Bay and enjoyed a casual drive to I-280 and home. Touring LPR style is always fun, thanks again to Hugh and Nancy for a day touring on and through the roads in the Redwoods!
